Lady Henrietta's Dilemma: Regency Suspense Romance Book 2 (Lords of Sussex) by Katy Walters Read Free Book Online

care.’
    The viscount raised her hand to his mouth and kissed her knuckles, not just kissing the air above them, but her actual skin. The thin scar across his cheek crinkled, as he smiled.  ‘My pleasure; tis not every day I have the chance to nurse such a beautiful creature as yourself.  Why at one point, I thought I was in heaven administering to an angel.’
    Esther smiled, even looking like some threatening assailant; he was a charmer. As he kissed her hand again, she felt her stomach quiver. Surprised, her eyes widened; she had never experienced such feelings before with any man. She wondered at his power to move her so, with just a simple kiss of her hand.
    ‘My lord, I am so grateful to you, but now I must rise and repair to my apartment.’
    ‘Hah, not so quickly m’dear. First, we must have Doctor Bastian’s appraisal. Only when you are fully recovered can I allow you to leave.’
    ‘My lord, I really must; I have to be there when my protector Lord Bruges returns.’  Esther exclaimed.
    ‘Be that as it may, m’dear; you shall rest until the good doctor sees you. My servant will go immediately to fetch him. He is downstairs.’
    ‘Downstairs?’
    ‘Well yes, he is living here until we have you recover.’
    Not wanting to appear petulant, Esther sank back into pillows. ‘As you will my lord, I am grateful for your kindness. Why, I must admit to feeling quite weak.’
    ‘I will have chef prepare a consommé for you, and by the way, please call me by my familiar name, David.’
    ‘Oh no my lord, I could not possibly be so bold; it is quite inappropriate for me to be that personal.’
    ‘Be that as it may, I insist. In fact, it would give me the greatest pleasure to hear my name on such beautiful lips.  However, now I leave you to the tender ministrations of your maid.’ With that, he rose, towering over her, a distinguished figure in his black superfine frockcoat and fawn nankeen breeches. As he bent to kiss her forehead, a sapphire and diamond stick pin sparkled from his cravat.  Not wanting to appear aloof, she allowed him to press his lips to her forehead, only to find his touch send sizzling signals down to her thighs. Startled, she looked up, drowning in those dark chocolate eyes.
    As the door closed softly behind him, Lottie ran to her side. ‘La , mistress, he is fair smitten with you. Why he has scarcely left your side.’
    ‘Lottie first, where is our little Lily?’
    ‘Oh, she is the most spoilt dog I know. He ordered chicken and liver for her meals. Can you believe it?’
    Esther beamed. ‘I am relieved – thank you Lottie . However, now, I have a question; was I uncovered at any time in the viscount’s presence?’
    ‘Oh yes you were, on the doctor’s orders, but the viscount was not present. He could have been, but he is such a gentleman . He took no advantages.’
    ‘So he was alone with me?’
    Lottie blushed. ‘No, but he did insist carrying you to the bath. The doctor wanted you bathed in cool water to bring down the fever.’
    ‘Oh no – was I—
    ‘Well I covered you with a sheet whilst you were in his arms, and he was so careful to keep you covered, as he laid you in the water.’
    ‘Oh dear God, it gets worse.’ Esther cried, ‘Have I no dignity left?’
    ‘Mistress, you were so ill, babbling about your brother and that awful employer.  Why you fair screamed at one point, as if you were fighting him.’
    ‘Who? The viscount?’
    ‘No, that awful man who attacked you.’
    ‘Did I say his name?’
    Oh yes , over and over again. You pleaded with him to think of his wife and children.’ 
    Esther gasped, her heart sinking.
    ‘You were sobbing and cried out to him not to take your innocence. He must have been such a blackguard. Then you cried out that Lord Vaughan was jealous, that he – he punished you, bruised you.’
    ‘Oh dear God, did the viscount say anything?’
    He muttered something about running them through.  He was indeed fit to burst a blood