The corner of his mouth twitched.
“I should be the one comforting you. I suppose I’ve been hurting you, hanging on like this?”
“Hardly at all.”
He set his hands onto her hipbones and made a small barrier between them, then gave her a tiny regretful nudge.
“Try the chair.”
Sighing, Fiona half-turned and stepped back. Christian rose to hold the chair steady as she sat. He started to push her toward the door.
“No, wait. The mirror please. Let’s see how bad I look.”
“Damn good, considering what you’ve been through.”
“I looked awful after lunch.”
She frowned as she regarded her reflection. “I’ll scare poor Nicky. Let’s see if we can disguise this big bruise on the side of my face at least.” She pointed to a tube of foundation. “Can you dot some of that over it?”
Christian squatted beside the chair and squeezed a dab onto his finger. It was the last thing he needed—permission to touch her again.
“Not my usual thing.”
“Paint by numbers,” she said. “Do the purple bit peachy.”
“I don’t want to hurt you.”
“You’ll be gentle.”
He cupped her face in one hand to steady it, and began to smooth the make-up over her bruised jaw.
“Pat it,” she advised.
He rolled his eyes and she started to giggle.
“Stay still then.”
“You’re tickling.”
“And you’re getting better if you’re starting to give me orders again.”
“I don’t give you orders....”
“Eat this toast, Christian. Let me look after you, Christian...” he gently mocked her.
“I promised Mom and Dad. And Jan would want you both well cared for,” she protested.
“Jan would want you well cared for too, but I don’t think she’d expect me to paint your face.”
“She wouldn’t want me scaring her daughter,” Fiona countered, turning to the mirror to inspect his work.
“Any more?” Touching her was heaven and hell combined.
“Maybe just a bit,” she agreed, watching as he squeezed out a little extra foundation.
He worked on with care, enjoying the softness of her skin and the excuse to be so close.
“Best I can do,” he finally said, knowing he couldn’t make the charade last any longer.
He stood and inspected her, and fluffed up her hair a little with his fingers. “I had to get on with the nanny search while you were in hospital,” he added. “I’ve got a possible candidate coming to dinner to see how she gets on with Nicky. Nice girl—good references. You can give me your opinion.”
“I’ll scare her off looking like this.”
His eyes meshed with hers in the mirror. His face was serious. “We really need her, Fee. I’m only here for a few more days—I have to dash over to Japan unexpectedly. I’ll get you to the hospital for your Friday check-up, but then I’m gone until next Wednesday. Something really urgent cropped up this afternoon.”
Fiona nodded. “I’ll be okay. Mostly just resting.”
“With any luck Kathy will be your nanny too while I’m gone. Amy Houndsworth will take care of the cleaning—and continue with the cooking for a while longer.”
“So I won’t be doing her out of a job?”
“You were never doing her out of a job. She’s been our housekeeper for the last several years. As soon as we knew Nicky was on the way, I wanted Jan to have help. This is a big place.”
“But she’s cooking for you, too?”
“Only the evening meal for Jan’s last few weeks. As a favor. Casseroles to heat up and so on. I told her you’d be taking over our dinners as soon as you’re well enough again.” He began to steer the chair across the dense carpet. Once they were through the doorway it rolled with ease on the smooth marble tiles.
Fiona drew a deep breath and said the words she knew were inevitable.
“If you’ve got a nanny you won’t need me as well. I’d love to get to know Nicky better, but I’ll have to go back up to Mom and Dad’s after all.”
Unseen behind her, Christian pressed his lips together in a tight line. It was exactly what he’d wanted a few days ago—but now...?
“I’d appreciate it if you’d stay...a little longer, anyway. I don’t know how Nicky will get on with Kathy. I’m certainly not leaving my daughter with a virtual stranger while I tear off overseas. Amy could probably help out again, but I’d rather have you around to keep watch on things.”
“Even in my present state?”
“Nothing wrong with your eyes or your brain.”