Page 60 of Lady Gambit
Chapter Thirteen
“How are you feeling this morning?” Delphine touched Theo’s brow and the back of his neck, thankful he was not burning with a fever.
“Strong enough to be out of this godforsaken bed.” He winced as he straightened and leaned back against the plump pillows. “But now that Nora woman is on the loose, Aaron insists I remain at Mile End.”
Aaron had arrived to take supper with them last night. He’d questioned Dorian about the case, demanding a detailed account of his progress. Dorian made no mention of them progressing from kissing to making love but invited Aaron to sit with them in his study, and together they examined Nora Adkins’ file.
“Aaron feels better knowing you’re here with me,” she said, trying to heal her brother’s wounded pride. Theo may be injured, but he would find the strength to tackle an intruder. “Mr Flynn has supplied you with weapons in case anyone attempts to enter the house.” She gestured to the duelling pistols in the open walnut box on the dresser. Making Theo feel useful was crucial to his swift recovery.
“I trust Flynn is behaving like a gentleman.” Theo’s intense gaze showed no sign of weakness. “I pray he’s not asfamiliaras he was in Miss Darrow’s yard.”
She kept an impassive expression, though every cell in her body tingled at the memory of Dorian buried deep inside her. “Mr Flynn is the son of an earl and every bit a gentleman.”
“My father was an earl’s son and a reprobate whose family disowned him. The scoundrel forced his own child to fight in the pits to line his pockets. So forgive me if I have concerns about the ill-begotten Mr Flynn.”
She sat on the bed and touched his arm affectionately. “Mr Flynn is not the enemy. He saved your life. You’re lucky he came to the rescue after the dreadful way you behaved in Miss Darrow’s yard.”
Theo tutted, his mouth twisting into a cynical line. “I owe the man a debt, but that doesn’t mean I won’t throttle him if he touches you.”
If only you knew how badly I need his touch.
Or knew how my heart aches for him.
“You owe Miss Darrow an apology.” The modiste nursed Theo like he was her own brother. She was in no rush to return home and must have lost clients in the process. It didn’t seem to matter. One might think she had a reason to hide at Mile End, too. “She’s seen to your every comfort and has barely left your bedside.”
“I’ll not apologise to a woman who lied to me.”
“I hope you’ve thanked her for her efforts.”
“Of course. I’m not completely heartless.”
The remark brought instant relief. She’d come hoping to find the playful rogue who could make women jump through hoops, only to find the light in Theo’s blue eyes had dimmed.
“Do you want to hear about the progress we’ve made?” she said, quickly changing the subject as she was leaving for Covent Garden in an hour.
“Our daily discussions are the only thing keeping me sane.”
She told him what Mr Flynn had found in Nora’s file last night. “Mr Powell lied. There was a record of Nora’s admission papers. They state Meldrum found her on London Bridge, not in a building in St Giles. She was committed to Bethlem for harassing passersby and threatening to jump into the Thames.”
“Meldrum did say his father had concocted a story.”
“Yes, but it gives us a reason to question Mr Powell again.” Dorian was convinced the Superintendent had something to hide. “Lord Meldrum signed her committal papers, as did Mr Powell. Both agreed she was suffering from delusional insanity. Nora has not had her case reviewed for more than a decade. When one considers the injustice of it all, it would drive me a little mad.”
Theo narrowed his gaze. “You seem different today.”
“I do?” She felt the first flare of a blush creeping up her neck. She was in love. Her heart ached whenever she thought about Dorian Flynn. The minutes spent apart felt like hours, the hours like a lifetime. “I’m excited at the prospect of discovering the truth, that’s all.”
He appeared unconvinced. “You look radiant. Like you’re glowing from the inside. Despite the stress of the case, you look happy.” His brows dipped into a frown. “Is it Flynn? Men can be charming when they want something.”
Charming? Dorian Flynn was irresistible.
“It has nothing to do with men, Theo. For the first time in my life, I feel alive.” It was not a lie. “I feel useful, and get to do something more interesting than choosing a new bonnet.”
He fell silent, his shoulders sagging. “I didn’t know about Mrs Haggert. Had Aaron confided in me, I would havepersuaded him to tell you.” He reached for her hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. “I know he lied, lied to us all, but all he wanted was to keep you safe.”
She didn’t blame Aaron.
She would never punish him for caring about her.
