Page 86 of Outrageous

He looked over at the sound of Eva’s voice. She was sitting by one of the room’s two windows, reading.

“I hope you’re not reading my book, since you were casting such aspersions,” he said with a huge yawn, wincing at the pain in his split lip and swollen eye.

She snorted and put the book aside before coming to the side of the bed. “I believe you may have gotten some sleep.” She looked at his face and winced. “Lord, you look ten times worse than you did yesterday. Your face is so colorful we could hang it up as holiday bunting.”

He regarded her through slitted eyes. “You do know how to wake a man, darling. If my aged, decrepit memory serves, my hideous looks didn’t deter you last night.” Godric allowed his lips to curve at the memory of some of his more sleepless moments from the night before. Her cheeks darkened and he laughed.

“You are a wicked old man,” she accused, making him laugh harder.

Godric pushed himself up with a low groan and bunched two pillows behind himself. When he was sitting upright he saw that her eyes were fastened on his groin.

“The cock is crowing,” Godric said mildly, smoothing the covers over his hips and then making his rod dance for her.

She gasped, her face so red he feared for her health.

There was a knock on the door but before either of them could say anything, it opened. Godric yanked up the blankets.

“Ah, you are awake.” Mrs. Crosby smiled at them, either unaware or uncaring of the look of death Eva was shooting her. “I thought I’d bring this up before I left.” She lifted the breakfast tray.

“Left?” Godric asked rather stupidly as she placed the tray over the ridged blanket that covered his hips, her lips curved in that same, tiny smile.

“Yes, I’m going to take the wagon and see if I can make it into town. We are running desperately short on supplies.” She gave the tray of food a significant look.

“But I thought the bridges were washed away?”

“They are, but the rain stopped sometime around three o’clock this morning, so I will try a cart track that leads to the bridge farther down.”

Godric recalled the road she meant from the map last night. Indeed it had occurred to him to ask Norton when next he’d seen him why nobody had used the road. But then he’d not seen the man again. He turned to Eva. “Hungry?”

She shook her head, her eyes still riveted on the other woman. “I ate some time ago.”

Godric took a sip of the strong dark coffee. “I’d meant to try that track today,” he confessed. “Although I’d thought to do so on foot. I’ll be glad to make the journey for you,” he told Mrs. Crosby.

“Ah, that’s very kind. But the truth is I’m looking forward to a chance to get out.”

He could certainly understand that, as he was beginning to feel a bit stir-crazy himself. “Where is Norton?”

“He took the hack and set out for the magistrate at first light.”

“Oh?” Godric paused in the act of cutting into a thick slab of honeyed ham. “What happened to his son going?”

“Anthony came down with a chill and I recommended he stay in bed.” The look she gave him said at least some of her patients listened to her orders.

“I should like to go with you,” Eva said.

Mrs. Crosby turned to her and blinked, as if only now noticing she was in the room. “Oh? But it is just an old wagon—not much room and the seat is a board.”

Eva snorted. “I think I can manage.” She plucked at her gown, an expression of discontent on her face. “I should like my own clothing.”

Mrs. Crosby’s eyebrows shot up. “To go into town?”

Eva began to puff up, digging in for a battle.

Godric hastily swallowed his ham and said, “I agree with my wife. It would be better, I think, Mrs. Crosby. A dress is a hindrance in such weather if something should happen to the cart.”

She gave him a long look and then shrugged. “Very well. Your clothing is clean. I will bring it up when I come to collect the tray.”

“And I shall go, too,” Godric said.