Part 2 (1/2)
Focus, he reminded himself, he needed to stay focused on just the conversation.
”Ask me whatever you'd like, my lady. I fear, I have no idea how to repress myself with you.” And that was why he was so much better when he did censor himself. He'd just sounded like a rapist. Brilliant, indeed.
She bit her bottom lip, trying her best to cover a cough of a laugh.
”G.o.d, I meant-”
She held her hands out to him. ”I think I understand.”
”I meant-”
Just then the carriage jerked to a halt, sending the lady flying. In the little amount of time before impact, Will tried to scoot from his seat, tried to reach out to catch her. But she landed in a heap between his legs. Her head almost smacked into his groin. Her hands grasped onto his hips for balance.
And there she stayed for a second too long.
The woman was more than likely shaken from the fall, yet Will's mind filled with the indecent image of her being exactly where she was, only without so many clothes on. He could perhaps not have his clothes on either. Of all the times! Lord, he was pervert.
He s.n.a.t.c.hed her by her tiny waist and lifted her back to her side of the carriage.
”Ouch.”
”Did I hurt you, my lady?” Yes, did my crotch a.s.sist in any way? Why couldn't his body simmer down?
He crouched before her, trying with everything in him to pull his hands from her abdomen.
”No, it was when I fell. One of my knees...” She leaned forward, letting Will have an awe-inspiring look at her decollete. Then the woman pulled up her skirts, and showed him her bleeding knee. A small trickle of scarlet oozed down her torn white stocking, and for that he should have stopped himself from ogling at her thigh, but for about two and-a-half seconds he did enjoy the view.
He gathered himself together though. Thank G.o.d the woman had never been with him during battles. She would have rendered him stupid in no time at all.
”May I a.s.sist you, my lady?”
She blinked down at him as he continued to kneel before her.
”I could bandage your knee, if you allow me?”
A very slow smile grew on her visage. ”Only if you call me by my first name. I'm sorry, but I'm so tired of being called 'my lady' or 'the lady.' I'm not used-I'm-I think we're beyond formalities now.”
He swallowed and looked down at the blood on her leg, reminding himself that she was hurt, and that was all that mattered-not her beautiful b.r.e.a.s.t.s that had been inches from his face, nor her thin, agile-looking leg, nor her warm, flirtatious words. Besides, he was more than likely misunderstanding her. She was a G.o.ddess, and he was...weary at best.
”Yes, my lady-Minerva.”
She groaned, and he quickly removed his handkerchief from his waistcoat to soothingly wipe away the blood.
”I'm so sorry you're hurt, my-Minerva.”
”Not Minerva.” She sighed. ”Call me Erva, please.”
He nodded and kept his eyes on his work, cleaning her wound. It was already bruising and puffing about the skin. That was all he needed to pay heed to. Although, he wanted to know why the sobriquet? Why she didn't like her name? Then his eyes caught through her torn stocking the barest of a light mark on the inside of her knee. He'd heard of white birthmarks, but this-this was a bird. It was just a shade lighter than her skin, but there it was, a little flying bird.
He blinked and looked up at her. Before he could utter a word, a loud knock sounded upon the carriage door.
”Begging your pardon, my lord, but one of the axels is broken. Is everyone in your party all right?”
Will was glad no one opened the carriage's door. He tied his handkerchief around her dainty knee, pulled her skirts down, covering her, and straightened as best he could, then opened the door.
”The lady is hurt.”
”Oh, I'm fine.”
”Shall I run for a doctor?” one of the footmen surrounding the carriage door asked.
”No,” Erva hollered over his shoulder. ”No, please, I'm fine. It's just a little cut, and it's all done bleeding now.”
Will glanced at her, wondering if he should call for a doctor anyhow.
”Pardon again, my lord,” the carriage driver said. ”But the axel, it's-”
The carriage pivoted to the side roughly, like a s.h.i.+p in a storm. He then realized that the front axel had indeed broken and had somehow stayed in shape this long, but was now heaving to. Erva clutched at her seat, but Will acted quicker. Grabbing her as fast as he could, he jumped from the carriage as it s.h.i.+fted to its side and fell like a wounded elephant.
Only then did he think of his cargo. Her arms tightly held him around his neck. Erva's breath came in fast gulps against his chest. One breast pressed against him, and he thought he felt her heart beating against his. Her scent of night jasmine wafted about him like a spell and entranced him to look into her eyes. They were the color of dark wild clover honey. So breathtaking. Her gaze conveyed intense grat.i.tude. With her in his arms, he felt...n.o.ble. Gallant. When he was a boy, he'd run about his manor, saving the maids from dragons with a stick for his sword. Once rescued, they'd thank him profusely and lavish him with laughter, hugs, and tickles. It had been one of the happiest moments of his life. And that was how he felt now.
”My lady,” he could only murmur.
”Thank you,” she whispered.
”By G.o.d, my lord, but you are fast. I never saw a man so quick. You saved the lady.”
Will didn't look up to see which footman was talking. He didn't care. Not while Erva's eyes spilled her potion through his veins. His blood pounded, pounded her name.
”Are you all right?” he finally asked.
She nodded. ”You?”
He nodded as well, since words seemed a tad beyond his grasp presently.
”Shall I fetch the doctor now?” another footman asked.
Finally, Will forced his eyes from hers and was about to nod, when she said, ”Oh no, I'm fine. Really. It's just a tiny cut.”
It was more than that though. Will had seen for himself the swelling of her delicate joint.
”My lady, I believe you are more injured than you let on,” he said, while not daring to look into her eyes again.
”I'm fine. I swear.” She giggled. ”I'll prove it to you. I'm sure I can walk.”
”I'll get another carriage, then we can await a doctor at the manor.”