David blushed at the roots of his hair. Harry instead didn’t flinch, all innocence.
“Go to the kitchen using the servants’ stairs. Cook will give you a slice of lemon cake,” Ethan said, not wanting to spoil the fun for David. “Use the side corridor, and please don’t lose any more buttons.” He gave Harry a pointed look the boy pretended not to understand.
“Excellent. Don’t worry, sir.” Harry took David’s arm and led him out of the nook. “What’s better than lemon cake? I can’t think of anything aside from a nice strawberry cake with whipped cream on top.”
David stopped and turned towards Ethan. “Sir, we weren’t… I mean, we didn’t…”
Ethan ruffled David’s hair. “It’s all right. You need to have fun with someone your age. You did nothing wrong.” Or nothing Ethan hadn’t done himself.
Harry punched the air. “That’s the right attitude. Then we can?—”
“No more, Harry.” Ethan jabbed a finger at him. “Behave. You’ve avoided punishment, but the occasion won’t be repeated.”
Harry stooped his shoulders. “Spoilsport. Let’s go, David. I’m sure the cook will have prepare a cup of cocoa for us to drown our sorrows in.”
“Thank you, sir.” David nodded and let Harry lead him away.
Ethan watched them disappear downstairs, vowing to make David as happy as he was that night.
seventeen
CORA STOKED THE fire in the stove. The wound was healing well, her shoulder and arm were less swollen, and her appetite had returned. Inactivity was her problem. Not because she didn’t want to stay cooped up in Ethan’s house and be coddled by him, but because Jacob was plotting in the dark, and the thought made her restless.
Could she really leave Ethan behind? The wooden log shot a fiery spark when she broke it in two with the poker. If leaving Ethan meant keeping David safe, yes, she would leave him behind. David would never, ever have to almost kill his father to protect her, no matter what she had to do. She would sacrifice her… affection? Attraction for Ethan? Whatever it was. No, it was deeper than attraction. Stronger than affection. But David was her priority.
Attraction was easy to handle. Love wasn’t. Her feelings had tricked her once. The speed with which she’d developed her affection for Ethan scared her. It’d happened before— a burst of intense emotions that had dazzled her. But Ethan wasn’t Jacob. If she was going to be honest, her bond with Ethan had started years ago, under the rubble of a small church in Colchester. Herinstinct told her she could trust him. Her mind lagged behind. Her lips and skin tingled after the kiss. So confusing.
The sound of the music came muffled through the door. A part of her would love to be in the ballroom and enjoy herself, maybe dance with Ethan. But the shadows never left her. She jolted when a knock came.
“May I?” Ethan asked.
“Come in.” She straightened and smoothed down her skirt.
The door swung inwards and Ethan appeared. His gaze heated the moment he smiled at her, and she couldn’t deny the warm flicker in her belly. Good heaven. He made her feel desirable and beautiful with one glance. No wonder she couldn’t keep her hands to herself when he was close. Her cheeks were pale; fatigue clouded her eyes; her dress didn’t fit; her hair looked like something that had been dragged out of the Thames. Yet when he gazed at her, she felt beautiful.
He strode towards her. “I knocked a few times, but you didn’t answer. Are you all right?”
She inhaled to calm her heartbeat. “I didn’t hear it.”
He frowned. Concern often etched his face. “Lady Kingsley, please come in.”
The short woman walked in. Her austere dark gown was lightened by her kind smile. Cora didn’t lower her guard though. She did a shallow curtsy, keeping her head up. Talking with Lady Kingsley could be the best or worst idea they had ever had.
“Lady Roxbury has been here for a few days as I told you, my lady,” Ethan said.
Lady Kingsley sat on the sofa in a froth of skirts, her expression not exactly warm. “I’ve met your husband on several occasions, but I don’t think I’ve seen you more than a few times.” A way to say: I know your husband better than I know you.
“Jacob always made a point of keeping me home and never letting me attend the same parties as he did. Rarely, he took mewith him. The night at the museum was one of those occasions.” It was the truth. She didn’t try to gain the lady’s favour. She sat in front of the lady not to show how her legs trembled.
Lady Kingsley arched her eyebrows. “Lord Stark told me about your situation. I can assure you that I won’t utter a word about you, but I reserve the right to offer my full support until I hear your story.”
“That’s fair.” Cora grimaced when she shifted her position too quickly and her back hit the armchair.
“What is it?” Lady Kingsley said.
Cora rubbed her shoulder. “The wound. It’s still a bit stiff.”
“As I told you, my lady, Lord Roxbury shot the countess,” Ethan said.
