Read Online Lady Beauchamp's Proposal by Secret Cravings Publishing - Free Book Online Page B

gravely ill, Mrs. Eliott,
and you’re worried about propriety?”
    She blushed in flustered indignation. “Well,
yes…when I woke up…you and I were…I’m sure you know what I
mean.”
    The marquess’s eyes had grown darker, his
gaze more intense as she spoke. “I can assure you that your virtue
is intact,” he said with grave sincerity. “I apologize that I…fell
asleep on the job so to speak.”
    Elizabeth’s cheeks were burning now. “I’m
afraid I don’t recall much…”
    “I’m not surprised. You’ve been barely
conscious for three days.”
    “Three days?” She was aghast. She had indeed
been ill. Her mind reeled at the implications, and despite the
marquess’s assurances to the contrary, she certainly did owe him
more than mere gratitude.
    Lord Rothsburgh watched her steadily. “I can
see you are shocked. And as you have perhaps already surmised, I
have taken part in a great deal of your care—out of necessity, not
by design I assure you. Mrs. Roberts, Eilean Tor’s cook, also
assisted when she was able. Unfortunately she is still recovering
from the ague also. And as all of the other female servants have
been similarly indisposed, and are not currently at the castle, I
thought it best that I attend you. There really was no one
else.”
    Elizabeth swallowed and clutched her shawl
more tightly about herself. This was far worse than she had
thought. A maelstrom of questions whirled around her mind. Had Lord
Rothsburgh gotten her out of her wet clothes? How much had he seen
of her body? How had he touched her? How many times had she curled
up against him in sleep? She glanced toward the garderobe. For
heaven’s sake, had he taken her to the privy?
    “Oh…that must have been…arduous for you, my
lord.”
    He clasped his hands together and leant
forward, his arms still resting on his long muscular legs. His
penetrating gaze locked with hers. “Please forgive me for
mentioning it, but I was at Waterloo like your husband, Mrs.
Eliott. Nothing really daunts me anymore after surviving that.
Caring for you was not onerous at all.” He smiled gently then.
“Even helping you to the privy.”
    Mortification swept over her in a great
wave. She dropped her head, unable to look at Lord Rothsburgh any
longer. Hardened soldier or not, he shouldn’t have had to—no, she
didn’t want to think about it. There was absolutely no way on earth
that she could find employment here now, knowing the marquess had
been her nursemaid. She couldn’t endure it.
    But where was she to go? What was she to do
now?
    She raised a shaking hand and pushed her
snarled hair away from her face—it felt like a matted bird’s nest.
What a sight she must look. Then she realized the marquess had
probably seen her in a far worse state over the last few days. She
closed her eyes, fighting the unexpected urge to cry.
    “Beth, it’s all right.” Lord Rothsburgh’s
hand grasped one of hers. “I didn’t mean to upset you. I’m a
complete dolt with words sometimes. I speak too plainly.”
    Elizabeth opened her eyes. Lord Rothsburgh
was kneeling before her. He was too close to her again, his dark
brown eyes regarding her too softly. She was not used to such
behavior from a man. She couldn’t bear it. She must go.
    She bit her lip hard and swallowed back the
tears. “I’m just a bit…overwhelmed. Perhaps you could send Mrs.
Roberts to help me when she is able, and then I will prepare to go.
I’ve been too much trouble already. Do you know when the next
mail-coach comes?”
    Lord Rothsburgh scowled. “Don’t be
ridiculous. You’re not going anywhere. The disease has yet to run
its full course. Your fever may have broken, but you will be as
weak as a kitten for many more days to come. And then the cough
will set in. It will be another week or so before you are up to
even getting dressed.” His expression then softened. “But I will
send Mrs. Roberts to you later this morning, and arrange for a bath
to be sent up if you’d