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She should say yes. She should ask for a maid to come in, but she didn’t want Galloway to leave. She wanted him nearby. The problem with having him close was that he reminded her of the kiss they’d shared in the palace gardens. She couldn’t stop thinking about the brush of his lips on hers and the feel of his arms holding her. She looked up at him, all but forgetting the question he’d asked. The silence dragged on for another long moment, and Galloway said, “I’ll stay then.”
He turned the cloth over, cooling her forehead again. “The doctor left more pain medication. You should take some if your leg is hurting you.”
“Is it bad? The wound?”
He shook his head. “The doctor said you didn’t need stitches. He bandaged it. You will need to keep it clean and rest for the next few days. He said you were either very lucky or somewhat unlucky.”
“I seem to be quite unlucky of late. Twice now I’ve been shot at.” She waved a hand. “Not that the cutthroats were aiming for me, but one does not like to be too close when pistol balls fly about.”
He gave her an understanding smile.
“Were you terrified?” she asked.
“Of course.”
But she didn’t think he had been terrified. He had acted quickly and almost without fear. As though he had been in situations like this before. Perhaps he had been in the army. He hadn’t mentioned it, but then she hadn’t asked.
He drew the compress away from her forehead. “You’re warmer than I thought. Let me rinse this and reapply.” He moved back to the basin, and she attempted to sit and reach for her glass again. But she moved too quickly. The pain shot up her leg like a lick of fire, and she hissed in surprise.
Will was immediately at her side. “Let me do that.” He held the glass so she could drink and then lifted the bottle and spoon beside the bed. “I think more pain medication.”
She didn’t argue. Even though the medication made her sleepy, her leg didn’t hurt when she was asleep. She took the bitter tasting stuff and lay back, closing her eyes when he put the cool cloth on her forehead again.
“You make a surprisingly good nurse,” she said.
“You are an easy patient.”
“How so?” she asked. Her voice sounded further away as she became drowsier.
“You don’t argue. I’m used to my sister, who could be on her deathbed and would argue she feels well enough to run a mile.”
“I don’t think I could even walk across the room,” she said. She began to drift off but woke again when he turned the compress. “Will?”
“I’m still here.”
“I’m glad.” She wanted to reach up and put her hand on his, but she couldn’t seem to control her arm. “You kissed me,” she said. She didn’t know why she said it. She hadn’t intended to say it.
A long pause followed, or perhaps it only felt long to her. “You mean in the palace gardens?”
“Yes. Why did you kiss me?”
“I should think that would be obvious. I’m attracted to you.” He paused again and the compress was lifted. After some time, it was replaced, cooling her heated flesh. “Why did you let me kiss you?”
“I should think that would be obvious,” she said, echoing his words. “You are handsome, charming...” She trailed off.
“Don’t fall asleep now,” he said. “I was just beginning to enjoy our conversation.” Of course, he would say that. She was complimenting him.
“Will you kiss me again?” she asked.
“Not right now. When you are feeling better, I’ll kiss you again. If you still want me to.”
Emily smiled and allowed the heaviness of sleep to push down on her. Willoughby said something, and she had to push against the weight of her drowsiness to try and comprehend. He’d said something about the Irish and the assassin.
She didn’t know what she answered. She mumbled something as he continued to speak. And soon she was not aware of him at all.
WHEN SHE WOKE AGAIN, sunlight streamed through the curtains and Dr. Phillips was speaking to her. He had a nurse with him, and when Emily glanced at the other bed in the room, she saw it was empty. The bed clothes appeared undisturbed.Had she simply imagined Willoughby Galloway had tended her overnight?
The doctor examined her wound and changed the bandages and then pronounced her well enough to travel. Emily didn’t feel well enough to do anything, but she allowed the maid who came after the doctor left to help her dress in the pale green gown. Everything seemed to take too long, and it felt like hours before she was presentable. Even then, she wore her torn dress from the day before. The maid had attempted to clean it, but there was only so much anyone could do with the garment. The gown, which made her eyes look more green than blue, had been one of her favorites. Now she never wanted to see it again.
