Part 15 (2/2)
She fixed him with a look. ”I could still find a way, if I wished to.”
He smiled. ”I am sure you could.”
She said nothing further, plucking at the edge of her shawl with her fingertips. Why wasn't she tossing him out? After all, he'd lied to her and admitted it. She ought to be outraged.
She was outraged. And yet . . .
”Don't ever lie to me again,” she said with complete seriousness. ”There is nothing I find quite so repellent as deception. If I discover that you've told me another untruth, I really will toss you out of my house and make certain you never enter it again.”
His expression turned solemn. ”You have my word, Thalia. No more lies. I will be honest with you from this day forward. I trust I have your word that you will do the same?”
She studied him, wondering why she was even considering making such a bargain. Men lied; it was as simple as that. Heaven knew she had learned that lesson in the cruelest of ways. Yet for reasons that escaped her, she believed him.
”Yes,” she said softly, ”you have my word.”
Before he could respond, footsteps sounded in the hallway.
”Your ice and bandages must be ready,” Leo said.
He was right, she saw, as Fletcher walked in bearing a silver tray laden with the requested items.
”How are you doing, milady?” the butler asked after setting his burden onto a nearby table. ”Mrs. Grove and the rest of the staff are most concerned. She is in the kitchen now, preparing the poultice that his lords.h.i.+p requested.”
”Thank you, Fletcher,” Thalia told him, while Leo walked over to inspect the items on the tray. ”I am resting comfortably. Tell Mrs. Grove and the others not to worry. It is nothing more than a little sprain.”
”Time will tell how severe a sprain it is,” Leo said, addressing his words to the butler. ”Lady Thalia will need to stay off her feet tonight and likely tomorrow as well. Alert the kitchen to have a supper tray sent to her bedchamber this evening-”
”I can eat in the dining room as usual-,” she interrupted.
”-and inform her maid to arrange a bolster of feather pillows at the foot of her bed,” Leo continued as if she had not spoken. ”Her ankle requires elevation tonight to continue easing the swelling.”
”Very good, my lord,” Fletcher said. ”The arrangements shall be made as you request.”
Ingrained manners were the only thing that kept her mouth from falling open over the exchange. Thalia didn't know which man she found more vexing, Leo for giving orders to her butler-again-or Fletcher for following them a second time. Still, she said nothing until Fletcher left the room.
”Just because I am mildly discomposed at present,” she said, twisting her fingers around her shawl fringe, ”doesn't give you leave to order my servants about.”
Leo lifted the tray and carried it closer. ”I am only doing what needs done.”
”So you say. I knew you were stubborn and arrogant, but I didn't realize you were overbearing too.”
He shrugged. ”Another Byron trait.”
”Does your family have any positive qualities?”
”Many,” he said, his eyes twinkling. ”But we only display them when it is to our advantage.”
She gave a soft snort and crossed her arms over her chest. ”That I can readily believe. I met your brother once. I believe.”
”Oh? Which one?”
”The duke. He was formidable to say the least.”
”That's Edward. Although he's lightened up considerably since he married. Claire has a definite way about her and she doesn't put up with his bl.u.s.ter.”
”His wife sounds like an excellent woman.”
”Yes, you would like her.”
Thalia fell silent, aware that she and the d.u.c.h.ess of Clybourne would never meet; they no longer ran in the same circles. Leo looked away, busied himself with the items on the tray. She supposed he must be thinking the same thing.
He turned and leaned over her. ”This will work better if we remove your stocking.” Without waiting for her consent, he reached for the hem of her dress.
She clamped a hand down on his arm. ”What do you think you are doing?”
”Helping you off with your stocking.”
”You'll do nothing of the sort.”
He arched a brow. ”Why not? Modest?”
”No. Just cautious. If anyone is going to put their hands under my dress, it will be me. Turn your back.”
”Thalia-”
”Turn your back.”
He raised his hands up in mock surrender and did as she bade.
She waited until she was sure he wasn't looking, then sat up so she could pull up her skirts to remove her garter. The moment she did, pain shot through her ankle as her foot s.h.i.+fted sideways against the pillow. ”Ouch!”
Leo whirled around. ”You've hurt yourself.”
”It's nothing,” she said through gritted teeth. ”And you're looking. Turn around.”
He took a step closer instead. ”I thought you weren't going to lie to me, remember? Stop being obstinate and let me help you. It's not as if I'm the first man to ever see and touch your legs.”
No, but it had been a long time, a very long time, since she'd let a man do either of those things. And strangely enough, even that minor intimacy seemed too intense with him. As much as she wanted to refuse, though, her ankle was throbbing like she'd twisted it all over again.
”You're sure it isn't broken?” she asked.
”Quite sure. But that doesn't mean the sprain won't hurt like Hades. Now lie back and let me tend to you.”
She hesitated one final moment, then gingerly relaxed back.
She let her eyes close.
<script>