Page 62 of The Secret Love of a Gentleman (The Marlow Family Secrets #3)

Rob turned his head a little to the left so he could shave the stubble from below his right ear.

He had begun to feel more than a patient now.

His left arm had been freed from its splints.

It was stiff and painful and the muscles had weakened, yet it gave him the freedom to move about on crutches, at least from the bed to the chair by the window.

He still had the splints on his leg, but they too would be gone soon; the surgeon had agreed to remove them before Christmas.

In less than two weeks he might wear trousers again.

He was mortally sick of being clothed in a nightshirt and dressing gown.

A knock struck the bedchamber door.

‘Come in,’ Rob called.

‘Hello.’ His father walked into the room, followed by his mother.

They were no longer staying with his uncle but staying with the others at John’s and calling each day.

‘Good day,’ Rob acknowledged brightly, as he washed off the razor and dried it on a towel .

‘You sound happy,’ his mother said.

‘I am counting down the days until the splints are off my leg.’

He dried his face with the same towel.

‘You look well,’ his father said, drawing up a chair for his mother.

‘Everywhere other than my leg feels well.’

His father pulled a chair closer for himself too. ‘Jenny and Helen have been asking us numerous questions about you, and about why we go out all the time when we have only just returned. They are old enough to realise the whole thing is odd. We want to tell them.’

‘No.’

‘Think of this from their perspective. It is distressing them.’

‘Then do not visit me. I am better, and the splints will be off soon. I will stay at John’s for Christmas and tell everyone I fell off my horse.’

His father sighed. ‘Very well. I understand you do not wish Caroline to hear of this, so that is what we shall do.’