Page 135 of Regency Whispers: Scandalous Matches

She pressed her lips together and glanced over her shoulder, wondering if she should confide in Maria, but before she could say anything Simon walked back into the room.

‘Tea and toast and cake will be brought up shortly,’ he said.

‘Perhaps you might carry me downstairs, Simon. There is more room in the drawing room, and I would like a change of scenery.’

He considered for a moment and then nodded. ‘If you are sure. Just for half an hour, though, then I will carry you back up to bed.’

Alice didn’t argue, excited by the prospect of leaving her room for the first time in a week. Carefully Simon leaned down and positioned his arms underneath her, lifting her up smoothly from the chair. He walked slowly, ensuring his footsteps did not jar or jolt Alice as she held onto his neck.

They made it downstairs without incident, and Simon settled Alice in a comfortable armchair, ensuring she had just the right number of pillows behind her.

‘Thank you,’ Alice said, beaming up at him.

‘You’re welcome.’ He dropped a kiss on the top of her head and then moved away. ‘I will tell Miss Stick to take the opportunity to change your sheets now you are out of bed. I am sure it will feel good to have fresh ones.’ He disappeared, and once again Alice was left alone with Maria.

Maria stared after him and then rose from her seat and softly closed the door behind her.

‘Is something amiss?’ Alice asked, confused at their need for privacy.

‘You’re in love with him,’ Maria said, her eyes wide. ‘It is obvious with every look, every touch.’

Alice started to shake her head and then stopped. It was impossible to hide such things from Maria: she was astute in all areas, but in particular she had a very well-developed emotional intelligence.

‘We have grown close these last few weeks.’

‘I can see that,’ Maria said, studying Alice carefully. ‘You have forgiven him for abandoning you?’

‘Yes.’

Maria looked at Alice cautiously, as if aware her next question was delicate, especially for a woman who was up for the first time in days and shouldn’t be upset.

‘Have you spoken of your future together? Has he said he wants to settle down with you?’

‘We have spoken many times,’ Alice said, shaking her head a little, recalling their conversations in Hyde Park and later in the carriage and the again in the bedroom. Each had resulted in a different plan, a different conclusion. ‘But we have agreed on nothing long-term.’

‘I do not wish you to get hurt, Alice.’

‘I know. I do not wish for that either.’ She lowered her voice further so it was barely more than a whisper. ‘I have tried my very hardest not to fall in love with Simon these last few weeks, but I fear I have been unsuccessful. At first I tried to keep my distance, and then I told myself we could be close just as long as I remembered not to fall for him. I was very resolute at first, but he has a way of burrowing into your heart.’

‘He is very loveable,’ Maria said with a sigh. ‘But so are you, and you deserve to be loved, Alice.’

‘I cannot force him to love me,’ she said quietly, wondering if she was mad to think that perhaps he did love her. Over the past week he had certainly been devoted to her care and recovery, and every time he came into the room he smiled broadly, a smile that told her he was pleased to see her. She thought maybe he did love her: he was just too stubborn to admit it, still ruled by the guilt of taking over every aspect of his late brother’s life.

‘He is a fool,’ Maria said suddenly, anger flaring in her voice. ‘I love you both dearly, but until I saw him with you today, I could not imagine how you would be together, yet you are perfect, you complement each other in exactly the right ways. It is an incredible turn of events, marrying a stranger and ending up with the one person you are destined for in this life, and if he squanders this chance of happiness, he is a complete and utter fool.’

‘I think the problem is he feels he shouldn’t be happy.’

‘Silly boy,’ Maria said, biting her lip and shaking her head at the same time. ‘Do you want me to talk to him?’

‘No,’ Alice said quickly. She needed to step carefully with Simon; the last thing she wanted was to push him away. If he was made to confront his feelings for Alice too soon it might scare him away. It would be better to let things build, for him to see there was no point denying the love and happiness they brought to one another.

‘If you are sure?’

‘I am sure.’

‘You two look deadly serious,’ Simon said as he reentered the room.

‘We were discussing Alice’s injury. It sounds horrific,’ Maria turned to Alice and leaned over and squeezed her hand. ‘You should return to Northumberland, where it is safe, as soon as you are well.’