Page 79 of Tempting the Marquess

“Indeed. Now, your shoulder will suffer soreness and a lessening in mobility until fully healed. But I would strongly recommend you spend a few days in bed. The body always heals better when it is well rested. I shall return this afternoon with the poultice. Good day to you, Lord Standish. Mrs. Kingsley.”

The physician strode from the room, and William stared impatiently at Mrs. Kingsley, who was still hovering. “See? You worried over nothing.”

“I disagree. Your dying would be extremely inconvenient—I’ve no desire to go searching for another employer. Now,” she said, picking up a heavy tray, “sit up and eat your breakfast. You need to regain all your strength.”

“I said I didn’t want anything to eat. And chicken broth and barley water will do nothing for my strength.”

She smiled sweetly as she set the tray on his lap. “It’s the perfect meal for an invalid. For the next two days, at least.”

“You are truly something...special.”

“Why thank you. Your mother always thought so,” she called as she swept from theroom.

Shifting the unappetizing tray to one side, William lay back on his pillows. Rest might be the instruction, but it would take more than a few days for his mind to fully comprehend everything that had happened recently. One part of his life might have been set to rights, it was an enormous relief to not have to wear David Underwood’s god-awful padding and makeup anymore, but everything else had been sent tohell.

What did he have to look forward tonow?

Samantha and Alexander marrying. Her belly growing big with child. Which, of course, he would only witness if he survived a brutal reckoning with the Earl of Claremont, a man who never played by any rules.

Cursing under his breath, William ran a hand through his hair and turned onto hisside.

Two days respite. And then he had to return to the world as himself.

Bloodyhell.

* * *

“Wouldyou prefer to drive the carriage yourself?”

Samantha flushed at the realization her muttered curses at the responsible carefulness of Alexander’s driver had been audible, but she still glared at the duke. “Oh, go bathe in the Thames, your grace. Or better yet, I could ask Lord Trentham to sing for you again. I understand he has added several more tunes to his repertoire.”

“You and your mean streak. I don’t know whether to admire or fear it. William is a brave man, taking on a lady knife thrower.”

“William doesn’t know about my talents in that area. And no one will share such information with him, except me, at the right time. If you so much as breathe a word, I will sharply ensure continuation of the Langley line becomes quite impossible.”

Alexander’s eyes widened. Then he coughed. “I wonder how William is, truly. Mrs. Kingsley’s note was damnably vague except to say he’d been visited by Geoffrey Murray, ordered to rest, and looked forward to seeing us both as soon as possible.”

“Who is Geoffrey Murray?”

“Best physician in the country. Use him myself when the need arises. Come to think of it, he helped with the birth of the Westleigh twins. You should get him to tend to you, when the time comes.”

Samantha nodded absently and stared out the window as the streets of London rushed by, her stomach knotted with a mixture of nausea, fear, and anticipation.

Today was theday.

It had been seven weeks since she’d seen William, but it felt like a lifetime. Apart from a frantic desire to throw her arms around him, a thousand questions swarmed through her head. Would he be happy to see her? Did he still care? How would he react to the news of his impending fatherhood? He’d be lucky to get a word in edgewise once she began to speak, she had so many things to tell him. How desperately he’d been missed, obviously. The torture of waiting for news that had only come sporadically. Then the baby announcement, once she plucked up the courage.

Or more small talk? Perhaps she should tell him about Mr. Underwood. That might make him laugh, and put him in a better frame of mind to hear he would be a father in the New Year. Then again, who knew how much conversation was adequate before telling the man you loved that the preventative sponge had failed miserably. Now Aunt Jane and Caroline knew, if he didn’t agree to marry her, there would be hell to pay from the Westleighs. Oh God. Maybe she should skip the pregnancy confession altogether and get straight to shirt-ripping. William wouldn’t need to do a thing. She could just take his cock deep inside her quim and ride him to orgasm like she had lasttime…

A sharp clicking sound startled her from her reverie and she glared at one amused duke. “Don’t you snap your fingers at me! What are you laughingat?”

“I don’t even want to know what you were thinking about, but we’ve been sitting outside Hastings House for at least two minutes.”

“As long as that?” she muttered, allowing him to help her out of the carriage. “How awful foryou.”

“Your grace! I’m very glad you are finallyhere.”

“Mrs. Kingsley,” said Alexander, inclining his head as William’s housekeeper hurried down the front steps.