Lying awake, he came to a firm decision. He could not spend another day in this room and certainly not another night. It was more than any man should be expected to endure. Even if he did have a broken rib, even if it did pierce his lung or cause other life-threatening damage, he could not stay in this room. He could not endure another night of such torture. He had to leave.
A little later in the morning she rose from the bed and he had one fleeting vision of her in her nightgown before she covered up her body with her dressing gown. Quietly she took some clothes from the wardrobe and carried them through to the other room. It seemed she was sensibly not going to get ready for the day in the same room as him. Shame washed through him at the memory of how he had watched her at her toilette yesterday morning. And despite that shame he knew he would be incapable of not watching her again. Fortunately, she was taking the precaution of avoiding his predatory eye.
If he needed any more convincing that it was time he left, his despicable desire to watch this young woman who had offered her home to him, given up her bed for him and shown him such kindness, would provide it.
She emerged from behind the door, fully dressed and ready for her working day. A war of relief and disappointment raged within him. Relief that his self-control would not be tested once again, but disappointment that he was not to get one last look at her in her nightgown, her long red hair flowing freely down her back.
Despite fighting to keep those two reactions under control, he still couldn’t help but notice how stunning she looked. Dressed in a plain brown outfit she was still a vision. She couldn’t look more elegant, even if she was wearing an expensive gown and dripping with priceless gems.
She smiled at him, a smile as bright and welcome as the sun emerging from behind clouds. Her smile should have given him pleasure, but it only intensified his disappointment. This would be the last time he would be greeted in the morning by that glorious smile.
He sat up in the bed. Despite his injuries he forced his face to not register the pain that shot through him. ‘I’m feeling much better this morning. It must have been because I had a good night’s sleep.’ Liar. ‘There’s no pain at all now.’ Liar, liar. ‘I believe it is time I returned home.’
Her smile quivered slightly, then returned just as bright, if perhaps a little forced. ‘Oh, that is good news. I’m so pleased you’re on the mend.’ Her voice sounded strained. Was she also disappointed? Surely not. She must be looking forward to getting her life back and her rooms to herself.
‘I’ll make you some breakfast before you go.’
He shook his head. The sooner he left the better. Even sharing breakfast with this enchanting woman seemed a greater intimacy than he could bear. ‘No, I don’t wish to impose on you any longer.’
I don’t want to impose my inappropriate desires on you.
‘I’ll eat when I get home.’
She looked towards the other room. ‘It’s no problem. Your valet brought plenty of food and it will only take me a few seconds to put something together.’
‘Please, don’t trouble yourself,’ he said more harshly than he intended.
She looked back at him, her face registering her surprise at his tone.
‘I’m sorry, but I’ve imposed on your hospitality long enough and I want to get home as soon as possible.’ He forced himself to smile, to show he was not being insulting. ‘I’ve been away from home for far too long. My sisters must be starting to wonder about my absence. I don’t want to worry them.’ Finally, he was telling the truth.
‘Oh, yes, right.’ She bit her lip lightly. ‘I’ll go and fetch your valet so he can organise your carriage to take you home.’
‘There’s no need. I can get a cab.’ Dominic wanted to end this torture as soon as possible and there was always the danger that between the two of them, Burgess and Miss Regan, they would decide what was best for his health and make him stay. Although if either could see into his mind both would be horrified and would insist that he leave these rooms immediately.
‘It’s no imposition. I’m happy to do it,’ she said quietly.
He was being a cad. She was only trying to help and he was snapping at her, all because of this absurd attraction, this almost overwhelming desire for her. Regret at his harsh tone joined the war of emotions raging within him.
‘Thank you, Miss Regan,’ he said, keeping his voice as even as possible. ‘But I’ll just get dressed and then I’ll hail a cab.’
She remained standing in the middle of the room, then her cheeks turned that delightful shade of pink. ‘Oh, yes, right. I’ll give you some privacy, shall I, so you can get dressed?’ She turned and rushed out of the room.
Dominic slowly moved to the side of the bed and swung his legs to the floor. He paused with his hands on the edge to take a few steadying breaths, than heaved himself into an upright position. Wincing with pain, he picked up the neatly folded clean shirt, the trousers and jacket his valet had left him. Slowly he pulled off his nightshirt, eased on his shirt over his battered body and pulled on his trousers and jacket. He clipped on his collar and tied
