Read Online Her Reluctant Groom by Rose Gordon - Free Book Online

that explained everything.
    “ I'm sure Alex will buy her another one. Now open the door before I drop you.”
    Reluctantly, she let go of her chemise and opened the door so he could carry her inside and put her on his bed. “No, not on the bed. I'll stain all the linens.”
    “ They're dark so it won't show.” He swiped the towel hanging over his dressing screen for good measure then walked back to her and positioned it under her legs the best he could without exposing more of her than he dared. “And if it does, believe it or not, I think I might have enough blunt to buy another set of sheets.”
    She rolled her eyes. “I've never doubted the state of your coffers.”
    “ That’s reassuring. Now stop worrying about them. I can afford to buy you a new chemise and another set of bed sheets if I must, in addition to your two new gowns.”
    Frowning, Emma clenched her legs together. “Perhaps you should wait in your study while Molly attends me.”
    He snorted. “Molly will not be attending you. Judging by her shriek and chalk-white face, I find it hard to imagine she's not passed out in the kitchen just now.”
    “ Then I'll just take care of it myself when the supplies you ordered are brought in. That's what I'd intended to do before you got involved.”
    Shaking his head, Marcus went to the doorway and took the items he'd ordered from a shaking Molly. He turned back to Emma and carried the basin of water in one hand and the salve in the other, the strips of linen resting over his arm. “Dearest Emma, you'll not be taking care of yourself. Not in my house, anyway.” He placed the basin on the small table next to the bed. “As long as you're a guest at Ridge Water, you shall receive only the best care.”
    Her green eyes didn't move or blink. “And who do you have in mind to tend to me if you just sent the only available female servant off? That awful cook of yours?”
    “ No,” he said, shaking his head. “I will attend you.”
    Now her eyes did do something. They bulged. So much so he was fairly certain they just might pop from their sockets. “I think not.” She crossed her ankles to hold her legs even tighter together.
    Marcus dipped a cloth into the warm water and wrung out most of the excess water before bringing it to her legs. So much blood had trailed down her legs; he really didn't know exactly where the cut was or how large it was. “Emma,” he said softly. “You're going to have to trust me. Please.” He took the cloth and began to wipe the blood off the parts of her calves he could see. Gently, he grabbed her ankle that had crossed over the other and pulled it off so he could clean the inside of her calves. He dunked the cloth and squeezed it out again, tainting the water pink. This time her legs were relaxed and separated, allowing him easy access to wipe the blood off. Once they were clear of the dark red blood, he frowned. He'd assumed she'd gnashed the side of her knee judging by how much blood was on her calves.
    He looked up to her face. She'd turned to face the far wall and he could only see a profile of her face. Her jaw was clamped and her eyes were shut. Her usually pale cheeks were tinged pink with what he presumed to be embarrassment. His gaze slipped. Her body was trembling violently covered only by her soaked, translucent chemise. He swallowed. Her chemise offered as much covering as spider web. His eyes caught on her hard pink nipples and his body instantly hardened in response. Jerking his eyes away, he cleared his throat. “Emma, take your chemise off,” he commanded more harshly than he meant to.
    “ No. I believe you've seen enough already.”
    He sighed. “I'm not trying to make up excuses to see you naked. Your body is shaking and you'll get sick if you keep it on. Take it off.”
    “ Just finish, please,” she said, gesturing to her thigh.
    He frowned. Her thigh? Why would she gesture there? He gripped the edge of her chemise and raised it a few inches. Before he