Page 40 of The Devil and the Heiress
The physician poured out a small amount of water and rinsed his hands in the porcelain basin. “Aye, plenty of rest for you.”
“How long do you suggest we wait before we can travel?” Christian asked.
“A sennight at the least. A fortnight would be ideal.” He turned his attention back to Violet. “You must stay abed as much as possible as long as your head is healing.” The older man had unwrapped the bandage for his inspection. “The bandage can stay off now. There is no bleeding or seepage,” he explained, picking up the cotton batting to be discarded.“Your ribs are fine and strong. I do not believe them broken, but your arm concerns me. It should stay immobilized for a few more days. Once I am satisfied healing has begun, we can consider loosening the restraint.”
“Two weeks?” She looked positively crushed by the news. Who could blame her? She likely wanted to be far away from him.
“What is that in a lifetime?” Dr. Mitchell teased. “Your wedding trip can proceed in due time.”
She glanced at Christian, blushed, and looked away. Dr. Mitchell found this very amusing. “Do not concern yourself with me and Mrs. Mitchell,” the older man said. “I have already explained things to Mrs. Mitchell, and she has agreed to leave you both to your privacy when possible.”
Violet seemed too embarrassed to respond. Christian stepped forward. “Thank you, Dr. Mitchell.”
The man said his goodbyes and hurried out the room leaving them alone. Christian retrieved the tray from the table and settled himself in his chair beside the bed. Placing the tray on the bed beside her, he took the lid off the small bowl of porridge. “You should eat. You did not eat yesterday,” he said as he brought a spoonful to her mouth.
She took a few bites, likely stewing over the conversation. Finally, after eating half the bowl, she said, “We are newlyweds.”
“I thought it would make more sense given your age. It must be clear that we have not long been married.” He swirled the spoon in the thick porridge and readied another bite.
“I’ve been elevated to a lady again,” she teased, taking the bite.
“You are Lady Rochester now. I gave them the name, and they assumed the rest.”
“Anyone with any sense would know you are a lord. It’s in your bearing.”
“That is not a compliment, is it, coming from you?”
She grinned. “I do have a complicated history with nobles. I don’t generally prefer them on principle.”
He laughed. How could she be in such good spirits at a time like this? The last thing he should be doing is laughing with her. “And me?”
“Oh, I do prefer you, my lord. I have made a rare exception.”
She could not mean that the way he took it. Her flirting was simply girlish amusement. “Violet... You must know how sorry I am for this.”
“No, my lord, do not fret.”
“For Chrissake, call me Christian.” There should be no ceremony between them. Now that he started, he could not stop himself until he said all. “I should never have stopped you that day on the street. I should have allowed you to walk by. You would have taken the train and be in Windermere even now with a view of the lake outside the window beyond your writing desk. You should be happily finishing your manuscript, not here recovering.”
“But you were right,” she said, putting her hand over his. “We don’t know what would have happened. Perhaps my parents would have found me at King’s Cross. Or perhaps a timely wire would have seen me delayed at a station along the tracks until they could arrive.”
A pleasant hum traveled over his skin. Even now his body responded to her touch like a deviant. Hadn’t he done enough? Gently pulling his hand away, he ignored the hurt that crossed her eyes. “But you would have been safe.” The words came out more forcefully than he had intended, wiping the smile from her lips.
“And potentially betrothed to Lord Ware by now. Is that what you want? Do you think I should simply accept my fate like a good little heiress? Be happy that I get to live my life in luxury?”
“No!” he said emphatically. “Perhaps I should feel that.But even now, knowing that I almost killed you, I cannot bear the thought of Ware having you.”
She stared at him, but it was impossible to read her thoughts. “Is that because you despise Lord Ware and can’t bear to see him get what he wants... or because of me?”
“I confess initially to some pleasure in removing the object of his desire from his grasp, but it quickly became about you, Violet. You deserve better than Ware. You deserve good things in life, not the distress he would bring you.”
The initial joy in her eyes at his confession faded with his last sentence. He had intentionally sidestepped what he knew she was asking. It was no secret that she found him attractive. Her esteem had only grown stronger every day they were together. He had spent his days subtly fanning the flames of her desire, giving her just enough to make her crave more. But he could not do that anymore. She deserved the chance to marry a man of her own choosing, not someone hoping to seduce her into it.
Not him. He glanced down at the bowl and raked up another spoonful.
“Then will you accept that I came with you of my own will? Do not blame yourself for the accident.” She took the bite he offered her.
He nodded, but only because he could see no point in belaboring the conversation. He would never forgive himself for what had happened to her. “Yes.”
