She heard him sigh, a mocking sigh, she thought, as she crept between the covers on the far side of the bed.
“Tomorrow, perhaps, you will wish me to reacquaint myself with that very provocative birthmark on your left thigh. Good night, cara, and sleep well. I am always here, you know, if you become cold during the night.”
She locked her thighs together, pressing the tiny pink birthmark firmly between them, and drew into a small ball, her back to him.
The downstairs clock chimed one short stroke before Cassie, still uncomfortably cold, fell finally into a light, restless sleep.
Chapter 13
The earl stretched, carefully flexed his shoulder, and grimaced. He cursed softly and gingerly shifted his left arm into its sling.
“Ye’ll need more time, my lord, perhaps another week, afore ye’ve got yer full strength back.”
“I believe your telling me that, Scargill, was quite unnecessary.”
Scargill chuckled, shaking his head in a bemused fashion as he gathered up his master’s discarded dressing gown.
“May I ask the reason for your display of humor?” the earl asked as he sat down to have his boots pulled on. It wasn’t the pain that galled him, but rather being so damned helpless. It did not sit well with him to have Scargill help him bathe, all the while clucking and scolding him not to get the bandages wet, as if he were some errant schoolboy.
“Aye, ye may, my lord.” He pulled on a gleaming black boot before replying. “I was just thinking that if a man had shot ye, ye’d have likely stuck a knife in his gullet. Lord, what a man will forgive a woman.”
The earl shot him a frown beneath his arched black brows. He could still picture Cassandra’s white, strained face, her shock at what she had done etched in her eyes the instant after she fired the pistol.
“And yet, ye beat her for an offense that harmed ye or anyone else not one whit.”
“Much must be forgiven since she did save me from drowning, my friend. And her quickness of wit with Khar El-Din surely must impress even a literal, dour Scotsman. Remember, Scargill, her only motive for shooting me was to escape. I cannot fault her for trying. Incidentally, she was not out of your sight yesterday afternoon, was she?”
“Nay, not for a moment. She spent most of her time wandering about the gardens or simply sitting staring at those immoral naked statues ye have scattered about. I had the feeling she knew someone was watching her.”
The earl nodded and rose. “Joseph will be coming to the villa the day after tomorrow. Cassandra has a certain fondness for him, I believe. When I am not able to be with her, it will be his task to watch over her. I am fairly certain that she will fling her fury at me when she discovers his purpose, not him.”
“Ye will rest the next couple of days, my lord, will ye not?”
“Yes. If my shipping and banking interests have suffered in my absence the past five months, a few more days will make little difference. I have been thinking also that we should hold a dinner party in, say, a week. I will be able to conduct any pressing business matters with the gentlemen present, and Cassandra can meet the cream of Genoese society.”
“Will the wee lass meet them as a signora or a signorina?”
“I daresay that Cassandra Brougham will remain Cassandra Brougham. I can ensure her obedience in some areas, Scargill, but I cannot put a gag in her mouth.”
“There will be some who will not be pleasant to her, my lord. Ye’ve already seen that prude Marrina’s reaction to her. Rest assured that I told her the truth of the matter, but she did not believe me. I could tell by her unappealing snort of disdain. ’Tis ever the woman that suffers, ye know, regardless of the circumstances. And I ask myself, my lord, why ye want the madonna to mix with Genoese society. Do ye not fear that she’ll denounce ye in front of yer guests?”
The earl gave him an engaging smile. “Do you take me for a fool, Scargill? I have, as a matter of fact, given the matter much thought. I am fairly confident that by the time of the dinner party, she will have no wish to complain to our guests about my fiendish behavior.”