Minnie cleared her throat. “He’s been searching for Emily and came back to tell us what he’d discovered, Uncle. He’s here to help.” She began rhythmically stroking his hair as she crooned nonsensical words of comfort. Everyone else quieted and he closed his eyes. The whole thing was rather lovely.
“Are you with me?” She stopped stroking and her voice rose, worry making it high and tight.
“I’m here,” he answered without opening his eyes. “And I’m not going anywhere.” He wanted to beg her to start petting him again. He’d nearly forgot about the pain at her touch. What was happening to him? He was going soft over Minnie Chase. He knew deep in his gut that it was a mistake, but he couldn’t help himself in this moment. Not only was she attractive, breathtakingly so, but her touch was so warm, so giving and inviting. Made a man ache.
“They’re on the way to fetch the doctor,” Ada called.
“Good,” Minnie answered. “Collect up some servants so that we can lift him with without harm.”
Tag relaxed more deeply into her lap. Minnie was a woman who had the situation well under control.
Funny, he’d never considered how helpful a strong partner might be. He’d only seen the downside of a woman with an iron will. “How do you think I’m going to get home?” he asked as her hand started its rhythmic movements again. He wanted to sigh with contentment.
“You’re not,” she replied close to his ear. “You’re staying here.”
“All right,” he said, trusting her to know what was best. “Where will you be?”
“I’ll be here too,” she said even more quietly. “I’ll not leave you now.”
“Good,” he answered. So good. He had the sudden feeling that he could stay wrapped in her arms forever.
“Lord Darlington.” She continued stroking.
He frowned when she called him by his real name. He liked the way Tag rolled off her tongue. It shouldn’t be Lord Darlington.
“Yes?” he asked trying to open his heavy eyelids.
“I wanted to tell you that…” She stopped and her hand stilled too. “That I like you. A great deal more than I thought I would. Despite how we met…I think you’re…well…you’re a good man.”
He opened his eyes and shifted his head so that he might look into the emerald green of hers. “I like you too. A great deal more than I thought I would.”
She smiled down at him, a brilliant grin that lit her face. “We’re friends then?”
“Friends.” The word left a bitter taste in his mouth. Why was the idea of being friends so dissatisfying and what could he do about it?
Chapter Eight
Minnie stared down at the injured man in her lap, her insides as soft as churned butter. Even with his shoulder hanging low and the sleepy expression on his face, he looked every bit the powerful man that made her heartbeat quicken. More so, with the intimacy of their position. His large chest spilled from her lap and his muscular legs stretched way out, near reaching the steps. Her family stood staring at them and yet she had the urge to lower her mouth to taste his mouth again.
She licked her lips, trying to gain control of her thoughts. But his eyes honed-in on the gesture and her insides tightened.
She was looking for a husband. She repeated that fact several times until it became a chant in her head. Don’t go all mushy, you’re looking for a husband. Don’t stare at his lips, you’re looking for a husband. See, he caused her brain to go soft as well, she was never this redundant.
Several servants hustled out the door and quickly lifted Tag from the ground. They managed to set him on his feet as Minnie stood too, her own legs wobbly.
He stumbled but caught himself and one of the servants positioned himself under Tag’s good arm to help him into the house.
Minnie did not see Tag for the next several hours as the doctor attended him and t
hen dinnertime began.
She excused herself early and went to her room, then readied herself for bed. Her family had discussed Emily and Jack’s situation in circles for hours and she needed quiet to sift through her jumbled thoughts.
Not that she wasn’t concerned for her cousin but Minnie knew in her heart that Jack and Emily had made a decision together and likely for good reason. They loved one another and must have thought this the best choice for their future.
It was her own situation that plagued her now. She liked the duke a great deal, but she had been tasked with finding a husband and she could not dwell on a man who did not want a wife like her: strong-willed and opinionated.
A knock sounded at the door. “Come in,” she called, turning to see who it might be.