Page 65 of A Rake's Redemption
“I really am fine,” Inis muttered to Elsie as the maid plumped up some pillows behind Inis an hour later. “There was no need to call the doctor…again.”
“His lordship insisted,” Elsie said.
“I have a little bump on my head.” Inis shoved the sheet back and started to get out of bed. “I have to tend to Goldie.”
Elsie grasped the sheet and pulled it over her. “The doctor said to rest.”
“I have rested. For a whole hour. I’mfine.”
“Lord Ashley gave orders.”
Inis raised a brow. “Orders? What kind of orders?”
“You are to stay in bed the rest of the day.”
“But Goldie…” Inis attempted to get out of bed once more, but Elsie pushed her back.
“Jameson will take care of the horse,” Elsie said.
“But ye doona understand. The filly will think she did a bad thing today.”
“Horses do notthink.”
“But they do,” Inis exclaimed. “Ye should have seen her, hanging her head when Alex—Mr. Ashley—led her back riderless. She was ashamed.”
Elsie rolled her eyes. “Horses do not feel such things.”
It probably was useless to argue. Elsie was not a horsewoman. Inis doubted the maid had ever ridden. “Still. I want to go out to the stables and talk to her.”
“No.”
Inis raised her brow again. “No?”
Elsie placed her hands on her hips. “His lordship gave me orders, too. I’m to make sure you spend the rest of the day in bed.”
“But that’s silly.”
Elsie’s mouth pursed. “Do you want me to lose my job?”
Frustrated, Inis flopped back on the pillows. She doubted very much that Alex would set the maid out on the streets simply because Inis had decided to disobeyhisorder. She didn’t like being ordered about, which was precisely the reason she was here in London and not back in Dublin. However, there was no sense in having Elsie have to answer to Alex or be reprimanded by him. But Inis was going to have a word with him tomorrow morning.
“All right. Ye win.”
The maid looked relieved. “It is almost dark anyway.”
There were at least two hours of daylight left, but Inis refrained from pointing that out.
Elsie pointed to a slim book lying on the table next to the bed. “Are you learning to read that?”
“Yes.” Inis reached over and picked up the small volume of poetry by Lord Byron. Caroline had mentioned he was quite popular with theton, especially since he was also a baron and a peer of the realm. She’d also pointed out one or two short poems Inis might mention in conversation. It probably wouldn’t hurt to look them over again and try to remember some worthy comment. Besides, it would help pass the time since Elsie looked determined to stay.
“Would ye like me to read some of it to ye?”
“Please.” Elsie pulled up the one chair in the room and sat down expectantly.
Inis opened the book and began with “She Walks in Beauty,” careful not to read too quickly or too well. But even with stumbling over a few words, Elsie still smiled and sighed when she finished.
“Lord Byron makes his love sound so beautiful. I wish a man would describe me like that.”
