Fortune Said: A Valentine Haberdashers Tale Read Online Free PDF Page A

realized."
    "Whit," his cousin said in a warning tone.
    "Will you never trust me?"
    Josh opened his mouth and then closed it again. "I'll leave it up to Miss Devonport if she would like to stay on during your convalescence. And you look as though you need to sleep again."
    "I am quite tired."
    Josh stood and started toward the door.
    "You're leaving the hors d'age brandy?"
    "Yes. Try not to drink it all at once."
    "Won't Gideon be perturbed that we took so much of it?"
    Josh came back to stand over him. "No, you idiot, he won't." He leaned down to kiss the top of Whit's head. "Gideon has been beside himself in worry for you. The first thing I did after telling Grace you were awake was to dispatch a rider to Kellington to give him the news."
    "Oh."
    Josh took Whit's empty glass to set on the table next to the tumbler. "Get some rest. I will check with Miss Devonport on your behalf."
    "Thank you, Josh."
    "Of course," his cousin said.
     
    * * *
     
    Although she was still bone tired, Sissy's spirits were lifted by her time chatting in the kitchen. When Dibbs reappeared she stood to greet him but he spoke first.
    "Miss Devonport, thank you very much for caring for my cousin during his illness. If there is ever anything I can do for you, please don't hesitate to ask."
    "Mr. Whitman's return to health is reward enough for me."
    He paused for a moment as though carefully considering what he would say next. "You are, of course, not beholden to care for him any longer since he has recovered from the fever. But he has requested you. I think he has grown fond of your ministrations."
    "I would be delighted to care for Mr. Whitman until he is well."
    "Then I remain in your debt, Miss Devonport."
    "Think nothing of it," she reassured him.
    "If we're done being polite," Grace interrupted them, "I have Whit's tray prepared."
    Grace tried to hand over the enormous tray laden with food that Sissy was fairly sure outweighed her.
    "I'll take that," Dibbs said, intercepting it.
    There was so much food that Sissy was sure Mr. Whitman wouldn't be able to eat a tenth of it. It was enough for three normal person's dinners.
    "Well, if you're going then I'm coming with you," Grace said to her husband.
    "Of course. I never said you couldn't."
    The couple trooped up the stairs with Sissy in their wake. It was nice to feel at least somewhat associated with a family again.
     

Chapter Six
     
    Whit awoke to the sound of his name and was almost immediately enveloped in a hug that smelled like spice and roses. Grace. He patted her back awkwardly, wondering when Josh would appear and demand that Whit unhand his wife.
    "If you're quite done I need to set down this tray."
    Ah, so Josh was already here.
    "Set it on the other side of the bed, I'm not finished by half."
    But she did sit back and took his face in her hands. "You scared the devil out of us, you know."
    "Did I? Then I suppose I should take up my vicars robes forthwith."
    "They told me that your spirits were surprisingly well returned, hopefully your appetite is as well." But she didn't release him immediately, searching his face as though looking for something. He knew not what that could be. She finally gave him a trembling smile and turned her attention to pulling things from the tray to display for him. "Yorkshire puddings, of course. Roast potatoes."
    "And roast chicken!"
    "And roast chicken," she agreed, her smile finally blooming more naturally. He had told her once that he would marry her if she could roast a chicken well and it had become something of a joke between them. Josh's proposal to her had even referenced it, strange as that seemed.
    "Grace, why don't we leave him to his feast," Josh said, holding out a hand for his wife. She rose from the bed and twined her arm in her husband's. The couple stood in an easy intimacy as Josh said, "Don't hesitate to call on us if you need anything."
    If Whit had truly desired marriage he would have been jealous of them. They obviously put each other