Free Midnight My Love by Anne Marie Novark

a
shave."
    Jenny smiled. "Excellent. When a man wants a
shave, that's a sure sign he's feeling more the thing." She jumped
up and pulled the bell, then helped Robert to a sitting
position.
    He fell back against the pillows. "I'm weak
as a kitten."
    Jenny adjusted the coverlet. "That's to be
expected. You probably haven't had a decent meal since you were
wounded. As soon as you eat some of Mrs. Abernathy's good English
fare, you'll be up and about."
    Robert turned his head toward the wall. "How
can you bear to look at me? Don't you find it repugnant to be
around a one-armed man?"
    Jenny stared at him in
surprise. "I certainly do not . You're the same man I've always
known. I hope we're still friends, even though you've been away so
long."
    Robert managed another
smile. "We are friends, Jenny. I remember your visits to Willowmede. You and
Alex used to tag along wherever I went. We've known one another a
long time, haven't we?"
    "Yes, we have," she said, her heart turning
over in the afterglow of his smile. "As for your arm, please try
not to fall into despondency because you've lost it. I know you
find it difficult to accept the loss, but we are all extremely
thankful you're still alive. Alex would be devastated without you.
Remember, you are surrounded by people who love you and want to
help you through this."
    Robert's lips tightened into a hard line.
"I'm not certain how one person will take all of this." He seemed
to hesitate. "I'm referring to my fiancée, Lady Felicia Marlow.
She's very young and doesn't deserve to go through life with half a
man."
    Jenny lowered her eyes and said softly, "If
she truly loves you, it won't matter."
    "Of course it matters," he said irritably.
"She's beautiful and perfect in every way. She will certainly be
repulsed by a man who isn't whole."
    "Lady Hamilton wasn't repulsed," Jenny
said.
    Robert frowned. "I don't know any Lady
Hamilton."
    Gathering up her embroidery, she carefully
explained. "Admiral Nelson's Lady Hamilton. She certainly wasn't
repulsed by his disabilities. In fact, didn't she fall into a dead
faint when they met in Naples, after he was wounded? I believe she
was very happy when her beloved Admiral caught her and held her
close."
    Robert grinned. "You'll put me to the blush,
if you continue in this vein. Gently bred young ladies should not
be speaking of the likes of Emma Hamilton."
    "I was trying to make a point," she said,
defending her position.
    "And the point being?" he asked.
    Jenny lifted her chin. "The point is Lady
Hamilton welcomed Nelson with all her heart despite his loss of an
arm. Plus he was blind in one eye. Admiral Nelson did not let his
injuries keep him down. He went on to do great things," she ended
in triumph.
    "I wasn't aware you were such an admirer of
Nelson's," Robert said.
    Jenny sighed. "You're still not getting the
point. I'm trying to tell you that your loss of an arm shouldn't
matter to Lady Felicia."
    Robert looked at her with impatience. "Lady
Felicia cannot be compared to Emma Hamilton. Felicia is young and
extremely sensitive. I intend to call off the engagement."
    "Does Lady Felicia know about your
accident?" Jenny asked, tucking her needle and scissors into a silk
holder.
    "No. I couldn't bring myself to write to
either her or Alex," he replied shortly.
    "Then we must send her a note right away.
She must be sick with worry!"
    Alex arrived then, coming into the room and
kissing Robert on the cheek. "Who must be sick with worry?" she
asked, as she felt his forehead.
    "Lady Felicia," he replied. "She doesn't
know about my arm. Or lack of."
    Alex sat on the bed. "Does she know you were
wounded?"
    Robert stared at the wall again. "No, I
didn't write to anyone after the battle."
    "Good gracious, Robert! We must let her know
you're alive," Alex said. "I'll post a note immediately. Why don't
we invite Felicia and her father to Willowmede? You're better now,
and by the time they arrive, you'll be up and about."
    Robert looked thoughtfully at his