“Mr. Wentworth!” Mrs. Debenham lowered her work. “Please.”
“I apologise.” He reluctantly released Maddie’s cold hand. In the past weeks, she’d been either too hot or too cold. “I deeply admire your courage, miss. In your situation, I would probably despair all day. Your strength is impressive.” He had to stop himself from saying he was sorry again.
She flashed a weak but genuine smile. “Thank you for your praise. Praises don’t come my way often.” She threw a brief glance at her mother. The gesture was so quick Hector wasn’t sure it’d happened. “I’m too exhausted to think, be angry with anyone, or even despair. That’s a positive thing about the situation, I guess. You and His Grace have been of great help to me.”
“I beg to differ.”
While she’d been bedridden, he’d been accepted to be part of the expedition. Although he hadn’t applied to it after the incident. Hell, he hadn’t even taken the golden pimpernel to the society. But the rumour about the incident had spread. Words about Hector having found a rare plant had reached the Royal Botanical Society, and the botanists had questioned him relentlessly. His discovery of the golden pimpernel had created such an uproar in the scientific world the organiser of the expedition had begged him to join them. Hector hadn’t answered yet. Oh, he wanted to accept but didn’t deserve it.
“Nonsense.” Her voice sounded small and fragile. It killed him. “You and the duke have saved my life. We couldn’t have afforded Dr. Wilton’s fees if it hadn’t been for your—”
“Madeline!” Mrs. Debenham’s voice rang sharply. “Talking about money with a gentleman is most vulgar.”
A flush crept over Maddie’s face. A flare of anger at Mrs. Debenham burned the back of his mouth.
“Madam,” he said to the older lady. “I kindly request permission to speak to Miss Madeline alone.”
Mrs. Debenham arched her dark eyebrows. “For what reason, may I ask?”
“I’d like to discuss a personal matter with Miss Madeline and I promise on my honour”—or what was left of it—“that I will behave as a perfect gentleman.”
Mrs. Debenham opened her mouth, but Maddie cut her off. “Please Mother. Besides, what could possibly happen? I’m a corpse, for all intents and purposes, cold and stiff.”
“Please, Miss Madeline, don’t speak about yourself in those terms,” he said at the same time as Mrs. Debenham said, “You’ve become so vulgar.”
Maddie exhaled. “I guess having almost met my maker changed me, Mother.”
“All right.” Mrs. Debenham rose, muttering under her breath. “But the door remains open, Mr. Wentworth.”
He bowed. “As you wish, madam.” He waited for the lady to leave the room before inching closer to Maddie.
“What is it?” As she propped herself up, the blanket slipped down a few inches, revealing her protruding collarbone.
Every time he noticed a sign of her frailty, he wanted to slap himself. “Miss Madeline, I must speak my mind.”
“Please do.” She tried to sit further upright but winced.
“Let me.” He laid his hat on a table and hurried to help her.
When he slid his arm around her waist, the bones in her rib cage touched his palm. She was so frail, all because of him. But he was going to take care of her from now on.
He inhaled her sweet lavender scent and made sure the pillows were behind her back.
For a brief moment, he met her gaze, and her eyes held him captive with their brightness. It was as if she begged him not to hurt her again. A cold pang sliced through his chest. He finally understood what Robert had meant the night of the incident when he’d made his speech about ducal responsibilities. He was ready to pay for what he’d done and be a man Robert would be proud to call his brother.
“What did you want to tell me?” she asked, averting her gaze.
He cleared his throat and straightened. “I thought a lot about what I did and the weight of my responsibility towards you.”
She narrowed her gaze, but didn’t say anything.
“I am lucky enough to be a man of means. My brother holds the title, but I receive a generous allowance that would provide for you more than handsomely.”
“Mr. Wentworth.” Her voice was so low and fragile he couldn’t understand if she was shocked or delightfully surprised. “What are you talking about?”
“I speak without the consent of your honourable father because I wanted to pay you respect and know your opinion on the matter before making a formal request.”
Her lips parted, and a deliciously healthy blush blossomed in her cheeks. “Just so we’re perfectly clear, are you proposing a marriage?”
