Page 143 of Rogue of My Heart

“No, just stings a little.” He studied the gash across the top of his hand. The wound, more severe than he’d thought, stained the white linen strip scarlet. It looked as though a beast had gnawed at his flesh. Still, the wound was small, barely an inch across. A tight binding would do the trick.

“The doctor is in with Daphne. Her leg is indeed broken, and he’s sent for the surgeon to set the bone.” Phoebe said from the door. “Should I send the doctor in here when he’s finished?”

Rebecca nodded without looking up from her task.

“No, that shall not be necessary. The cut is not as bad as it appears.” Camden glanced between the two women.

Phoebe crossed the room to Rebecca’s side. Her gaze focused on Camden’s hand. “It looks like you caught it on a nail.”

“It needs to be properly cleaned, so the wound does not fester.” Rebecca wrapped a dry strip of linen around his hand. “It will do you no harm to let the doctor treat your injury.”

She made a good argument. More than her words, the worry in her green eyes beseeched him. “Very well,” Camden conceded.

Rebecca smiled, giving his hand a barely noticeable squeeze. “Good.”

He rather preferred her smile to the worried expression she’d been wearing a moment before. It lit up her whole face, made her eyes sparkle like grass coated in morning dew. He wanted to bask in her happiness for the rest of his days.

His heart skipped a beat. Where had that come from? He had not been searching for a wife, had not even considered the idea before this moment. He looked toward the window. All he had wanted was to spend some time alone before returning to London, yet his chest tightened at the idea of leaving Rebecca.

“I will send the doctor in once he finishes with Daphne.” Phoebe said. “I am going to check on her now, if you will excuse me.” She nodded to him, smiled at her sister, then left the parlor.

Rebecca released his hand and said, “It was truly wonderful the way you cared for Daphne. I am sorry you hurt yourself in the process.” She scooped up the soiled linen strips from the table and placed them in the bowl.

“I have no wish for praise. I did what needed doing, nothing more. I assure you I have been in far worse situations.”

She folded the remaining clean linen strips. “How very modest of you. Nonetheless, you are a hero in my eyes.”

“In that case.” He chuckled. “I can think of other predicaments I would like to rescue you from.” His gaze swept the length of her body, a roguish gleam in his blue eyes.

She smiled and swatted his shoulder playfully. “You’re incorrigible.”

Camden leaned forward, his eyes locking on hers. “Would you like me to show you just how incorrigible I can be?”

Rebecca’s cheeks flushed as she shifted her feet, her gaze flickering to the door. “Camden, we’re in the middle of a crisis.”

“Yes, you are right.” He sighed, his shoulders slumping. “Perhaps another time.”

“Rogue,” she said, then bit her lip. Silence fell between them, the only sound the crackling of the fire in the hearth. Rebecca busied herself with rinsing the stained linen strips, her focus solely on the task at hand. Camden watched her, admiring the way her honey-blond hair fell over her shoulders in cascading waves and the way her hands moved with such grace. He wanted nothing more than to pull her into his arms, to feel her warmth and breath against his skin.

A knock sounded at the door, drawing both of their attention. The doctor entered, his face lined with concern. “Lady Rebecca, Captain, the surgeon has arrived and is upstairs tending to Lady Daphne. I have come to treat Captain Beauchamp’s injury.”

Rebecca moved around to the back of Camden’s chair, gesturing for the doctor to take her place beside the wingback chair. “Thank you, Doctor.”

Camden held his hand out for the doctor to examine. The older man nodded before taking a vial of clear liquid from his bag and pouring it over the wound. Camden hissed as the liquid stung his skin. The doctor then wrapped a thick bandage around his hand, securing it in place.

“You will need to keep the wound bandaged for at least a week,” the doctor said. “Change it once a day. And try not to use that hand too much. It needs time to heal.”

“Thank you, Doctor,” Camden said, flexing his fingers experimentally. The pain had lessened considerably, and he was thankful for the doctor’s expertise.

As the doctor packed up his bag and left the room, Rebecca moved to stand in front of Camden. “I will come calling to change the bandage,” she said firmly.

Camden raised an eyebrow in surprise. “I am not sure that is necessary, Rebecca. I can manage on my own.”

“You will allow my help,” she repeated, her voice leaving no room for argument. “It is the least I can do.”

Camden couldn’t help but feel a surge of affection for her. She was stubborn, but she cared deeply for those around her. “As you wish.” Camden nodded. He could feel her fingers brush against his shoulder as she moved around him. He closed his eyes briefly, savoring the sensation. It was intoxicating to be this close to her, to feel her presence and know that she cared for him.

“Go home and rest. I will come to tend you tomorrow, and each day after for the prescribed sennight,” she said.