Page 63 of Outrageous

“Will you take the draught I prepared for you, sir? It is one of my specialties and will get rid of any lingering ill effects.” Usually when a woman looked at Godric with that much heat in her expression, neither of them was clothed.

“I actually feel quite well,” he lied. “And I don’t use laudanum.” Not any longer, at least.

She bowed her head in a gesture of submission that was not entirely convincing. “Of course, sir.” She took a step toward him. “If you would let me check your banda—”

Godric raised his hand as she reached for his head, his eyes flickering to Eva, who appeared to have swelled to three times her normal size, like some lethal tropical fish. “That’s very kind of you, Mrs. Crosby, but I’ve already taken up too much of your time.”

“I don’t mind,” she said, her lips twitching into a secretive little moue that said she was not easily deterred by mere wives.

How very odd—and interesting. And unwise.

“I’m sure you’ve got far better things to do than see to my minor cuts and scratches. My wife will tend to my needs. Is there any chance my clothes are—”

“I’m afraid I haven’t had the time to see to them. But Mr. Norton has offered the use of a robe.” She gestured to the clothes horse, where a plain woolen robe waited. “I know it is humble, but perhaps you might use that for the time being?”

Godric was not unaware of the work their sudden arrival would have caused her. “Thank you.”

She gave him another of her meaningful smiles and then turned slightly so she could keep both Eva and Godric in her range of vision. “Your sweet young wife has been so worried about you.”

Eva shoved past her, either carelessly—or purposely—jostling her. “Oh, please do excuse my clumsiness.”

The women faced each other like two cats with arched backs, the air between them charged.

It felt as though the silence stretched, but Godric knew it was only the intensity of the two women’s animosity.

The older woman, more wily by half, was the first to give way. “Of course, my dear,” she said with a musical laugh as beautiful as her person. “I do envy your childish exuberance—so much like a playful kitten.”

“Why, thank you for being so understanding, Mrs. Crosby. There’s nothing I value more highly than praise from my elders,” Eva whipped back.

Mrs. Crosby dropped a curtsy—a remarkably graceful one for a country cook—and took her leave.

Eva stalked after her and slammed the door, not caring that Andrew was still standing in the doorway and had to jump back to avoid having his nose mashed. She swung around, her eyes blazing.

Godric opened his eyes wide. “What?”

Her eyes and mouth screwed up. “Don’t. Just—don’t.”

Godric patted the bed where she’d been sitting before the cook interrupted. “Come sit.”

She crossed her arms. “No.”

Godric smiled, even though he knew he was playing with fire. “Are you jealous, darling?”

“Of you?” Disdain, loathing, and even a dash of amusement. She might be a kitten, but she wasn’t without her defenses.

Godric chuckled, even though it hurt his head, and crooked his finger. “It’s hurting my neck to keep it angled this way,” he said, not telling her that his neck would hurt in any position.

“That’s terrible,” she said in a voice that indicated it was exactly what he deserved. Even so, she did come a few steps closer, stopping a little way from his bed. “Perhaps I should leave before she returns so that you will be free to flirt with that—that—”

Good God, she was adorable.

“You are jealous.”

“No, merely nauseated. If you must insist on indulging in flirtation with every crone—”

He couldn’t help snorting at the inapt description.

“With every crone,” she repeated through clenched teeth, “who slithers past, I hope you do so out of my sight and hearing at least.”