Page 37 of The Baroness of Sin
“I would be happy to tell you the story, My Lady after you had some rest,” he assured her and patted her gently.
She weakly but stubbornly shook her head. “I feel like I have slept for years; I’ve had enough. Please, tell me what happened.”
James smiled and obliged, allowing Letty to add her own commentary for the parts she was privy to.
In the end, Martha felt she was too exhausted to properly convey just how astounded she was. “That was all amazing. Letty! I can’t begin to thank you enough. You saved me.”
“I only did what was right and proper, My Lady,” Letty assured her humbly. “Besides, the doctor said you weren't in any mortal danger; just needed to sleep and heal.” Letty thought better of the second comment, “Though your thanks are deeply appreciated, My Lady.”
She turned her attention to James, and it had been torture to try and keep her composure thus far. He gave her a slight nod, and it assured her that he understood, and they would talk more when they had a semblance of privacy.
“We will be back to your manor soon enough, and you will find the comfort of the familiar. That will surely speed your healing process. Until then, you should try and rest, sleep, lest your discomfort worsens your state.”
Martha was about to protest, but then James, damming all etiquette in the process, gently began to stroke his hand through her hair. Martha let the rebelliousness in her be soothed and allowed her own exhaustion and sleep to take her, if only for the time being.
Only after Martha was asleep did James think to look at Letty, worried that his unfettered closeness with her lady might have offended her, but she had averted her gaze to the countryside. Was it out of bashfulness? Or did she wish to claim ignorance of the situation later? Whatever her motivation, James felt Letty wasn’t keen on holding him to evil intent, and he was thankful for that.
Another reason to be thankful to Letty; James was worried he would soon find himself deeply indebted to her if this carried on.
* * *
Martha stirred and felt strong arms grip her firmly but gently. She also heard a familiar voice swear under his breath, and her eyes fluttered open. She had to stop herself from exclaiming in surprise and embarrassment. James was carrying her in his arms up the stairs of her house. The feeling of his warmth and the firmness of his body was both comforting and at the same time exciting. She was not inexperienced, but the form of James supporting her made her feel as if she were untouched by another man.
“I’m so sorry, My Lady. I was hoping to get you to your room without waking you. I hope I didn’t cause you too much discomfort,” he said apologetically.
She shook her head. The sensation of him as he held her up with such ease made her heart flutter. To be frank, she had forgotten all about the injury, the pain pushed out of her mind by the taut musculature beneath his suit. She was about to say something rather scandalous but caught herself when she saw the entourage of servants that were trailing behind him.
She decided it was wiser to close her eyes and enjoy the sensation of being carried by him rather than risk further embarrassment.
Her mind was still fairly muddled with both medication and sleep, and it made putting events together difficult with her eyes closed.
“Just going to get you sorted out on the bed here, My Lady,” Letty said softly as she guided her. “Here, move just this way, gently so we don’t hurt that arm of yours. Got to get you put into your night clothes, so you can rest proper.”
“Where is James?” Martha asked.
“He is making the proper arrangements,” Letty assured her.
Through the door, she heard James' voice. It was firm, authoritative but not angry. Was he giving instructions to her staff? They seem to be taking to it well, she noted with no small amusement.
She heard Letty depart and the door shut and believed she would be allowed to rest for the evening. Then she caught a gentle creak of wood from across the room and opened her eyes.
The lamps had been turned down low, which allowed her eyes to adjust quickly even if her sight was still tired and blurry. James was in the room, stripped of his coat and vest and having made himself comfortable in one of the stuffed chairs next to her armoire. Martha, even in her semi-lucid state still marveled at how his definition strained against his shirt. His tailor must have made a fortune in minor repairs; one wrong turn was likely to dismount a button or burst a seem. Martha thought with a mixture of amusement and excitement of the consequences.
“James?” she asked weakly, worried she might be dreaming. She wasn’t one for fantasies when waking, but if she ever had one, it would be of him.
“My Lady,” he nodded. “I can leave if you wish, but I insisted on watching over you for the night,” he admitted sheepishly to her. “I thought it for the best. I know I would have no peace of mind if it were anyone else guarding over you.”
“Keeping an eye on me, My Lord?” Her voice was weak but full of amusement. “How would you properly watch me from all the way over there? I am likely to escape before you could even stop me,” she joked.
Even in the dim light, she could tell he was trying to stifle a surprised laugh. “Very well,” he conceded and stood up, moving to pick up the chair.
“No,” She told him, softly but firmly, “that simply won’t do.” She weakly slid over in her bed, trying to hide the strain it put her under, and patted next to her. “Come, sit here. Bring comfort to an injured lady. I am sure that is the proper thing to do, all things taken into consideration.”
“Yes,” he said as he shook his head and crossed the room, “Yes I am sure you are right.” Neither of them was deluding themselves, but they were both too tired from the day and from their lives in the world of decorum to put up much of a fight anymore.
He took a seat next to her on the bed, close enough that she could see his handsome face in the dim lamplight. She slid her hand over the blankets until she found what she sought.
She pushed her smaller hand into the grasp of his bigger one. “James I…” she began.
