Capturing Sir Dunnicliffe (The Star Elite Series) by Rebecca King Page A
Authors: Rebecca King
Ads: Link
speed of the changing events.
“Harriett is right,” Hugo sighed. “You have to carry on as normal. Stick to your usual routine, don’t add to it. She is perfectly safe while I am here.” His voice held all of the years of fighting experience he had gained while working for the War Office. “When I am gone, you can visit as often as you see fit, as long as Harriett is happy with the arrangement. Until then, as Harriett has said, you will most probably cause suspicion if you veer away from the usual routines.”
Simon lapsed into silence. He wanted to pace up and down and vent his disapproval at both of them, but knew he was already pushing his luck as far as Harriett was concerned. It had only been her lack of objection to his kissing her cheek earlier than had made him come back to her cottage, ostensibly to check on her. In reality he had wanted to check that she hadn’t been angered by his familiarity with her. The last thing he had expected was to find her in another man’s arms, about to be thoroughly kissed!
“ I hope you don’t mind, but I really need to lie down,” Hugo grumbled, pushing awkwardly to his feet. His energy had faded, and he was starting to feel as if he was swaying, even sitting down, and didn’t like the sensation one bit.
“I am surprised you have managed to remain upright for as long as you have,” Harriett chided gently, getting to her feet and moving her chair out of the way. She had to stop herself from offering to help him as he shuffled past and weaved toward the bedroom.
Simon followed them and watched as Hugo slumped onto the bed. The sudden change in him over the past few minutes was startling. His healthy colour had faded rapidly, leaving him pale and sweating. His broad chest was heaving with exertion while Harriett drew the covers over him almost maternally.
“Can I have some more tisane, please?” Although the fierce pain in his arm had diminished, it had now reduced to a dull ache that was equally grinding. He couldn’t understand why he had faded so suddenly.
“Of course.” S he paused when Hugo caught her wrist in a gentle hold. “But not the thing you put in it last night that made me sleep. I don’t need to sleep that soundly now, especially with a stranger in the area.”
Harriett smiled sympathetically at hi m. “I didn’t put anything in it that would help you sleep. There was some pasque flower in it to help your arm relax so it can heal, that’s all. Your deep sleep was most probably because of your tiredness, and the amount of blood you lost.” With that she hurried to her work room and minutes later reappeared carrying the items for the poultice and the tisane. Simon watched the relief on Hugo’s face moments before he downed the concoction in one long slug, and lay back to allow Harriett to work on his arm. There were no questions, no hesitation, nothing to indicate he had anything but the utmost belief in Harriett’s abilities, and he rose several notches in Simon’s estimation.
“I’m sorry,” Hugo mumbled to Simon around a yawn.
“Can’t be helped,” Simon replied, somewhat mollified by the man’s sudden exhaustion, and the sight of Harriett’s bed waiting for her in the small bedroom beside the kitchen. From the sudden change in Hugo, it was evident that Harriett’s virtue would remain unchallenged by this particular gentleman for the time being. Simon could only hope it would remain that way until he had left.
CHAPTER FIVE
It bothered Harriett more than she cared to admit when, two days later, she awoke to find herself still plagued by the strange sense of foreboding. Clearly, the small man’s appearance hadn’t been the reason why she felt so uncomfortable. She wondered if he was going to make a return visit, and knew she shouldn’t be surprised if he did - he wouldn’t be put off that easily by herself, or Simon. The man was a potential murderer, after all.
But she felt it was something else; something far
“Harriett is right,” Hugo sighed. “You have to carry on as normal. Stick to your usual routine, don’t add to it. She is perfectly safe while I am here.” His voice held all of the years of fighting experience he had gained while working for the War Office. “When I am gone, you can visit as often as you see fit, as long as Harriett is happy with the arrangement. Until then, as Harriett has said, you will most probably cause suspicion if you veer away from the usual routines.”
Simon lapsed into silence. He wanted to pace up and down and vent his disapproval at both of them, but knew he was already pushing his luck as far as Harriett was concerned. It had only been her lack of objection to his kissing her cheek earlier than had made him come back to her cottage, ostensibly to check on her. In reality he had wanted to check that she hadn’t been angered by his familiarity with her. The last thing he had expected was to find her in another man’s arms, about to be thoroughly kissed!
“ I hope you don’t mind, but I really need to lie down,” Hugo grumbled, pushing awkwardly to his feet. His energy had faded, and he was starting to feel as if he was swaying, even sitting down, and didn’t like the sensation one bit.
“I am surprised you have managed to remain upright for as long as you have,” Harriett chided gently, getting to her feet and moving her chair out of the way. She had to stop herself from offering to help him as he shuffled past and weaved toward the bedroom.
Simon followed them and watched as Hugo slumped onto the bed. The sudden change in him over the past few minutes was startling. His healthy colour had faded rapidly, leaving him pale and sweating. His broad chest was heaving with exertion while Harriett drew the covers over him almost maternally.
“Can I have some more tisane, please?” Although the fierce pain in his arm had diminished, it had now reduced to a dull ache that was equally grinding. He couldn’t understand why he had faded so suddenly.
“Of course.” S he paused when Hugo caught her wrist in a gentle hold. “But not the thing you put in it last night that made me sleep. I don’t need to sleep that soundly now, especially with a stranger in the area.”
Harriett smiled sympathetically at hi m. “I didn’t put anything in it that would help you sleep. There was some pasque flower in it to help your arm relax so it can heal, that’s all. Your deep sleep was most probably because of your tiredness, and the amount of blood you lost.” With that she hurried to her work room and minutes later reappeared carrying the items for the poultice and the tisane. Simon watched the relief on Hugo’s face moments before he downed the concoction in one long slug, and lay back to allow Harriett to work on his arm. There were no questions, no hesitation, nothing to indicate he had anything but the utmost belief in Harriett’s abilities, and he rose several notches in Simon’s estimation.
“I’m sorry,” Hugo mumbled to Simon around a yawn.
“Can’t be helped,” Simon replied, somewhat mollified by the man’s sudden exhaustion, and the sight of Harriett’s bed waiting for her in the small bedroom beside the kitchen. From the sudden change in Hugo, it was evident that Harriett’s virtue would remain unchallenged by this particular gentleman for the time being. Simon could only hope it would remain that way until he had left.
CHAPTER FIVE
It bothered Harriett more than she cared to admit when, two days later, she awoke to find herself still plagued by the strange sense of foreboding. Clearly, the small man’s appearance hadn’t been the reason why she felt so uncomfortable. She wondered if he was going to make a return visit, and knew she shouldn’t be surprised if he did - he wouldn’t be put off that easily by herself, or Simon. The man was a potential murderer, after all.
But she felt it was something else; something far
Similar Books
