All About Seduction(46)

“Nice to meet you, Miss Dugan,” Caroline said perfunctorily.

Lucy nodded as if she were the queen. Caroline resisted making a comment. If the village children had more schooling, proper manners would have been part of their broader education. But she was inclined to dislike the young woman on sight because of the easy way she had been draped across Jack. A dawning realization stabbed at Caroline. Lucy must be his sweetheart.

Jack held out the empty glass. “Thank you.”

Careful to avoid his fingers, Caroline took the glass from his hand. His gaze traveled up her arm and landed on her face. Her skin tingled almost as if he actually touched her. Her lips parted to speak, but her mind went blank and nothing came out. She couldn’t seduce Jack if he were promised to another woman. A prettier, younger, blond woman.

If she had not been worrying so much about how and when she would seduce him, she might not have noticed the way Jack’s touch made her quiver. Not that he was in any sort of condition for that sort of activity, and even if he had been, Lucy was probably the one he would want to do that with. Caroline’s cheeks heated.

Lucy made a noise and then turned to Jack, her eyes narrowing.

The footman entered the room. “I have everything you asked for, ma’am.” He turned to Jack. “The water closet is ready for you, sir.”

Jack swiveled his legs to the side.

“Oh my God!” Lucy put her hands in front of her mouth. “You’re still bleeding.”

“The surgeon couldn’t close the incision because of the swelling,” said Caroline. “But he was able to return most of the pieces of bone to their proper alignment and fasten them together with silver wire.”

Lucy clamped her hands tight against her lips and stared with horror at the bloody bandage.

Caroline swatted off a pesky fly of irritation. The young woman might be genuinely concerned for Jack, but if she was having trouble looking at his dressing, how would she have fared watching the surgeon work?

Jack met Caroline’s eyes and his eyebrows dipped in question. “Feels like he took a sledgehammer to it.”

“More like a gimlet.”

“Still, that’s much better than a saw.” The ghost of a smile crossed his lips.

Lucy moaned.

Caroline was too irritated and too ill after last night’s overindulgence to care if discussing Jack’s surgery bothered the girl. He watched her, his expression curious. No doubt he wanted to know more about the surgery.

“It was a much more complex procedure than I anticipated.” Caroline signaled the footman. “I believe Dr. Hein will better explain what he did, if you ask him.”

She would have to send the doctor a note to collect her at the mill, so she could be here when he checked on Jack. As it was, she was already late.

The footman sat on the bed by Jack’s good leg, while Caroline took her position to his right. They both pulled his arms across their shoulders.

“Ready?” she asked.

Jack nodded.

The three of them stood as a unit, while Lucy gaped in amazement.

They navigated him toward the open double doors. His steps were more normal than the hops he’d taken with just her yesterday. She hoped it was less jarring for him with the footman able to bear the bulk of Jack’s weight.

“Steven has brought you a tall stool that you can use to balance. You will find all the toiletries and towels you should need.” She tried to talk normally and not think about her arm around his waist, or his physique.

They reached the open door of the water closet. As she’d ordered, a fresh nightshirt and undergarments lay next to the basin. A comb, toothbrush, and tooth powder jar lay on a towel.

Jack tried to speak, but what came out was a weak cough, which he tried to catch in his shoulder, but not before she’d seen his eyes were watering. Did such a small kindness choke him up?

“Mr. Broadhurst’s valet will come down and shave you, once he is done abovestairs.” Resisting the urge to pat or rub Jack, she slid out from under his arm.

He had composed himself. “That’s not necessary. I can—”

“Forgive me if picturing you with a razor in your hand with the difficulty you have maintaining your balance is unsettling.”

“Gruesome image, is it?” Jack mocked.

“I fear I could lose the servants. They can tolerate only so much bloodletting.”

Jack searched her eyes, his expression blank. She let her lips curl to let him know she was teasing. He tried a smile, but it faltered as she drew her supportive hand away. Really, she had hung on to him far longer than necessary to make sure he was steady.