“Thank you for your assistance,” Jeremy said behind him. “Perhaps you should go now. Mrs. McClain will be happy to settle your fee.”
“Indeed,” the physician muttered, and a moment later, Damien heard the door to Caroline’s room close.
“Brother,” Jeremy said, his deep voice calm. “Sheisgoing to wake up.”
Damien gritted his teeth. Somewhere in his mind, reason was trying to tell him that it was the truth. Even so, he sensed he needed to see it for himself before he could well and truly calm down.
“How is George?” he asked, not willing to discuss his fears.
“The boy is fine,” Jeremy replied. “Slept through the whole thing. We do not need to tell him about this. I believe he would be just as frightened as you are if he were to know.”
“I am not...” Damien started to snap as he shot a look over his shoulder. Yet as he caught sight of his brother’s tight jaw and raised brow in a rare look of challenge, he stopped himself. Jeremy knew the truth, and Damien no longer wished to fight it.
He had never been more terrified before in his entire life.
“Those infernal bees,” he said through gritted teeth as he turned his gaze back to Caroline. “I should burn the entirety of the gardens down. If there are no flowers, then they will have no reason to come here.”
Behind him, Jeremy chortled.
“A bit over the top, don’t you think?” he remarked.
Damien shook his head.
“You do not understand,” he said, moving his hand up to caress Caroline’s cheek. “When she fainted, when she stopped breathing, I...”
My heart stopped. I thought she was gone. Before I could make things right. Before I could show her how much she means to me.
“Do not burn those beautiful flowers,” Caroline murmured.
Damien let out a husky laugh as he heard her soft voice, and bowed his head as relief made him weak.
“There you are,” he sighed, raising his head after giving a silent prayer of thanks. He found her beautiful brown eyes still cloudy, but at least she was awake and looking at him.
“I mean it,” Caroline said as he pulled his hand away from her cheek. “Do not dare burn those flowers. Their beauty is a gift.”
“To the devil with their beauty,” Damien retorted, sitting up a little straighter. “If it means keeping those wretched creatures away, I will do it.”
Caroline tsked her tongue as she pushed herself up upon her pillows.
“There are other ways to handle problems without destruction, you know,” she scolded.
Though he could see she was clearly worried he was going to burn the gardens, Damien could not help but smirk.
“Well, pray, give me another solution to keep those stinging demons away from you, and I will try that first,” he replied.
Caroline shot him a disapproving look, making both him and Jeremy chuckle.
“So that is what happened then?” she asked, reaching up to touch her throat.
Damien caught her hand and gently lowered it, startling her.
“Sorry,” he muttered, letting go of her with a quickness. “The physician made a poultice for the sting. It needs to dry completely before you wash it off or touch it. And to answer your question, yes. It seems that you have an intolerance to their sting.”
“How bothersome,” Caroline muttered, staring off at no particular place. Then she shifted her gaze to his, and as she smirked, Damien felt his heart flutter.“Still,” she went on, nudging his thigh with hers. “That does not give you the right toburn anything down. It is unnecessary and ridiculous.”
Fire flicked up his thigh where she had brushed against him; even through his breeches and the blanket over her legs, it sent desire coursing through his veins and made his body crave to touch her. Knowing he could not, he let out a scoff as he moved off the side of her bed and headed for the door. His body ached with longing with each step away from her, deepening his darkening mood.
“When are you going to understand, Caroline?” he bit out, gruffer than he intended as he opened the door. “I would burn the entireworlddown if it meant keeping you safe.”
