Page 33 of When the Marquess Was Mine
“Brilliant idea,” he said at once. He’d come downstairs that morning to eat at the table.
“Do you think you should?” asked Kitty in concern. “It’s at least half a mile distant.”
“It’s flat ground, and an easy walk.” Georgiana watched Rob as she spoke. “If you’d like to get away from the house for a bit.”
He grinned, charmingly abashed. “You have read my mind. Not that I don’t appreciate this house a great deal, Lady Winston,” he added to their hostess. “But some fresh air would be very welcome.”
Kitty smiled. “Of course. I should have known Georgiana would marry someone who likes the outdoors as much as she does. I’ll send Angus with you.”
“Oh, we can manage,” Georgiana exclaimed. “There’s no need for Angus to come.” She had things to say to Rob and didn’t need Angus listening in.
“It’s a long walk, dear,” put in Mother Winston, concerned. “Lord Sterling may not be strong enough yet...”
“Nonsense.” Rob put his hand on the cane someone had located in the attics for him, and tapped it on the floor. “I feel better every day.”
“Which is not the same as being equal to walking to the pond and back,” murmured Kitty over her teacup, an amused smile lingering on her lips. “If you wish to go, by all means go. But do take Angus along, to carry the hamper if nothing else.”
Georgiana gave in. “I’ll be ready before it’s packed. Send him along with it.”
She told Lucy to have Cook pack a picnic hamper and located an old blanket, and they set out. Rob leaned on his cane, slow but steady in his gait. Georgiana watched with veiled apprehension. It took a very long time to make it through the garden, and she realized it would be even longer on the way back. It probably was too much to expect him to do this.
“Perhaps weshouldwait for Angus,” she began, when he inhaled a little sharply.
“What? Not for my sake.” Looking determined, he quickened his pace. “I despise being trapped in bed.”
“I could tell,” she said. “But I may have been too eager to escape the house.”
There was a world of sympathy and understanding in his glance. “Quite rightly. Stuck inside all day, expected to entertain an invalid... It would drive anyone mad.”
“No!” she protested with a startled laugh. “I didn’t mean that.”
“You didn’tsaythat.” He navigated his way down three shallow steps with a perceptible hiss of discomfort.
“It’s not your fault you’re an invalid,” she exclaimed, “and I don’t begrudge the entertainment.” Strangely, she didn’t, not now.
“And I am too shameless to refuse it.” He winked at her before assuming a martyred expression. “Oh no, dear Georgiana, do go out and carry on living your life. Never mind me, lying here alone and unwell. I shall endure... and waste away a little more... of boredom and loneliness if not of my injuries...” His patently false tone, weak and thin, warbled off.
Georgiana snorted with laughter and flapped one hand at him.
Rob laughed. “I’m not that noble, my love. Surely you must know that.”
As always, the endearment made her uneasy. Even more unnerving was the reason: she rather liked it. Sterling never said things like that to her. He paid her compliments, flowery flattery that sounded lovely but, she realized, not quite heartfelt. He might have said them to anyone. “I feel I’ve come to know you a vast deal better in the last few days than I did before,” she said honestly.
Rob glanced quickly at her, but the brim of his hat concealed his expression. “Another benefit to being knocked on the head,” was all he said.
She cleared her throat. “I don’t suppose any memories have come back to you?”
His cane came down on a loose stone in the path and slipped, sending him stumbling forward as if he might fall. She gasped in alarm and dove forward to catch him, and ended up with his arm around her shoulders and her hands clutching his coat.
“Sorry,” he said, breathing hard. “Blasted stone.” He knocked it off the path with a flick of the cane.
“All steady?” She tried to laugh, but was too breathless. Her heart was racing and her hands—if they weren’t still gripping him—would be shaking.
His arm around her tightened. “Thanks to you—again. You’re always saving me.”
Georgiana released him as if her palms burned. “Oh no! You don’t need me.”
Rob pushed up his hat and gave her a searing look. “Never say that.” He raised his head and scanned the path ahead. “I expect you’ll have to catch me a dozen more times today alone.”
