Free The Heart That Lies by April Munday Page A

protection, as well, that I wished to stay , for your father’s sake.”
    “I understand and appreciate that, my lord.”
    “And if he dies?”
    Meldon swallowed awkwardly. “If he dies, my own death will follow swiftly after.”
    “Meldon! No!” Finch’s hand was on his arm, as if to hold him back from folly.
    “Very well.” Philpott placed a friendly hand on Meldon’s shoulder. “George, your father would be proud of you.”
    Meldon bowed his head, knowing that his thoroughly honourable father would be as confused as he was by this turn of events.
    “Thank you, my lord.”
    Philpott walked back to his carriage and disappeared into it. Perkins stooped and lifted the woman, whilst Finch hovered uncertainly. Meldon took a step towards his carriage and almost fell as his leg gave way beneath him.
    “Finch , would you mind retrieving my cane. I seem to have mislaid it.”

Chapter Four
     
    Anna opened her eyes and became aware of three things simultaneously: she had no idea w here she was; Lord Meldon was sitting by the bed in which she lay; and there was a burning pain in her shoulder. The last two explained the first. She had been shot in the duel and must now be in Meldon’s house. It was clear that she was not dead, worse, neither was he. And, since he was sitting by the bed, she must not even have wounded him. There would not be another chance, of this she was certain. James’ death would not be avenged. As always where Meldon was concerned, however, her feelings were ambivalent. As well as despair that he still lived, she felt relief.
    Closing her eyes as tears threatened, she heard Meldon shift in his chair.
    “Perkins said you should drink this when you woke up.” She heard a clink as if someone was stirring something in a teacup. Then Meldon’s arm slipped beneath her shoulders.
    “What?”
    “You’ll drown in it unless you sit up a bit. Don’t struggle or it will hurt more.”
    Anna stopped moving and let him lift her. He was surprisingly gentle, strong er and more dextrous than she would have expected.
    The smell from the cup that he held to her mouth almost made her retch, but she managed to swallow it. When she had finished she could do no more than let her head rest against his shoulder.
    Her whole body felt so heavy she wondered she didn’t fall through the bed. Just as she began to be scared by the thought, she slept.
     
    Meldon was still there when she woke again. He was back in his chair and she was resting again on the pillows. She watched him for a while before he became aware that she was awake. His dark hair was unkempt, as if his valet hadn’t been near it for some days. Although the heavy curtains were drawn, there was enough light from the single candle to see that he hadn’t shaved for some days either. He shifted uncomfortably in the chair and then he saw that her eyes were open.
    “I trust you feel better, Miss... Mrs...?”
    “Smith.” Anna’s resolution to lie in silence vanished when she saw the expression on his face. He seemed genuinely relived that she was alive and awake. Given what she now knew of his character, she thought that this was only to be expected. He was not a man who enjoyed causing harm to others.
    “Is there anyone I should send to for you?”
    “No one.”
    He shook his head. “There must be someone.”
    “I’m an orphan, with no b...brothers or sisters.”
    “But someone helped you turn from a woman to a man.”
    “No.” Anna had altered James’ clothes to fit her, cut her own hair and visited a barber when she had arrived in London. There really had been no one else for her to turn to.
    Meldon looked troubled. “Then my sister will come and make arrangements for you. Perhaps a nurse...”
    “Just put me in a carriage to my lodgings.” The sooner she got away from here, the better.
    “And who would look after you there?”
    Anna eventually realised that it was not a rhetorical question and the earl was waiting for an answer.
    “No