Mother pressed her lips together but thankfully didn’t say anything.
Maddie cut through the thick mane until his hair was at a fashionable length right below his strong jaw. Perhaps the curls needed to be straightened here and there, but overall, they looked more decent. He watched his hair fall around him but again didn’t show any interest.
“Done.” She brushed a few curls from his shoulder, holding back a gasp when she inadvertently slipped her hand inside his shirt.
It wasn’t her fault if he kept his shirt half-unbuttoned and the fabric became loose around his neck. Her fingers skimmed over hard muscles and smooth skin. For s split moment, she wished she could explore more, but she was lucky that Mother was distracted by Verity when the incident occurred. She slid her hand out of his shirt, but Hector turned towards her, his chest rising with his deep inhalation, and his pupils dilating again.
“Apologies,” she whispered.
Was he flushing? She couldn’t tell. Between his tanned skin and the beard, it was difficult to see his face, but the visible skin had blushed red for a moment. Heavens, she behaved wantonly with him, touching him when he didn’t expect it.
“Don’t apologise,” he whispered back before staring ahead.
She took her time preparing the bowl of warm water. Shaving him would be trickier than cutting his hair, and she would need to stand quite close to him, which wasn’t an explanation for her suddenly fast heartbeat.
“I’ll cut the beard now,” she said, standing in front of him. “After I shorten it, it’s probably better if you ask Dr. Landon to use the razor.” She let out a nervous laugh for no reason, but Hector didn’t even smile. Oh, well. “I once cut my father’s beard when he broke two fingers.”
Verity nodded. “A client at the bank got furious and closed Father’s fingers in a drawer, smashing them. How horrible for him. Although Father admitted the man had a good reason to be angry since the bank refused—”
“Verity, shush!” Mother chided her.
Maddie stroked the beard, finding it surprisingly soft, and cut a big chunk. The curls fell over his shirt, and she fought the urge to brush them off. Lord, she was becoming a degenerate, and the fact he kept his trusting gaze on her didn’t help. Gentlemen didn’t stare at ladies with his intensity. Such a shame.
“It’ll be such a shock for you to return home.” Mother’s smile didn’t hold any kindness.
Hector didn’t acknowledge her, but Maddie shot her a warning glare, which her mother promptly ignored.
“It’ll take some time,” Verity said. “But I’m sure Mr. Wentworth will be all right once he’s reunited with his...ahem, friends and peers.”
Maddie cut another chunk, hoping Hector didn’t ask Verity questions about his family. Clumsy of her to mention it.
Mother turned on her chair to glance at Verity. “What are you talking about, silly girl? His whole family is dead.”
Verity gasped, clamping her hands over her mouth.
“Mother!” Maddie lowered the scissors and stomped a foot on the floor.
Hector whipped his head up. “Dead? How? When?” His expectant face radiated too much trust.
“Mr. Wentworth, we didn’t tell you, but it happened—” Maddie couldn’t finish the sentence. Her mother cut her off.
“For God’s sake. Robert died of a tropical fever, and your mother killed herself. She isn’t even buried in holy ground.”
Hector’s mouth dropped open as his breath seemed to get stuck in his rising chest. He didn’t even blink.
“Mother, enough!” Maddie’s voice thundered in the cabin.
She shook so hard the scissors slipped out of her hand. How could her mother be so cruel? Controlling her daughters was one thing, but destroying a man’s hope was quite another.
Mother straightened as if she were the one who had been attacked. “It’s true and someone ought to tell him. It’s his right to know the truth.” She dabbed her forehead with her handkerchief. “Would you have let him believe that he would see his family once in London?” She tsked. “Now, that’s cruel.”
Maddie folded her arms over her chest. “I would have told him in a kinder fashion.”
“So, is it true?” He shivered, and goosebumps pebbled his skin.
She drew in a breath. “I’m so sorry.”
Hector’s fists clenched so tightly she worried he might punch her mother. “Get out,” he gritted out.
