The Rakehell Regency Romance Collection Volume 2(334)

"Yes, yes you are. It's just that, well, I'm afraid of disease. I think you might have been exposed to a terrible illness unwittingly."



"What sort of illness?"



"A female one. Similar to what my mother had," he admitted.



"I see. Does that mean I've wronged you too, the way she did--"



"No, not wronged me," he said in a firm tone. "Had an accident and were hurt."



"So you're afraid of me?" she asked quietly.



He put his arm around her tenderly. "Not of you, darling. For you. I would never want you to end up the way she did."



She chewed her lower lip. "Will I have a baby too?"



"No, no, not at all," he denied. "I'm a doctor. I can be sure of that at least, if not of the other. It's been a month, though, and so far all is well."



"How soon can we know?"



"We might never, not for certain. Another few months, unless…."



"Unless?"



"I find out the truth, who caused the accident."



She frowned in confusion, and settled back down in the bed. "You mean you don't know?"



"No. I don't." He ground his teeth together audibly. "If I did I would bloody well kill him with my bare hands."



She frowned and shook her head. "I may not have all of my memory, but I'm sure that's against the ten commandments, and against the law."



"You're right. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to upset you."



"It's just that I've never seen you angry, heard you utter harsh words to anyone."



"I'm sorry. It won't happen again."



After a time she said, "Do you suppose I could have a bath tomorrow and we can go out somewhere if the weather is fine?"



He sat on the bed beside her in relief, and began to undo his cravat and stock.



"If you think you're up to it. We've been here and comfortable for a month now. Perhaps you're right, though. Maybe it's about time we went back to find the answers we both need.



"But you mustn't tell anyone about your accident. I mean, you can tell them about falling if you want, but not the disease, do you understand?



"And I would rather you not admit that you can't remember anyone or anything. It will only worry them unnecessarily. I'll give you some help with who is who. We'll go see the Jeromes and the Rakehells, go to your old home and see your friends. Perhaps it will jog your memory."



She looked at his bare chest and ran her hands down it, causing him to shiver with desire. "Sometimes I think I recollect things about our old life. You're so familiar. It's as if I've always known you."



"I know how you feel."



"Will you please kiss me?"



He shook his head. "I don't think--"



She frowned slightly. "Is there something wrong with the request? Is it dangerous?"



"No, of course it isn't wrong, except that you're still very weak and I wouldn't want to hurt you in any way."



"I feel so much better."



"I said I would be patient."



"Does that mean I have to be as well?" she asked with a teasing smile.



"Just a bit longer. I'm sort of enjoying wooing you all over again."



"The flowers and presents and all your little attentions are wonderful. We have such a marvelous time with each other, so much so that I don't even want to sleep because I don't want to waste a minute of the day with you," she admitted shyly. "But a kiss might be nice too."



"All right, one. But you need to get under the covers first so you don't take a chill, and I don't take advantage."



She obeyed, and he held her close, his head on the pillow beside her, and kissed her once. It was bittersweet, every bit as thrilling as he remembered it could be, yet he did not dare make love to her, not even with a prophylactic, for fear of how badly injured she might have been.



When Blake lifted his lips at last and got up from the bed to sleep in the chair because he did not risk laying next to her when he was so fiercely aroused, Arabella breathed, "That was wonderful. I think I remember that. I think I might recall the inn."



"Really?" he asked, both hoping and dreading it were true.



"I can see a room, small, timbered, with a big fire and all sorts of clothes drying by the fire. It's freezing cold. We're in bed, tucked up to our chins."



"That's right."



"And I feel so warm and safe in your arms, just as I do now. It'll be all right, won't it, Blake?"



"I hope so. I certainly hope so," he said with a sigh, stroking her cheek and giving her a last kiss on her brow before he bedded down in front of the fire for the night.