The Burlington Manor Affair

“Your sister will be fine.”

“Stepsister. Ex-stepsister, in fact,” Rex qualified sharply, clasping Carmen’s hand inside his own. “We aren’t blood related.”

“Yes, of course, apologies.” Dr. Ross looked from one to the other, then smiled. He nodded and picked up his briefcase. “It’s a minor sprain but I’ll get someone to deliver you a walking stick within the hour so you’ll be able to get around easier.”

Mrs. Amery, who hovered at the doorway, interrupted. “There’s a range of walking sticks in the boot room. I’m sure one of them might do the job.”

“Even better,” the doctor responded. “Keep off it as much as you can for a day or two. If it’s sore when you’re moving around use the stick on the opposite side to help keep the weight off.” He rooted about in his briefcase and came out with a prescription pad. “I’ll prescribe some anti-inflammatory tablets, just in case there is swelling. Any other problems, give me a call.”

Carmen smiled up at him. “Thank you, Doctor.”

“I’ll carry you everywhere,” Rex said. “That’s not a problem.”

“You can’t carry me everywhere.” She chuckled.

“I can and I will.” He heard the croak in his own voice. Responsibility and concern weighed heavily on him. It was more than responsibility he felt, though. He cupped her face in one palm, studying her.

She looked at him as if spellbound by what she saw in his eyes.

That look on her face was so precious. Somehow, it made him feel even more protective of her. Why had she fallen at all? Suspicion niggled at him. He’d had a near-miss himself that day, and now this. Vaguely he heard Mrs. Amery ask if they needed anything urgently, but he couldn’t tear himself away from looking at Carmen. If anything had happened to her...if anything did happen to her, he’d never forgive himself.

Mrs. Amery escorted the doctor out. Their footsteps and voices faded away on the landing.

Rex stroked Carmen’s cheek with his thumb. “I’m going to check the stairs out. Find out why this happened.”

She blushed. “It was just a stupid accident.”

Was it, though? He’d convinced himself that the incident in the tube station was random and therefore not an ongoing concern. Were the two incidents that had befallen them that day perhaps not as coincidental as they appeared? But who would do such a thing? And why? The events of the weekend before came to mind. The scene Amanda had made. Rex shook his head. “I’m not going to let you out of my sight. Get used to the idea.”

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

THERE WAS SOMETHING preoccupying Rex that he wasn’t sharing. It took Carmen a few minutes to realize this, but as soon as she did she wanted to know what it was.

At first she’d been overcome by the sight of him racing to her side. That familiar sense of longing and desire flooded inside her as soon as she saw him entering the room. The concern that he expressed over her injury made her warm right through. It was so unexpected, to see Rex worked up over such a small thing. Because she craved him so, there was a sweet sense of indulgence in just seeing him that way, absorbing the feeling of being treasured and cared for.

Then she noticed that he didn’t lighten up, and after Mrs. Amery had escorted the doctor out Rex left the room and she heard him having a discussion with Bill Amery out on the landing and then the two voices faded away. When he returned, he paced about her room, checking the windows and doing the oddest things.

“Rex, whatever is the matter?” She shifted in her chair, rearranging herself.

He turned back immediately. “I’ll get Mrs. Amery to bring you a cup of tea.” He immediately began to shift a table from its place by the window closer to the bed. “In fact, we’ll have dinner up here.”

“Don’t be silly. Mrs. Summerfield has gone to a lot of trouble preparing the dinner and she’s providing a full service before she heads home for the night. You know how she adores cooking for you. I’m not going to spoil it for her.”

Rex frowned at her.

“If you insist, you can carry me downstairs, but I can easily use one of the sticks and I’ll be able to get about quite easily. It’s really not that bad. Mrs. Amery rang the doctor as a precaution. It’s only a little sore.”

“I’m not going to risk you having another accident.”

That annoyed her. “I already feel like a clumsy fool, there’s no need to make me feel as if I’ll injure myself further because I’m going to be hobbling about for a couple of days.”

“That wasn’t what I meant.” His handsome mouth tightened. It was almost as if he didn’t want to say what was on his mind.

He came back to her side and squatted down there again, an action which caused her to melt a little more because he was close, and so caring. He rested his elbows on the arm of the chair and looked deep into her eyes. “I want to get you out of here.”

Get me out of here?

“What do you mean?” He might look like charm personified, but the statement immediately set off alarm bells for Carmen.