Bill and two hefty footmen appeared so rapidly to answer her summons she guessed they had been expecting to be called. “His grace will require your help to return to his bed chamber.”
This time Alexander did not argue but slung his arms around the shoulders of the two young men and hobbled out. She was most concerned to see he could put no weight on his injured leg. As soon as he was comfortable she would go up and see to him herself. There could be no disagreement about her being in his bed chamber; after all she was still his wife and who else had more right to be there than she?
Chapter Twelve
Isobel left Alexander in the capable hands of George, his temporary valet.secure in the knowledge there was nothing further she could do for him. He was sleeping peacefully and she returned to her bed chamber where Sally was waiting to help her disrobe.
She was woken later by someone beside her. “Mary, is he worse?”
“Yes, my lady, he is. George came to fetch me, Sam said as I was to get you. The duke is burning up and there’s no way we can fetch a doctor. A foot of snow has fallen this past hour and no one will get in or out of Newcomb for a day or two.”
“You did right to rouse me. Fetch Bill, he will know what to do.”
It was the work of moments to pull on her bed robe and ram her bare feet into slippers. Then with candle stick held aloft she hurried through the icy passageway to the guest chamber at the rear of the house. She entered through the private sitting room. She pushed open the door and reeled back.
“Good grief! This room is like a furnace, small wonder his grace is overheated.”
George looked mystified. “I made the fire up a treat, my lady, I thought that was right.”
“Not in my experience, it tends to make the fever worsen. Quickly, open all the windows and I shall do something about the flames.” There was a half-filled jug of water on the wash stand in the dressing room and she threw it over the fire. Immediately the room was full of hissing coals and choking steam but the fire was more or less out.
Mary rushed in followed by Bill, who coughed and looked round in astonishment but he nodded at Isobel. “Exactly what I would have done, my lady. Bring down the fever as quick as possible, I’ve seen men dropped in icy water—but that’s kill or cure.”
“I hope my drastic measures won’t prove fatal. Mary, we shall need fresh water to wash him down and a jug of barley water or lemonade.”
The room had cleared and a howling gale was whistling through, the curtains were almost horizontal and flurries of snow spiralled across the boards. “George, I think you can close the windows now, the temperature has dropped sufficiently.”
She was decidedly chilly in her night apparel. The fire was a sullen glow in the grate; they could do with slightly more heat but it refused to burn any brighter. The water she had thrown on it earlier still puddled on the hearth.
“His grace will do very well, now, my lady. He’s sleeping peacefully, the flush on his cheeks all but gone. I can take care of him if you would like me to.”
“I intend to stay, I’m wide awake now. All of you return to your beds, I shall ring if I require any further assistance.”
Mary was the only one who seemed pleased by this suggestion. When Isobel was alone she looked around for somewhere warm to curl up. Alexander was cool to the touch so perhaps it would be safe to leave him. She shivered and stared crossly at the fire which refused to burn with any heat.
The bed was the only place in the chamber that would provide her with any warmth. If she crept in the far side, making sure she was on top of the sheets and not inside them, he would not even know she was there. Kicking off her slippers, she slipped under the covers and was soon drifting off to sleep.
A short while later she woke. Botheration! She must get out again and use the chamber pot behind the screen. Comfortable once more she scrambled back into bed this time removing her bed robe for she had all but suffocated with that on. She settled into a deep sleep and her dreams were filled with images of the man she had once loved.
His arms were round her, his heat burning through the thin cloth of her nightdress. Then his lips found hers and she drowned in the sweet sensation. The dream was so vivid it was almost real. Desire curled through her sending wave after wave of delicious pleasure from her toes to the top of her head.
She moved restlessly and his kiss deepened. His lips drifted down until they reached her breast. It hardened and her nipple peaked beneath his tongue. It had been so long — but her body remembered what to do. The touch of his hand on her belly sent shock waves to the very centre of her being; his fingers slipped downwards between her thighs to stoke her secret place.
Gently he rolled her over until she was resting on her side. His arousal pressed hard into her buttocks. Her eyes flew open. This was no dream—this was reality. She must stop him. Too late. He lifted her and was inside. She forgot everything as she was swept away with every thrust until her world exploded into ecstasy.
She lay exhausted in his arms too shocked by what had taken place to move or speak. The discomfort of her night gown bundled up around her waist eventually roused her. The events of the last night she had been with him flooded her mind. For a second time he had taken advantage of her, made love to her when he knew she did not wish him to.
“Darling, I can’t tell you how happy I am that you came to me tonight. I never thought to be able to love you again. I …”
“Let me go. I did not
His arms tightened and he pulled her closer ignoring her words. She struggled more furiously and screamed to be released. Only then did his grip slacken and she scrambled out of bed. She couldn’t see his face in the near blackness but she had no doubt he was leaning back on the pillows certain he had re-established his ascendancy.
“I hate you, Alexander. You’re despicable; you know how I feel about you and yet you took shameful advantage.”
“You were in bed beside me and you responded to my kisses. This was hardly the action of a woman who does not wish to make love.” His words were clipped as if he was angry.
“I was asleep, I thought I was dreaming and when I woke I was too late to stop you. The only reason I was beside you in bed was to keep warm. The fire is out in case you haven’t noticed.”
“But, my dear, the fact you were dreaming about making love to me should tell you all you need to know. There’s no point denying it, Isobel, you want me as much as I want you.”
This was too much. “I’ve lived more happily these past few months away from you than at any time when you were here. Unlike you I had no recourse to slake my physical needs with a lover. You promised me you would never be unfaithful, that you would take care of me and make me happy. You have broken every one of those vows.”
Too distressed to remain in the same chamber as him she fled back to her own apartment and sobbed herself to sleep.
Alexander cursed his stupidity. He had been half asleep himself when his bare thigh had touched hers. Unable to believe what his senses were telling him he had reached out and found his darling girl curled up beside him. He hadn’t stopped to think—had just reacted. When Isobel was in his arms rational thought was impossible. His hand came away from his leg bright red. Making love had reopened the wound. This was a job for the physician now; he would need fresh sutures to staunch the blood.
Keeping one hand firmly pressed on the gash he stretched out and rang the brass bell praying that someone was within earshot. He couldn’t remove his hand in order to get out of bed and pull the bell-strap. He was beginning to despair when the butler rushed into the room.
“My leg— it’s bleeding profusely. You need to send for the doctor to stitch it again.”
