Page 134 of Regency Whispers: Scandalous Matches

‘I know you are recovering well, Alice,’ Simon said. ‘And I am so grateful for your strength.’ He fell silent again.

Alice opened her mouth to speak, trying to find the right words to gently prompt to see if the issue were how their relationship had changed again. In the few weeks since his return, they had moved quickly from tiptoeing around each other to friendship and then being unable to keep their hands off one another. This past week had been another change again, with Simon caring for her as any true husband would care for his wife.

She felt a flicker of hope and wondered if this last week had made him realise what was important in his life. Not for the first time her mind started to fire pictures of their perfect future together at her. She imagined them strolling hand and hand through London before spending a few hours together raising money and awareness for the orphanage. Then at the end of the day they would return home together to retire to the bedroom and enjoy one another’s company in a more intimate way. She even dared to dream of children, a little baby of their own, a house filled with happiness and love.

Alice hadn’t even dared to dream about such a future, but Simon had changed this week. He had stopped trying to hold her at a distance and instead allowed her to see every part of him.

Before Alice could find the right words to ask if perhaps his feelings towards her and their future had changed, there was a gentle knock on the door, and a moment later Miss Stick entered.

‘You have a visitor, Lady Westcroft.’

Simon frowned. They had kept visitors away this past week so she could focus on recovery, but the room was filled with flowers from well-wishers. Miss Stick had been wonderful at gently guiding friends and acquaintances away, suggesting they visit in a week or two when Alice was back on her feet.

‘Hardly a visitor,’ Maria said as she burst into the room. ‘My darling Alice, I came the very second I heard the news. Let me look at you.’ Maria swept over and knelt before Alice, regarding her carefully, then laid a hand on her heart and let out a choked sob. ‘You’re going to recover,’ she said, tears dropping onto her cheeks. ‘Forgive me, but for the entire journey here I feared you would have succumbed to infection, and I would be arriving to a house in mourning.’

Alice gripped Maria’s hands, wishing she could pull her into an embrace but wary of the strain on her stitches.

Maria stood, turning to Simon and hugged him. ‘You must be so relieved.’

‘It has been a worrying week,’ he admitted.

‘But I am well on my way to recovery now. The doctor insisted I stay in bed for a whole week, but today, finally, I have been allowed up.’

‘Sit down, Maria,’ Simon said, indicating the chair next to Alice’s. ‘I will arrange some refreshment. You must be thirsty.’

‘I am famished too. The coach set off before breakfast this morning, and in my rush to get here I have not stopped for it since.’

‘I will organise food and tea.’

Simon strolled out of the room as Maria settled in the chair. Alice felt a great happiness at having her sister-in-law here. Out of everyone from her old family and new, Maria was the one she had leaned on the most this past year.

‘You must tell me everything that happened. How did you get such an injury? Was it through your work with the orphanages?’

‘Indirectly. I was visiting one of them near St Giles, and a man tried to rob me. He wanted my wedding ring, and as I was trying to take it off my finger, the driver and footman who had accompanied me realised something was wrong. They rushed over, and in the thief’s desperation to get away he stabbed me.’

Maria’s hand went to her mouth. ‘You must have been so frightened, Alice.’

‘It didn’t feel real, not until we were back here and the doctor was talking about pulling the knife out and stitching me up.’

‘The wound is healing? It has not festered?’

‘No. There was a day or two where we thought it might go that way, but thankfully the redness subsided and it has since healed well.’

Maria leaned forward in her chair and lowered her voice. ‘And what of Simon? I didn’t expect the look of devotion he was giving you when I first arrived.’

‘Simon has been wonderful,’ Alice said carefully. She knew how invested Maria was in her brother-in-law’s happiness and how much she wanted him to settle down and allow himself to experience the same sort of wedded bliss she had found with Robert. ‘He has barely left my side.’

‘He was always a kind boy, sensitive too, although that is hidden underneath the layers of grief and the hard shell of an exterior he has to project in his role as earl.’

‘He is kind,’ Alice said softly. He was so much more than that. She thought of the way he had kept her entertained during her recovery, which was wonderful in itself, but she knew he had done it to ensure her the best possible chance of getting better. If her mind was stimulated and he did not allow her to grow bored, then she was more likely to follow the doctor’s orders and stay in bed.

‘You have not found it too difficult, having him back?’

‘I cannot lie. It was a shock at first, but I think we have found a happy equilibrium together.’ She bit her lip, wondering what their relationship would look like when she was fully recovered. Her injury had put a stop to the physical intimacy they had shared in the week before she was stabbed, but their relationship had not faltered as she had been worried it might. Instead it had flourished.

‘He has not mentioned leaving again?’

‘No.’ Alice felt her heart squeeze at the thought. She had told herself she would not become too used to Simon’s company, but she knew if he left now she would be devastated. These past few weeks, she had tried her hardest to remember he did not want a deeper relationship, but slowly and surely she had fallen in love with her husband.