“I think I shall stay up for a little while, if you don’t mind. I am sore and need to stretch my muscles but thank you.” Victor watches her walk away and smiles.
“Good, we can talk. How will your brother know where to find you?” He asks, sitting down by the fireplace.
“He won’t. My missive was sent before I entered into your employ, but don’t worry, Alex is very resourceful,” she says with a cheeky grin.
“Well, resourceful or not I think it would be best to leave a message at the post office for him, telling him where we are. We can do the same thing in New York. I will see about getting train tickets tomorrow,” he yawns and leans back.
“We mustn’t take the train, Victor,” she demands fighting back the headache that beats at her.
His eyes shoot open and he stares hard at her, “Why not?”
“Will you listen to me or only hear the words of an injured woman?” She wonders.
Victors temper flares for a moment, “I have shown you nothing but kindness and respect, Miss Denning.” He stands quickly and seeing the uncertainty in her eyes he stops.
“I didn’t intend to insult you, Victor,” she whispers.
“Summer… I apologize, I am tired. I will listen, but you must explain your thinking to me.” He sits beside her on the couch, feeling the need to touch her and begins rubbing her shoulder.
“I will,” she moans and drops her chin to her chest as he rubs. “Everything hurts, that feels so good.” Her husky moan has his thoughts scattering. Her beauty and innocence call to him and he finds himself thinking about kissing her again.
“Right now, you need to sleep. In the morning we will discuss this in more detail.” Victor jumps up and leaves before he does something, they both will regret.
Summer sighs and watches him go. “Good night, Victor.” Mother said she knew the moment she met her father that her heart was in trouble and watching him she feels the same thing. Too bad it doesn’t matter, she is returning to London when Alex comes to retrieve her.
Victor retreats to his chambers and sighs, she needs time to heal her shattered heart and his estate in New York is just the place to do that. It’s time he opened his heart to love again and Summer Denning is just the kind of woman he would be willing to fight for.
Chapter 15
The sun is sequestered behind the clouds and the soft steady rain lulls Summer to sleep. They let her rest knowing she will be sore today and need the sleep. When the door creaks open, she smells something delicious. She sits up as the footsteps grow closer.
“I’m sorry, Miss Denning I didn’t mean to wake you.” Mrs. Evert places the tray of food by the chair near the fireplace. “How are you feeling today?”
Summer watches her work and sits up slowly as she cracks the blinds. The dizziness is better, but her headache is still in the background and her neck and shoulders are stiff. She groans a little and Mrs. Evert gasps aloud when she looks at her.
“Good Lord, he did a job on you, didn’t he?” She helps Summer sit up and settles the covers around her. “Don’t you worry about a thing today, you need to eat, and I will draw you a hot bath to soak your sore muscles in.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Evert, but you have enough to do without bothering with me. I just need to sleep and get rid of this headache.” She sits back against the pillows Mrs. Evert props behind her and smiles when the tray is positioned on her lap.
“This soup will help. Eat and drink plenty of water. Then after a bath you will sleep some more. I will keep Jonah out of your hair today. That boy is mighty worried about you,” Mrs. Evert says with a laugh.
Summer sips her soup and smiles, “He can come sit with me while I eat, if his Father says he can.”
“See, I told you, my Summer needs me!” Jonah skips in carrying his map. Summer laughs as he climbs on the bed with her. She finishes her cup of broth and picks at the biscuit. Her jaw is too sore to chew.
“Jonah, don’t jostle Miss Denning she needs to rest.”
“Truly, he can visit with me. It will take my mind off the pain, please let him stay.” Jonah sits still and waits for the verdict.
“All right, fine. You two win, this time, but when Miss Denning says enough, you leave and let her sleep.” She takes the tray laughing when Jonah snags her biscuit and gobbles it up.
Jonah waits until the door closes and climbs up on the bed with her and takes her face in his hands. He inspects her purple, swollen jaw and then turns her face to inspect the goose egg where her head hit the desk. The swelling is still evident, and he chews on his lip in worry.
She takes his hands and presses a kiss to each palm. “Thank you for worrying, but I am stronger than any fat, old, man. I promise you that I’m okay. Now, what did you bring me?” He lays back and sighs.
“Well, this treasure map was a trick,” he says indignantly. “It’s not even English!”
Summer laughs, “Oh Jonah there are beautiful languages in the world. You know the world is not made up of just English-speaking people. If I had a map, I could show you places you could only dream of. Russia has snow so white it puts a diamond to shame, and Scotland
