The Love Affair of an English Lord by Jillian Hunter Page B

realizing it she found herself standing beneath the scene of her latest crime, her own bedchamber window. The thought of Dominic hiding inside her room sent her into a fresh panic. Prisoner or not, she had to get rid of him.
    How precisely was she to bring this about? He needed help. Yet he had forbidden her to fetch a physician, and she could hardly sneak one upstairs without alerting the entire house, if not the village. She considered the wisdom of asking her uncle’s advice. But to do so would risk ruining the viscount’s plans for revenge, breaking her word to him. Better to get him back on his feet and out of her life.
    She turned in hesitation toward the stables. Perhaps she should go to the apothecary’s. But a scandalous young lady asking for a salve to treat a stab wound would definitely arouse suspicion. There was little time to waste. She had to exorcise the ghost who had taken over her life.
    â€œGood mornin’, Lady Chloe,” the undergroom said politely as he noticed her at the door. “Would you like to take an early ride today?”
    Chloe stirred from her trance. The brawny young man was diligently currying Pamela’s chestnut gelding. She drew a breath and remembered the angry gash the animal had received a week or so ago from kicking at the fence. The horse’s hind leg had healed beautifully.
    â€œWhat was that stuff you put on her leg when she got hurt, Danny?”
    â€œA salve of herbs and oils I buy every year from the gypsies, my lady.”
    She watched him a few seconds longer. “It certainly appears to have worked.”
    â€œâ€™Tain’t nothing better. I used it myself when I got cut up in a boxfight at the fair.” He wiped his cheek with his sinewy forearm, motioning with the currycomb to the earthenware jar and green bottle on the rough shelf above. “The ointment and that tonic there’ll fix about anything, I reckon.”
    Chloe stared in fascination at the dark glass bottle. She wondered if she dare. Had Dominic left her with any other choice? Did the arrogant man actually believe that having escaped death once, he could continue to do so?
    She waited several minutes until Danny went out into the paddock before helping herself to his gypsy cures. Her mouth was dry as she returned to the house and retrieved the hidden meal from the vase. If anyone asked why she was in possession of breakfast sausages and a disgusting Romany potion, she supposed she could say that she had found a wounded animal and wanted to save it.
    It was not, after all, that far from the truth. Dominic Breckland was as wild and dangerous as any untamed animal she would ever encounter.

Chapter 9

    Her heart was beating furiously as she entered her bedroom. How still it seemed. The door to the dressing closet was shut, as she had left it. Had he managed to sneak away? How much easier it would be all around if he had. Chloe had not known a moment’s peace since she’d found him. A future that involved him did not promise much tranquillity either.
    She opened the closet door. His muscular frame was slumped in the corner, one arm draped around her trunk. She was surprised at the reaction of relief that swept over her. His eyes, bright with fever, scrutinized her for several moments.
    â€œGood morning, again,” he said calmly, inclining his head. “Are you ready to shave me?”
    â€œStrangle you is more like it,” Chloe said in indignation. How could he sit there ordering her about and sounding so collected when she had been worrying herself sick over his welfare? “You are the most troublesome person I have ever met.”
    A glitter of appreciation lightened his gaze for a moment. “A trait I suspect we share.”
    â€œAnd will undoubtedly pay for,” Chloe said, unwrapping her napkin. “Here. Eat these while I look at that shoulder. There’s a bottle of brandy in my reticule, too. Add pinching my uncle’s