That made him smile. He’d already offered for her hand and so he bent down and placed a soft kiss on her forehead. “That’s kind of you to say, and I appreciate it a great deal, but I’m still teaching that man a lesson in the very near future.”
“Oh do,” Lady Winthrop sniffed. “We can say one thing for certain, however. I might have thought him a good candidate if not for today. His family has excellent bloodlines.”
Cordelia gave an audible sigh and he pressed his lips together to keep from smiling. “Mother, bloodlines? Really?” Then she looked at him. “What did you mean when you said to him that you knew his motives?”
He frowned. “Just that I’ve heard he carries a great deal of debt at several clubs.” He didn’t mention his own establishment of course, but Cordelia’s eyes widened.
“He’s looking for a purse,” she whispered. “No wonder he was so quick to switch from Diana to me.”
Inwardly, he winced. He hated that she thought herself so unattractive. “You’re jesting. You had two men brawling over you this afternoon.”
He felt her smile against his chest. “The highlight of my romantic attempts. I shall remember this always.”
“As will I,” he answered. If there had been any doubt in his mind about proposing, there wasn’t any longer. How could he let a woman go who’d thrown herself bodily into his protection?
But then he grimaced. How was he going to give her the affection she deserved?
* * *
Cordelia woke slowly, as if from a deep sleep. Had she slept funny on her hand? It ached terribly.
Her eyes blinked open but the room was fuzzy. Were people talking? Someone brushed her cheek. “Are you awake, Cordelia?”
Chad. She blinked several more times, attempting to bring her gaze into focus. Was Chad in her bedroom?
Another hand slowly bent her hand and pain throbbed all down her arm. “It’s a break to be certain but not a serious one. Won’t even require setting,” another voice said. “She’ll need to rest for several days and keep the hand still.”
Her eyes finally came into focus and so did her mind. McKenzie had hit Chad while Chad had been holding her up. She grimaced, certain he would not have been hit except for her clumsiness. “I’m so sorry. Are you all right? How is your jaw?” She looked at his face where a large black and blue mark had formed.
She lifted up trembling fingers to brush them near the mark and he gave the tiniest wince. “I think you took the worst of it, sweetheart.” Then he placed his hand over hers and brought her fingers back down. “Are you thirsty?”
She swallowed, realizing that her throat was parched and sore. “I am.”
He poured a glass of water as the doctor and her mother continued to speak in soft tones. Gently lifting her head, her placed the glass at her lips, and tipped it so that she could take small sips. Then he set the glass aside. “Corde,” he started, brushing a piece of hair back from her face. “They’ll likely give you laudanum to help you sleep and recover.”
She nodded, shuddering. She didn’t like the concoction all that much. Made her feel strange. “I understand, though I’d prefer not to take it.”
He held her hand in his, leaning closer. “If you’ll consent to be my wife, I can stay with you. Care for you in a way that I can’t now.”
She licked her lips, looking up at him. She had to say this, and she ached too much to be anything but honest. “Emily and Jack are in love. Minnie and Daring are inseparable. I think it might break my heart to watch their affection if we have none.”
He drew in a long breath. “You have my affection, Cordelia. Don’t you know that? And I can promise you I’ll be an attentive husband.”
She raised her brows while her insides pitched. His offer was tempting. “You won’t send me off to the country?”
He grimaced, sitting on the edge of her bed. “I would only do that if I needed to protect you from myself.”
She searched his face. “What does that mean?”
“I’ll tell you all of it. You’ll know more of me than any person I’ve ever met, but first you need to consent.” He leaned forward, his eyes near pleading. He was still holding her hand and he brought it to his lips.
Her eyes fluttered closed as his mouth touched her bare skin. The soft caress filled her with a hope she didn’t dare express. “It’s not that I’m trying to be difficult.”
He gave the smallest chuckle. “I understand. Any woman worth her salt should question whether I am the best choice.”
Her eyes flew open and she started to sit up before she fell back down, pain shooting through her arm.
“Lay back, young lady,” the doctor called sternly.