Free Angel In My Bed by Melody Thomas Page A

bed, his sleeves rolled up to his elbows, cards in hand, as he finished the shuffle. A fire crackling in the hearth radiated warmth in the room. Beside him, lying on the bed, his left foot bandaged, sat Sir Henry, his craggy face split into a wide grin. Victoria had not seen the elder so animated in weeks.
    David turned his head and saw her standing in the doorway. The light from the lamp cast a shine over his dark hair and accentuated his classic features. She couldn’t ignore the strange flutter she felt inside her chest. “What are you doing here?”
    â€œI met His Lordship today near the church,” Bethany said.
    Victoria had momentarily forgotten David was a baron, or that he was supposed to be her long-lost relative returning from the jungles of some continent. “The church?”
    â€œHe cheats at cards, I’m sure of it.” The man she loved liked a father chuckled with glee. “Victoria? You’ve finally introduced me to someone worthy of my time.”
    She looked at David, confused by the camaraderie between the two. He gave her a wink. “Sir Henry drives a hard bargain.”
    â€œWell, I say if His Lordship can swindle the swindler at rummy, then he deserves to win, Peepaw,” Bethany said, lifting that evening’s dinner tray from the nightstand. “You should not have behaved so ornery in the first place. He is our guest.”
    â€œPish posh,” Sir Henry snorted. “I’ll not be signing over Rose Briar to any man lest he can prove himself up to a challenge. Nellis never could play cards worth an owl’s hoot.”
    â€œWhat did you say?” Victoria moved into the room. And David dared call her a thief? “What papers have been signed?”
    â€œThe agreement I’ve made is with Chadwick. Men’s business, if you will. Now, help me out of bed and let me look at you. Bethany, make Victoria a hot toddy.”
    â€œYes, Grandfather,” Bethany murmured obediently, and with the tray departed.
    â€œWhere have you been?” Sir Henry demanded after Bethany left. “We’ve missed our appointments for three days. What madness possessed you to fall off your horse?”
    â€œTommy Stillings’s wife is with child,” Victoria said, telling Sir Henry the truth at least on that account. “He was worried about Annie.”
    â€œWorried, my bum.” Sir Henry raised his gaze to David. “Watch out for Stillings,” he warned David. “He’s my nephew’s puppet. Run most of the decent folk away from these parts. He came here the other night and scared my granddaughter senseless. We thought he’d dragged Victoria away. He and Nellis—”
    â€œReally, Sir Henry.” Pulling her skirt aside so as not to touch any part of David, Victoria inserted herself between her husband and the bed. “I’m sure my cousin isn’t interested in our problems. Your foot is not healed,” she warned theolder man when he moved to the edge of the bed. “Have you been soaking it in hot water and salts?”
    â€œYes, yes.” He waved an impatient hand. “Now let me look at your head. Bethany said you had a concussion. Though why you should suddenly grow clumsy—”
    â€œI’m fine, Sir Henry.”
    â€œI’ll decide that for myself, young lady. A concussion isn’t to be taken lightly.”
    Victoria obediently bent her head for his examination, wincing as he tenderly probed her skull. “Nellis has decided he wants Victoria,” Sir Henry said.
    â€œI’m sure Lord Chadwick isn’t interested…ouch.”
    â€œNonsense. You can’t allow a man to walk blind into the middle of a family feud.” He held up two fingers. “How many?”
    Frustrated, she glared. “Four.”
    â€œYou’ll live.” He patted her cheek. “Now help me out of bed.”
    â€œMay I look at your foot first?”
    â€œSee what I