Read Online My Dearest Friend (Books We Love Regency Romance) by Hazel Statham - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Hazel Statham
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shoulder and smiled. “Yes, sir?”
All levity gone, he said in deepened tones, “Thank you!”
After only the slightest hesitation she was gone, it would not do to tarry when he looked at her just so. Once outside the door she stood on the small ill-lit landing at the head of a set of rickety stairs. The warmth in his eyes and voice had brought a heated flush to her face and she cradled her cheeks in her cool hands before descending to the kitchen to order the meal.
***
Hills returning to the inn about an hour later, found his employer to be somewhat revived. The food had done much to restore some of his strength, enough at least for him to be sitting up in the bed and demanding to know his findings. Jane, having repaired to her own room to change, had admonished Hills not to tire the duke and left him to face his employer alone.
“ I’m afraid the news is not good, your grace,” he said somberly. “The carriage is considerably damaged and the wheeler is quite lame. The coachman informs me that it will take at least a week to repair the vehicle and the village is so small that they do not keep any coaching teams.”
“ Damnation,” swore the duke forcefully. “We are hampered at every turn. How far are we now from Elvas?”
“Hopefully, about a day, your grace.”
“So close. Yet this forced inactivity halts our progress,” and then to himself, “Jane must be at her wit’s end. It is unforgivable.”
He thought for a moment and then turned to Hills once more. “If there are no coaching teams, find what mounts are available. If necessary, as soon as I am able to leave this accursed bed, we can continue on horseback. You can accompany us and the coach can follow with the luggage when it is repaired. Say nothing to Miss Chandler; I do not want her troubled any more than is necessary.”
“As you wish, your grace, but is it wise?”
“Wise be damned!”
Hills withdrew to set about his task, which even to himself seemed impossible. It was a poor village with very few dwellings and whatever horses he had seen were work animals, neither suitable nor available for hiring. However, he was nothing if not resourceful and set out to explore all avenues.
The morning passed slowly, or so it seemed to the duke in his enforced idleness. For as much as he drifted in and out of sleep the hours seemed not to progress. However, he soon became aware that Jane continually remained at his side, her delicate features showing her concern. Fascinated, he watched her small, graceful hands that appeared so capable as she smoothed his covers or adjusted his pillows, impatiently awaiting Hills’ return.
Just before noon, Jane informed him that Sgt. Patterson had arrived and waited in the taproom below for permission to speak to him.
“Then bring him up,” said Robert straightening himself against the pillows, “and we shall see why he has requested this interview.” He realized that everything he believed in should have rebelled against the thought of receiving a deserter, a traitor, into his presence, but the fact that Patterson and his men had come so readily to their aid demanded that he should at least be civil to the man.
Within a few minutes Jane ushered a small wiry individual, dressed in the green and gold uniform of the rifles, into his presence and then turning for the door made to leave saying “Sgt. Patterson wishes to speak to you privately, sir .”
“No, Jane, stay,” he responded. “I am sure there is nothing that cannot be said in your presence, is there Patterson?”
The sergeant looked a little uncertainly at the duke but said; “I’m sure that if you wish the lady to be present, sir, it is not for me to say otherwise,” and he marched smartly to the foot of the bed and saluted.
“ You may stand easy, Patterson, I am not of the military,” the duke said, indicating that he should take the chair at the side of the bed.
The sergeant sat on the edge of the chair, appearing ill at
All levity gone, he said in deepened tones, “Thank you!”
After only the slightest hesitation she was gone, it would not do to tarry when he looked at her just so. Once outside the door she stood on the small ill-lit landing at the head of a set of rickety stairs. The warmth in his eyes and voice had brought a heated flush to her face and she cradled her cheeks in her cool hands before descending to the kitchen to order the meal.
***
Hills returning to the inn about an hour later, found his employer to be somewhat revived. The food had done much to restore some of his strength, enough at least for him to be sitting up in the bed and demanding to know his findings. Jane, having repaired to her own room to change, had admonished Hills not to tire the duke and left him to face his employer alone.
“ I’m afraid the news is not good, your grace,” he said somberly. “The carriage is considerably damaged and the wheeler is quite lame. The coachman informs me that it will take at least a week to repair the vehicle and the village is so small that they do not keep any coaching teams.”
“ Damnation,” swore the duke forcefully. “We are hampered at every turn. How far are we now from Elvas?”
“Hopefully, about a day, your grace.”
“So close. Yet this forced inactivity halts our progress,” and then to himself, “Jane must be at her wit’s end. It is unforgivable.”
He thought for a moment and then turned to Hills once more. “If there are no coaching teams, find what mounts are available. If necessary, as soon as I am able to leave this accursed bed, we can continue on horseback. You can accompany us and the coach can follow with the luggage when it is repaired. Say nothing to Miss Chandler; I do not want her troubled any more than is necessary.”
“As you wish, your grace, but is it wise?”
“Wise be damned!”
Hills withdrew to set about his task, which even to himself seemed impossible. It was a poor village with very few dwellings and whatever horses he had seen were work animals, neither suitable nor available for hiring. However, he was nothing if not resourceful and set out to explore all avenues.
The morning passed slowly, or so it seemed to the duke in his enforced idleness. For as much as he drifted in and out of sleep the hours seemed not to progress. However, he soon became aware that Jane continually remained at his side, her delicate features showing her concern. Fascinated, he watched her small, graceful hands that appeared so capable as she smoothed his covers or adjusted his pillows, impatiently awaiting Hills’ return.
Just before noon, Jane informed him that Sgt. Patterson had arrived and waited in the taproom below for permission to speak to him.
“Then bring him up,” said Robert straightening himself against the pillows, “and we shall see why he has requested this interview.” He realized that everything he believed in should have rebelled against the thought of receiving a deserter, a traitor, into his presence, but the fact that Patterson and his men had come so readily to their aid demanded that he should at least be civil to the man.
Within a few minutes Jane ushered a small wiry individual, dressed in the green and gold uniform of the rifles, into his presence and then turning for the door made to leave saying “Sgt. Patterson wishes to speak to you privately, sir .”
“No, Jane, stay,” he responded. “I am sure there is nothing that cannot be said in your presence, is there Patterson?”
The sergeant looked a little uncertainly at the duke but said; “I’m sure that if you wish the lady to be present, sir, it is not for me to say otherwise,” and he marched smartly to the foot of the bed and saluted.
“ You may stand easy, Patterson, I am not of the military,” the duke said, indicating that he should take the chair at the side of the bed.
The sergeant sat on the edge of the chair, appearing ill at
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