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A long moment passed before he answered, “Twice.”
“You must tell me. I have nothing else to do today so please entertain me with how you ended up in this position.”
He smiled deeply. “Very well, but first, do you need some more breakfast or maybe more tea?”
“Tea would be lovely, thank you.”
He walked out of the room and quickly reentered. “The tea will be here soon.” He returned to his seat and smiled over at her. “Now, where was I?”
“Hmm, something about a beating.”
“Ahh, yes. I was in my third year at Eton and my younger brother, Charlie, was a first year. My brother can be a bit hardheaded and didn’t know enough to give the elder boys a little leave. Instead of taking their teasing, he decided to fight back. He was ten at the time and the three other boys were fifteen. When I came upon the scene, I had to help my younger brother. We both ended up in the infirmary for a week.”
Mia smiled slightly. “It’s very nice that you helped your brother.”
“That week in the infirmary did make us closer.”
“Where is he now? I haven’t seen him in close to a year.”
Hart looked away wistfully. “London.”
“And James? I can’t remember the last time I saw him.”
“He has a parish in Dover he tends.”
“You must miss him,” she said softly. The three boys had been close growing up. She used to watch with envy as they rode across the fields on their horses.
“I usually see him once a year. But this year, he hasn’t been able to get away. Hopefully, he will visit soon.”
A knock on the door interrupted their interlude. Hart walked to the door and allowed the footman access to the room.
“Thomas, how is that cut on your shin?” Mia asked him as he placed the silver tray on the table in the corner.
“Much better, miss. Thank you. The salve you gave me helped it heal swiftly.”
“Good. I can look at it, if you like,” she offered, attempting to raise her head until the pain heeded her progress.
“No, miss. You must heal yourself. One of the maids saw your mother this morning and she said to tell you it would be near noon before she could arrive.”
“Thank you, Thomas.”
The young man gave a quick nod to them both and then closed the door behind him. Mia wondered if he thought it odd that the earl was in her bedchamber alone. After what she’d been through, they most likely thought he was protecting her.
Hart brought her a cup of tea and placed it on the nightstand. “Would you like me to help you into a sitting position?”
She knew she shouldn’t allow him such liberties but there was no one else to help her, and she really wanted that tea. “Yes, please.”
He placed his hands under her arms and gently eased her up. Before she could sit back, he plumped the pillows behind her. She sat back embarrassed that she noticed the spicy hint of soap that clung to his strong body.
“Here you go,” he said, handing her the cup of tea.
“Thank you.”
Hart grabbed his own tea and sat back down in his chair. “Now, where were we?”
Mia sipped her tea and then smiled. “Well, you told me the sweet story about how you defended your brother. Something tells me your next story isn’t as charming.”
His cheeks reddened slightly and his normal rakish grin slipped away. “You would be correct on that. My next beating was far worse than being trounced by a couple of fifteen-year-olds. I was twenty-two and in London. I was in an area of town that I shouldn’t have been in without more people. It was just Middleton and me.”
