The Dutiful Rake Read Online Free PDF Page B

memory as the most novel of his entire misspent career. Resignedly he climbed back on to the bed beside her and pulled her to him, nestling her into the curve of his arm to rest against his side. He firmly repressed the thought that she felt rather nice snuggled against him.
    With a contented little sigh her head drooped on to his shoulder and she slept.
    Oddly enough, Marcus found that he got a great deal more rest this way. When she stirred he could recall her wandering mind simply by speaking to her gently. Sheseemed to remember him and trust him quite happily. Occasionally she even spoke his name in her mutterings.
    His heart twisted as she murmured, ‘Marc is here…a friend…’ What had her life been that she should find the thought of an unknown friend so sustaining? He wondered if there were anyone else she could turn to. Surely she didn’t have to hire herself out as a nursery governess! She was obviously gently born and Samuel Langley had behaved in a totally inappropriate way, turning her into a servant. There must be some relative he could find to take her in. Unconsciously he held her closer, leaning to rest his cheek on the limp, dark curls.
     
    For two nights and a day between Marcus was in constant attendance on Miss Fellowes. He found that he was required to do everything for her. Most of the time she lay in a semi-conscious daze, rarely stirring except when he fed her or gave her a drink. He even had to hold her steady while she perched on the spittoon he found under the bed. Marcus thought ruefully that if she remembered any of this, Meg was going to be extremely embarrassed. Not many husbands would have had to do as much for their wives as he had done for this unknown, helpless waif.
    He found that he thought of her as a child, although he had ascertained from Barlow that she was nearly twenty. Her form was so thin, not at all like the rounded, voluptuous curves he was used to in a woman. Just as well, he thought, given that he had ended up spending most of the night with her in his arms.
    She would be quite tall though, he surmised as he watched her that afternoon. He liked taller women. Not too tall, but enough so that he didn’t get a crick in hisneck stooping to kiss them. And he supposed that if she were not so ill and had some flesh on her bones, that she might fill out quite nicely. Her eyes were certainly lovely, deep blue-grey, fringed with curling dark lashes and with strongly marked brows above them. He complexion, despite the ashen hue, was definitely good.
    The fever seemed to abate during the day but rose again towards the evening, although Marcus thought she was not so ill as when he had first seen her. He found her eyes open several times, staring at him with a puzzled frown, but she asked no questions beyond the time and what day it was. He suspected that she was too tired and weak to indulge in curiosity.
     
    Ellerbeck called again in the evening and pronounced her much improved. ‘Much better, my lord. And Agnes Barlow will be up tomorrow. She should stay in bed longer, but she is in a terrible state about Miss Meg and insists that she must get up. So you will be relieved.’
    Marcus nodded. ‘Good. I cannot think that Miss Meg will feel at all comfortable with me once she is well enough to realise who I am. If Mrs Barlow takes over tomorrow that can be avoided.’
    ‘Aye, that will be best,’ agreed the doctor. ‘I’ll tell you to your head, my lord, she’s a great deal better. And that can go down to your credit. I’ll warrant you didn’t have an easy time with her. If ever you need a reference as a nurse, my lord, drop me a line.’
    Marcus shrugged to hide his pleasure and said off-handedly, ‘The job had to be done, sir. No one could have let the girl take her chances.’
    A sceptical snort from the doctor made him look inquiringly. ‘Old Samuel wouldn’t have seen it like that. Nor, I might add, did any of the so-called ladies in thedistrict. Told you I’d try to