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“I suppose if you think such things, then it’s not to be wondered at you’re so willing to believe I might actually live up to my name. Now, it appears to me that you might as well get comfortable—”
The look she gave him drew amusement, despite his pain.
“—and listen as I tell you a story, because indeed your adventure today has put me in mind of it.” Her head tilted. “My grandfather delights in telling my mother and myself some of the antics my father got up to when a young boy. It seems he was quite the harum-scarum child, which one day led him to the top of the stairs at Stapleton Court with the fixed belief that he could fly.”
His eyes widened. His mouth twitched. “Let me guess—he discovered he could not.”
“Now sir, it is quite ungenerous of you to guess the end of the story before I am even halfway there.”
“My apologies.”
“You are forgiven.” She inclined her head.
“So what happened?”
“As you surmised, he discovered the laws of gravity do not permit small boys to fly and was only saved from injury far worse than a broken tooth and arm by the fortuitous passage below of the butler. Of course,” she added, “it is debatable whether poor Mr. Siddons thought a small boy landing on his head was fortunate.”
He chuckled.
She joined in. “I have often wondered if that is why Mr. Siddons is forever on his dignity. Because he is desperate to forget a time when it would seem he had none.”
His chuckles grew to loud laughter, and the cleansing power of it quite drew him to forget his own injuries and attempt to move, thus drawing rippling pain and a sharp gasp.
“Sir, please. Try to stay still.”
“It is hard when someone insists on making me laugh.”
“Now that is most unfair. I am simply the vessel of communication, not the inciter of laughs.”
“You’re a bringer of joy.” In the echo of his words, he realized it was true. While his experience of young ladies was limited, he was hard-pressed to recall any who shared such a ready wit. He never knew what outrageous thing might next fall from her lips. Her very pretty lips. So quick to turn up in a smile or pucker into tease. He found himself listening, waiting, watching for whatever those pink lips might say next.
“Captain?” those lips now said. “You are looking at me most peculiarly.”
“Forgive me. I …” Could not explain exactly what foolishness was going through his head. Only that he rather doubted he could communicate any of it to her in a way that would not lead to all kinds of further difficulties. Best to change the topic. “I suspect I was meant to be somewhere, but for the life of me I cannot recall what it was.”
“You need not concern yourself, sir.”
“But what if my absence disappointed?”
“You were expected to attend a dinner last night, where the grand unveiling of your identity was to occur. Alas, it would appear some people will go to extraordinary lengths to preserve their privacy.”
“That was it exactly,” he agreed meekly.
“I thought so. And it seems you possessed a secret longing to stay in these parts and not return south after all. Why you couldn’t have just stated that plainly, rather than going to all this trouble, I do not know.”
“Forgive me.”
“Next time, you must simply be honest about your disinclination to leave. Luckily for you, I’m rather certain the doctor will not be inclined to permit you to travel any further than Stapleton Court today.”
“I cannot impose—”
“On the contrary, you cannot refuse. Where else can you maintain your privacy, whilst receiving the benefits of comfort, care, and commiseration, as you so choose?”
“I’d rather be in London.”
“I hesitate to point out the ungracious nature of your remark, sir, only because I know the pain must have injured your manners.”
“I beg pardon.”
