The Rakehell Regency Romance Collection Volume 2(236)

Though as he looked at her, with her raven hair flowing down around her shoulders, putting him in mind of the erotic vision he had had of her just before he had collapsed, he admitted inwardly, What a pity. I could get used to looking at her, touching her….



"Blake, what is it? Are you feeling faint again?"



He thumped his head with the heel of his hand, trying to clear it. "A bit dizzy is all."



"Here, have some hot sweet tea. It's supposed to be good for shocks and scares."



She prepared the cup and pressed it into his hands, and then tested his forehead with the back of her wrist. "A bit feverish still, but nothing a couple of days of rest won't cure."



"Thank you, Doctor," he said with a smile.



Her mouth dropped open. "Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean-"



"You're very sweet. Nothing to be ashamed of. Now, where's my medical bag?"



"Here in the corner." She brought it to him at once.



A tap at the door heralded the arrival of her bath. "You can go off and see the others now, and come back for another rest." She looked at him shyly for a moment, and pointed. "We dried out the flannel strips we used to bind my ribs, but after my bath, would you mind very much examining me? Perhaps you have some cream or something for the pain?"



"Yes, of course." He took out his small green bottle and gave her a teaspoon full of the brown liquid. "I'll be back in half an hour."



She nodded. "Thank you."



When he'd gone, she tried not to panic. But he was going to have to see at least part of her bare, for he could not examine her ribs without seeing the top half of her at least. She would don a petticoat to cover her lower half and put a handkerchief over her breasts. That ought to suffice. She could of course ask the apothecary, but nice though he was, she didn't want anyone to see her bare except--



No, that was silly. Blake was a doctor helping her, that was all. He would go his way, she hers, and never again would they meet. So really there was no harm-



Stop that! she told herself.



But she could not stop thinking of the wonderful sensations she had experienced just being by his side tucked into his lean hard body while he slept. His arousal when he had awakened. She had been able to feel it against her leg, his hand on her knee. It had been indescribably exciting.



But that way lay madness. She was a virgin, and a woman all alone until such time as she caught up with her step-brother Peter or, failing that, had to go to her new guardian.



Again she had visions of some cadaverous old man with an equally shrivelled up old wife. She shuddered as she got into the tub. For all she knew, these could be her last few days of freedom. One more kiss or cuddle with Blake surely wouldn't damn her forever, now would it?



He certainly seemed nice enough, and somehow reassuringly familiar, comfortable to be with. She felt none of the embarrassment or tongue-tied awkwardness she did at balls and other social occasions. She had been younger then, of course, her period of mourning for one and then the other of her parents having halted her social rounds for some time.



If she was being absolutely truthful, she had to admit that she didn't really miss it. There was so much to do on the estate that she had often begrudged the time to get dressed finely and primp in front of the mirror.



As she washed her hair in the tub, she had to admit that she was lucky. Her hair was wavy enough with just the right amount of body to look well in any style, and her complexion was so clear she had no need for cosmetics. She wondered how many women would be offended to discover that she could get dressed and for a ball and look spectacular, as she had been told, in less than ten minutes.



She shrugged her slender shoulders. Now was not the time to worry about that. Not when she needed to see her Peter, make sure he was well, that he was not trying to protect her from any shocking news he might have to impart. It was so unlike him to not consult with her on a matter of such great import such as leaving her with a guardian.



Arabella finished scrubbing herself with the fine lavender soap she had brought with her, and gave a final rinse to her hair. She ducked under the water and then stood up in the tub. She began to dry herself off with a warm fluffy towel. She donned a petticoat and her wrapper, and wound a towel around her hair.



She sat hugging the fire until Blake returned with his medical bag. He placed it upon the bedside table.



Quailing inwardly, she removed the towel from her head and rose from the seat.



"I'll give you a couple of moments to adjust yourself modestly," he said, hoping the strain he felt being so near to her was not betrayed by his voice.