The Earl's Honorable Intentions Read Online Free PDF Page B

accustomed to being readily obeyed. “I am not in the habit of giving orders I do not insist upon. I expect you know that. So why did you choose to ignore me?”
    “As I said, sir—”
    He did not need to hear her excuse again. “From now on, you may take my insistence for granted. Is that understood?”
    “Perfectly, sir.” Her answer sounded meek enough, but a mutinous tilt of her chin suggested otherwise.
    If he was not careful, Miss Hannah Fletcher might soon be running his household and him along with it, just the way she had with his wife. An unexpected pang of sympathy for Clarissa stung his heart. Poor creature, overborne by two strong-willed people with very different ideas.
    “Good.” Gavin wished he could stand. It was difficult to exert the proper authority while he lay flat on his back and had to look up at Miss Fletcher. Not to mention that the woman had recently seen him at his most helpless. It rankled his pride and inflamed his temper.
    As this point in a conversation with him, any of his junior officers would have had the good sense to hold their tongues and make themselves scarce at the earliest opportunity. It seemed his son’s governess had less discretion than they...or perhaps more courage.
    “I can assure your lordship it was never my intention to disregard your orders. When you went to sleep so quickly, I was afraid you might have fallen unconscious again. I felt it would be unwise to leave you alone in case you took a turn for the worse.”
    So she had disobeyed him for his own good? It made Gavin feel rather a fool for speaking so sharply to her. So did the vague memory of having been tenderly cared for while he was incapacitated.
    “What other time?” He did not recall any waking before last night.
    “The night before last. Or was it two?” Clearly exhaustion had muddled Miss Fletcher’s memory. Gavin had seen the effect often during the grueling Peninsular campaign. “You began speaking quite clearly, as if you were awake. But you did not appear to know where you were. You addressed someone named...Molsely? Molesby?”
    “Molesworth.” The name burst from Gavin’s lips before he could contain it.
    “That’s right.” Miss Fetcher rubbed her eyes. It made Gavin weary just to look at her. “You kept telling him not to go. You said the two of you must put a stop to Bonaparte.”
    Her words revived a wrenching memory. If she had struck him hard on his injured side, Gavin doubted it could have hurt worse. But it was worth the pain to be reminded of his vow and his mission. Valuable time had already been lost while he’d lain there useless.
    “If I might ask, sir,” she continued, “who is Mr. Molesworth?”
    “You may not ask!” Gavin snapped. “And he is... was Major Molesworth.”
    Before the impertinent creature had the audacity to quiz him further, he seized command of the situation. “Enough of this. I am in full possession of my faculties now and I want you to summon a footman to help me make myself presentable.”
    He wished his aide-de-camp had been able to accompany him back from Waterloo. Then he would never have been placed in the awkward position of being tended to by Miss Fletcher. But the lad had sustained wounds of his own, so Gavin had insisted he stay behind to recover.
    In case Miss Fletcher should be in any doubt about whether he meant to be obeyed, he added, “I insist upon it.”
    “Yes, sir.” The governess shot to her feet, her spine stiff and straight as a ramrod. Gavin half expected her to snap a mocking salute. “Will there be anything else, sir?”
    “As a matter of fact, there will. I want breakfast ordered. Not gruel or broth or jelly, but a substantial meal that will put some strength back in me—eggs and bread and meat.”
    Miss Fletcher’s lips, which had looked so soft and innocent while she slept, were now tightened in a frown of disapproval. “Are you certain that will be wise, sir?”
    “It is not for you to question the wisdom