dressing robe made his eyes look like distilled moonlight.
He met her gaze without smiling. 'I don't know how much more of this I can stand,' he muttered.
At first Sophia thought he was referring to the intimacy between them, and she colored deeply. Then she realized that he was chafing at his bedridden condition. 'The extra rest will benefit you,' she said. 'You do not spend enough time in bed.'
'You could remedy that.'
'I meantsleeping' A nervous laugh escaped her. 'Sir Ross, if you insist on embarrassing me, I will have to ask Eliza to change your dressing.'
'No, don't.' His lips twitched with a faint smile. 'I'll be good.'
He kept his promise, remaining still while she applied a new dressing. Sophia frowned as she finished her handiwork, having noticed that the wound looked red and swollen, although there was no sign of foul drainage. She touched Ross's forehead, which felt dry and hot. 'Your fever is a bit higher than before. How do you feel?'
'I want to get out of bed and do something.'
Sophia shook her head. 'You'll stay there until Dr. Linley advises otherwise. In the meanwhile, I think that you should not allow your visitors to tire you.'
'Good,' he said wryly. 'That will be a convenient excuse to get rid of my family, or they'll sit here and gabble all day.'
'Shall I prepare some refreshments?' she asked.
'God, no. That will keep them here longer.' 'Yes, sir.' Although Sophia did not look at Ross, she felt his intent gaze on her.
'Sophia,' he asked quietly, 'what is the matter?'
She forced her lips into a bright, stiff smile. 'Nothing!'
'About what happened earlier--'
To Sophia's intense relief, he was interrupted by the sound of footsteps and the hum of animated voices in the hall. Suddenly Eliza appeared in the doorway. 'Sir Ross,' she said, 'Mrs. Cannon and Master Matthew have arrived--'
'Darling!' A tall, gray-haired woman swished past Eliza and went to the bedside. Her slim body was clad in a gown of sea-green silk; a hint of exotic perfume drifted in her wake. As her long hand caressed the side of Ross's face, the jeweled rings on her fingers glittered richly. Withdrawing to a corner of the room, Sophia viewed Mrs. Catherine Cannon with discreet interest. Ross's mother was not precisely a beauty, but she was so stylish and self-possessed that the overall effect was dazzling.
Ross murmured something to his mother, and she laughed as she sat on the edge of the bed. 'Darling boy, I expected to find you gaunt and pale,' she exclaimed. 'Instead you look as well as I've ever seen you. Why, you've gained weight--almost a stone! It becomes you.'
'You may thank Miss Sydney for that,' Ross commented, his gaze finding Sophia. 'Come forward--I want to introduce you to my mother.'
Sophia remained in the corner but curtsied deferentially, giving Catherine a shy smile. 'How do you do, Mrs. Cannon?'
The woman sent her a look of friendly scrutiny. 'What a charming young woman,' she remarked, glancing at Ross with an arched brow. 'Rather too pretty to work at a place such as Bow Street.'
'Indeed,' came a sardonic voice from the doorway. 'One wonders at my saintly brother's motives in hiring such a comely wench.'
Ross's younger brother, Matthew, stood there in a practiced pose, his weight resting on one leg, his shoulder lodged against the frame. One could easily see the physical resemblance between the two men, who shared the same dark coloring and long, powerful forms. However, Matthew's features were less angular than Ross's, his nose smaller, his chin less defined. Perhaps some women would call Matthew the more handsome of the two, for he retained a boyishness that gave him a certain engaging quality. However, Sophia thought that he looked like a half- baked version of his older brother. Ross was utterly a man, elegant and seasoned and hard. Matthew was a callow imitation.
Glancing at the insolent pup in the doorway, Sophia inclined her head in the slightest of nods. 'Mr. Cannon,' she murmured.
Ross viewed his brother with a frown. 'Stop gaping, Matthew, and come into the room. Where is your wife?'
His mother answered. 'Poor Iona has a head cold, and she was afraid of making you ill. She sends her wishes for your swift recovery.' Skirting the edge of the room, Sophia curtsied once more. 'I will afford you some privacy,' she murmured. 'Please ring if you need anything, Sir Ross.'
As Sophia left the room, Ross glanced speculatively at his brother. He didn't like the way Matthew had referred to her, or the way he had looked at her. Exasperated, he wondered when Matthew would stop viewing every woman he met as a potential conquest.
Although Matthew's wife, Iona, was a lovely girl, it was clear that he had not abandoned his interest in other women. Whether he had ever slept with someone outside his marriage was still open to speculation. But if there was one thing that might possibly have kept him in line, it was the sure knowledge that Ross would not treat his infidelity lightly. Ross managed the financial affairs for the entire Cannon family, and he kept his younger brother on an allowance. If Ross ever had proof of Matthew's infidelity, he would not hesitate to discipline him with all the means at his disposal, including the swift tightening of the purse strings.
'How long hasshe worked here?' Matthew asked.
'Approximately two months.'
'Rather inappropriate, is it not, for you to hire a woman like that? You know what people will say--that she is servicing you in more ways than one.'
'Matthew,' their mother protested in bewilderment, 'such insinuations are not necessary.'
Matthew responded with a smirk. 'Mother, there are certain things a man knows just by looking at a woman. It is obvious that underneath Miss Sydney's exterior, she is a common slut.'
Ross found it difficult to contain a flare of fury. His hand clenched around a wad of the bed linens. 'You've always been a poor judge of character, Matthew. I'd advise you to keep your mouth shut--and remember that you are a married man.'
Matthew stared at him warily. 'What the bloody hell do you mean by that?'
'I mean that you seem to have taken an undue interest in my assistant.'
'I havenot ,' came Matthew's indignant reply. 'I merely said--'
'Both of you, cease, I beg you,' Catherine intervened with a startled laugh. 'It distresses me to no end to hear you argue.'
Ross shot an iron-cold glance at his brother. 'I will not allow Matthew to insult the members of my household.'
Matthew responded with a glare. 'Tell me, what is your relationship with Miss Sydney, that you come to her defense so readily?'
Before Ross could reply, Catherine made an irritated sound. 'Matthew, I am convinced that you are deliberately trying to annoy Ross! His relationship with Miss Sydney is his own concern, not ours. Now, wait outside the room, please, and let us have a few moments of peace.'
'Gladly,' Matthew replied in a surly tone. 'I have never been much for the sickroom anyway.' As soon as he exited the room, Catherine leaned forward intently. 'Now, Ross, whatis your relationship with Miss Sydney?'
Ross could not restrain a burst of laughter. 'You just said that was my own concern!'
'Well, yes, but I am your mother, and I have a right to know if you have taken an interest in someone.'
He grinned at her avid curiosity. 'I admit to nothing'
'Ross,' she protested. She rolled her eyes and smiled. 'Well, it has been a long time since I have heard you laugh. I was beginning to think you had forgotten how. But really, dear...a servant? When you could have your pick of all the well-bred heiresses in England?'
Ross met her gaze directly, aware that the very idea of marrying a member of one's household staff was considered an appalling social transgression. Sexual liaisons with servants were acceptable, but a gentleman would never marry one. Ross did not give a damn. Years of interacting with everyone from royalty to the poverty-stricken had shown him that the class consciousness of his own society was sheer hypocrisy. He had seen that noblemen
