Page 16 of Broken

“You were to watch over her?” He snapped out in surprise. “I can see you did a fine job of it.”

Mrs. Osprey flinched and fussed with her tray of food. “Lady Winter dismissed me from my duties the day before the accident.” Regret clouded Mrs. Osprey’s features, draining Giles’ anger as swiftly as it had come.

“Why did she do that?”

“She said I was a bad influence on her daughter. She urged your mama to dismiss me.” Mrs. Osprey’s chin firmed. “It was only a plate of sweets I took to her. I didn’t know the baroness had issued an order that she be denied.”

“Denied what?”

“Denied food, my lord, as punishment.”

“What reason could there be for that?”

“I never did hear, but I did learn that this particular form of punishment was often used by Lady Winter. The poor thing was starving.” Mrs. Osprey’s voice broke to a wail on the last word.

Giles ran his fingers through his hair. “You gave her more than just sweets, didn’t you?”

Mrs. Osprey fidgeted. “Yes.”

Giles thought about the risk Mrs. Osprey had taken to feed Lilly as a child. She could have been dismissed for disobeying. “Well done, Mrs. Osprey.”

Mrs. Osprey gave a half smile, but tears threatened to fall. “You should eat before your dinner becomes cold, my lord.”

Giles ate quickly while Mrs. Osprey fussed about the room. She should be a Dithers, he thought, wondering why she had never married. She had always been a pretty woman to his way of thinking. Surely the men of her class were not as blind as all that. There was that small problem of her mind slipping, but it should only be a small consideration. Only he and Dithers had noticed it so far.

“I have some soup for Miss Winter too. Will you assist me, my lord?”

Giles pressed the napkin to his mouth and stood. “Of course. I can finish my dessert later.”

He approached the bed, tugged back the covers, and reached for Lilly’s shoulders to raise her upper body. She did not resist him. She was as soft as a rag doll. Giles sat behind her, letting her body rest against his chest while one of his hands cradled her face. Mrs. Osprey leaned in close with the spoon and pressed it to Lilly’s lips.

At first, nothing appeared to happen—but then Lilly moved, lashing out with her arms, knocking the spoon from his housekeeper’s hands.

Mrs. Osprey’s reaction was comical. Her hands flew into the air and she rocked like ninepins. They were fortunate Lilly had not hit the bowl of soup.

“Now, now, Miss Winter, none of that nonsense. Just got a nice bit of chicken broth to strengthen you. Here now, try again.”

Mrs. Osprey once again pushed the spoon at Lilly’s mouth, and again she avoided it.

While Mrs. Osprey dithered, Giles stroked the side of Lilly’s face. “You must eat, Lilly. Your father will be vexed with me if you do not. If he returns and finds you ailing again, he will no doubt take me to task over the matter. Do not fight poor Mrs. Osprey. She is a good, kind woman who wants to see you well again. Eat her chicken broth and save me from dining on it for breakfast tomorrow.”

The bundle resting against his chest struggled, but he held her firm, splaying his fingers across her ribs. Lilly stilled.

Mrs. Osprey held out the spoon again. The housekeeper beamed when the spoon was received and drained to her satisfaction. Lilly managed five more mouthfuls before she turned her head away, snuggling farther into Giles’ chest.

She had not consumed enough to feed a sparrow, let alone a grown woman, but at least she had taken something. Mrs. Osprey gathered up her things and departed the room, leaving Giles sitting on the bed with Lilly still cradled in his arms.

Giles’ experiences with women in his arms were limited to the times he had held them during sex. He liked the tactile contact of a partially clothed or naked body against his, but he was unsure of what he was doing still holding Lillian Winter. He found he liked it very much.

God help him if he ever had her naked.

He swallowed an oath even as he traced the curve of her face, trailed along her jaw and upper neck, unable to resist touching her translucent skin. She was so soft and delicate.

“Giles?”

His cock throbbed from hearing her speak his name. When he didn’t answer immediately, she wriggled as if preparing to move.

“I have you safe, Lilly.”