Read Online Good Earls Don't Lie by Michelle Willingham - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Michelle Willingham
Ads: Link
Lady Rose lying on the ground. “Is my mother all right?”
“Yes. Lady Lily took her back to her room.” He crouched down and asked, “Would you like me to help you up? Or perhaps summon a servant?” It appeared that she’d dragged her body across the floor in an effort to reach the door.
“No, thank you,” she remarked. She strained, bearing all her weight upon her elbows until she managed to sit up, leaning against the door.
Iain didn’t like the fact that she’d struggled so far across the room. Someone would have to carry her back to bed, and he asked, “Shall I call your maid?”
Lady Rose shook her head. “Not yet. Stay and answer my questions.”
Iain eyed the door, and then sat across from her on the floor. Although this was not at all proper, he understood her concern. There was no harm in a conversation, albeit a very late one. But there was an underlying intimacy with him not wearing a shirt and Lady Rose wearing her nightgown.
“What happened to my mother?” she asked, turning serious. “Tell me everything.”
“She was trying to climb over the railing,” he said. “I don’t really know what it was she intended, but she was unaware of the danger.”
Lady Rose shivered and gripped her elbows. “Dear God. I’m so glad you were there to save her.”
So was he, but he merely nodded. He didn’t doubt that if he hadn’t heard Lady Penford’s footsteps on the stairs, the matron would have broken her neck from the fall.
In a low voice, she admitted, “We had to . . . leave London. Because of Mother’s illness.” She glanced away from him, as if embarrassed by the confession. “It was the best way to conceal what was happening.”
He understood that well enough. “How long has she been this way?”
Rose drew her hands together. “Nearly a year. After my father died, she was never the same. I know we ought to find a doctor to help, but I fear he would put her in an asylum. They would lock her away or give her laudanum to make her sleep all the time. She doesn’t deserve that sort of life.”
“You ought to hire a companion for her and lock her bedchamber at night. It would be safer.”
Lady Rose gave a nod and then regarded him again. “I know you are right. But I somehow thought she would be safe. Apparently, I was wrong.” She adjusted her wrapper, concealing her nightgown from view.
“I would ask for your assistance in lifting me into bed, were it not so improper,” she said softly. A trace of irony crossed her face. “It seems I must drag myself back.”
“Do you really believe I’m going to allow you to do that?” He fully intended to help her, but he knew that he would have to leave as soon as he did so. And right now, he wanted to spend a few minutes more with Lady Rose.
“Just ring for Calvert,” she advised. “He will assist me.”
“I’d rather summon the demons of hell.” He drew his knees up, pretending as if he intended to remain on the floor.
“Calvert is not that bad. And at least I can trust him to lift me up. He’s old enough to be my father.”
“Grandfather,” Iain corrected. “And he’s as crotchety as a gelded rooster surrounded by hens.”
“He is that.” She bit back a laugh, covering her mouth. As she gained command of her amusement, her gaze swept over him. “Why is it that nearly every time I see you, you are half-naked, Mr. Donovan?”
He sent her a wicked smile, glancing at the prim wrapper that covered her from chin to ankles. The ruffled garment was shapeless, like a muslin suit of armor. “Why is it that every time I see you, you are always fully dressed, Lady Rose?”
She laughed again, and he warmed to the sound. For a moment, he remained seated across from her, and the air grew charged between them. He liked seeing her brown hair braided across one shoulder, a few reddish strands framing her face. Her legs were folded beneath her, and the snow-white gown made her appear like an angel.
Like the devil, he
“Yes. Lady Lily took her back to her room.” He crouched down and asked, “Would you like me to help you up? Or perhaps summon a servant?” It appeared that she’d dragged her body across the floor in an effort to reach the door.
“No, thank you,” she remarked. She strained, bearing all her weight upon her elbows until she managed to sit up, leaning against the door.
Iain didn’t like the fact that she’d struggled so far across the room. Someone would have to carry her back to bed, and he asked, “Shall I call your maid?”
Lady Rose shook her head. “Not yet. Stay and answer my questions.”
Iain eyed the door, and then sat across from her on the floor. Although this was not at all proper, he understood her concern. There was no harm in a conversation, albeit a very late one. But there was an underlying intimacy with him not wearing a shirt and Lady Rose wearing her nightgown.
“What happened to my mother?” she asked, turning serious. “Tell me everything.”
“She was trying to climb over the railing,” he said. “I don’t really know what it was she intended, but she was unaware of the danger.”
Lady Rose shivered and gripped her elbows. “Dear God. I’m so glad you were there to save her.”
So was he, but he merely nodded. He didn’t doubt that if he hadn’t heard Lady Penford’s footsteps on the stairs, the matron would have broken her neck from the fall.
In a low voice, she admitted, “We had to . . . leave London. Because of Mother’s illness.” She glanced away from him, as if embarrassed by the confession. “It was the best way to conceal what was happening.”
He understood that well enough. “How long has she been this way?”
Rose drew her hands together. “Nearly a year. After my father died, she was never the same. I know we ought to find a doctor to help, but I fear he would put her in an asylum. They would lock her away or give her laudanum to make her sleep all the time. She doesn’t deserve that sort of life.”
“You ought to hire a companion for her and lock her bedchamber at night. It would be safer.”
Lady Rose gave a nod and then regarded him again. “I know you are right. But I somehow thought she would be safe. Apparently, I was wrong.” She adjusted her wrapper, concealing her nightgown from view.
“I would ask for your assistance in lifting me into bed, were it not so improper,” she said softly. A trace of irony crossed her face. “It seems I must drag myself back.”
“Do you really believe I’m going to allow you to do that?” He fully intended to help her, but he knew that he would have to leave as soon as he did so. And right now, he wanted to spend a few minutes more with Lady Rose.
“Just ring for Calvert,” she advised. “He will assist me.”
“I’d rather summon the demons of hell.” He drew his knees up, pretending as if he intended to remain on the floor.
“Calvert is not that bad. And at least I can trust him to lift me up. He’s old enough to be my father.”
“Grandfather,” Iain corrected. “And he’s as crotchety as a gelded rooster surrounded by hens.”
“He is that.” She bit back a laugh, covering her mouth. As she gained command of her amusement, her gaze swept over him. “Why is it that nearly every time I see you, you are half-naked, Mr. Donovan?”
He sent her a wicked smile, glancing at the prim wrapper that covered her from chin to ankles. The ruffled garment was shapeless, like a muslin suit of armor. “Why is it that every time I see you, you are always fully dressed, Lady Rose?”
She laughed again, and he warmed to the sound. For a moment, he remained seated across from her, and the air grew charged between them. He liked seeing her brown hair braided across one shoulder, a few reddish strands framing her face. Her legs were folded beneath her, and the snow-white gown made her appear like an angel.
Like the devil, he
Similar Books
