LITMIR.BIZ

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it all was, Daphne walked through the hall with a sense of pride. Her decisions were good ones after all. And she could well afford to pay all the servants even if she stayed here a year instead of two weeks.

      As she crossed the hall, Carter descended the stairs.

      She smiled up at him. ‘How is Mr Westleigh this morning, Carter?’

      He reached the final step. ‘Much improved, ma’am. He wishes to speak with you.’

      Oh, dear. And she wanted to avoid him.

      ‘What about, do you know?’ Perhaps he’d changed his mind about contacting his family.

      Carter frowned. ‘He wants to see a local doctor. I believe he is most unhappy about being bandaged and confined. He wants to see a doctor immediately.’

      It was a reasonable request. He’d been nearly insensible when the surgeon at Ramsgate examined him. If only she’d known a few minutes earlier, she could have asked Mr Pitt to fetch the doctor.

      ‘Could you go to the village and locate the doctor? Or find Mr Pitt and give him the errand? He left for the village a few minutes ago.’

      Carter’s brows knit. ‘Shall I take Mr Westleigh his breakfast first, ma’am? I told him it was coming.’

      The poor man must be famished. He’d only eaten a bowl of porridge since they’d arrived here.

      She sighed. ‘No. I will take him his breakfast. Perhaps there was something else he wanted to say to me.’

      Carter came with her to the kitchen where Mrs Pitt gave him the doctor’s direction and fixed the tray for Mr Westleigh.

      Daphne carried the tray up the stairs and knocked upon Westleigh’s bedchamber door.

      ‘Come in, Carter.’ His voice sounded stronger than the day before.

      She opened the door and entered the room, kicking the door closed behind her.

      He was seated at the table and chair where he’d eaten the porridge, and was dressed in a clean white shirt and dark brown trousers that showed off his broad shoulders and lean hips. She swallowed, suddenly remembering his strong arms carrying her in the inn.

      ‘I can smell the bread from here.’ He gestured with his hand. ‘I will eat at the table.’

      She crossed the room. ‘It is Mrs Asher, not Carter.’

      He tensed, as if he’d not liked mistaking her identity, and stood as a gentleman does when a lady enters the room. ‘Good morning,’ he said stiffly.

      ‘Please sit,’ she responded. ‘Carter said you wished to see me, so it is I who brings you breakfast.’

      He lowered himself back in the chair. ‘I appreciate you coming so quickly.’

      She placed the tray of food in front of him. ‘I sent Carter to fetch a doctor and we did not wish you to wait. Are you hungry?’

      ‘Ravenous.’ He carefully ran his hands over the food.

      She’d instructed Mrs Pitts to serve foods he could eat with his hands and spare him the struggle of manoeuvring utensils. They’d settled on warm bread sliced open with melting butter inside, two cooked eggs, cubes of cheese and a pot of tea.

      He hesitated.

      It made her uncertain. ‘I will pour your tea,’ she said. ‘I remember how you take it, but do, please, eat. You must be very hungry.’

      ‘I hope my manners will not offend.’

      Oh, he was merely being polite. ‘Have no fear. I am not easily offended.’

      How odd of her to say such a thing. At a formal dinner party, she once would have had much to say about poor manners, and she’d often shaken her head at the way some of the lower classes consumed their food. Perhaps she was developing some tolerance, like the abbess had often encouraged her to do.

      ‘I am surprised to see you dressed,’ she went on in a conversational tone. ‘I thought you would still be in bed.’

      ‘No more bed.’ His voice was firm. ‘I am well enough to be up.’

      She pursed her lips. ‘Are you certain? The surgeon in Ramsgate said you would need time to recuperate. I think he meant you should remain in bed.’

      ‘I think him wrong,’ he said stiffly. ‘I feel recuperated. Perhaps the village doctor will say I may have my bandages removed and be on my way.’ He paused. ‘I told Carter I am well able to pay whatever the expense. I intend to compensate you, as well.’

      ‘Money does not concern me. I certainly need no compensation.’ She waved a dismissive hand. ‘I—I do not know if Carter can produce a doctor this very day, though.’

      The village did have a surgeon, Mrs Pitts had said, but he was kept very busy.

      Westleigh took a bite of bread, chewed and swallowed it. She could not help but notice the muscles in his neck move with the effort. She touched her own neck.

      ‘Let us hope he can come today,’ he said.

      He must be as eager to be on his way as she was for him to leave, but should she trust his care to a village doctor? Perhaps she should send for a London physician. She would love to send for the physician her husband had used when he was in town, but that man knew her.

      Of course she could simply tell Westleigh now who she was.

      She opened her mouth.

      But he spoke first. ‘Might I have a clock?’ he asked. ‘A way to keep track of time. I cannot even tell if it is day or night.’

      How awful! All sorts of things must be difficult if one was not able to see. How much worse if one would never see again.

      She vowed she would leave a large coin in the cup of the next blind beggar she came upon.

      ‘I am so sorry,’ she cried. ‘I should have thought to provide you a clock. Perhaps I can purchase a watch that chimes. I have seen such watches. You could keep it next to you.’

      Although, now that she thought of it, would a small village have such a watch? She’d only seen them in London shops.

      ‘A clock will be sufficient,’ he responded. ‘And I am well able to pay for it, if there is not a spare one in the house.’

      ‘We’ll find you one, do not fear.’ There was one on the mantel in the library. She’d have it brought to him immediately.

      Or she would have to bring it herself, since she’d sent everyone else away besides Mrs Pitts, who would be much too busy.

      ‘Wait here a moment,’ she said, which was a silly thing to say. Where could he go without sight?

      She hurried out of the room and ran down the stairs to the library. Carefully she took the clock from the mantel and carried it back to his room.

      ‘I’ve brought you a clock!’ she said as she entered. ‘I’ll place it on the mantel and we’ll make sure Carter winds it for you.’

      ‘I did not mean for you to bring it so quickly, but I am very grateful.’ He had finished the food and was feeling for the tea cup.

      She walked over and guided his hand to it.

      He stilled and his face tilted towards hers.

      She wished she could see him, see all his face. She had seen him a few times at the Masquerade Club and had been introduced to him once. It was the only time she could remember speaking to him, and she’d paid little attention.

      ‘Is there anything else?’ she murmured. ‘Anything else I can do for you?’

      He continued to seem as if he was facing her. ‘I want to leave this room,’ he said. ‘To come and go as I wish. Surely there must be a drawing room or a library or someplace I could sit without disturbing anyone.’

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