Chapter 10

"Ah, Carina, I have been searching for you."

She glanced up from her book to find Knight standing in the doorway leading to the terrace. His left arm was supported by a sling and since it wasn't his arm that was injured, Carina assumed it was to keep the weight of his arm from pulling on the injury to his chest.

"It is good to see you have recovered enough to move about but is it wise to do so?" His fever had only broken three days ago.

"I was going mad alone in my chamber."

"For that, I am sorry, but you needed your rest."

"I would have preferred your company." He approached and took a seat beside her.

"That would have been highly improper," Carina reminded him.

"I am to understand that you remained by my bedside when I was first brought here."

"You were ill, unconscious, had a fever."

"I have also missed your kisses." He scooted closer to her.

Carina's face flamed. "I thought you were going to die," she reminded him again.

"Your kindness only extends to when my life is in danger?"

"Only as it relates to kissing. I must also protect my reputation and you are a known rake and a scoundrel," she reminded him.

"You have said as such before but what proof do you have? I fear you have judged me without accurate information."

Carina closed the book on her lap. "You and Bolton are friends, are you not?"

"I am friends with many people."

"Ah, but it is Bolton you have spent your evenings with whether it be at pubs or other, um, places or entertainments, or even balls where a respectable lady would not be invited, let alone attend." Last winter they'd attended a holiday ball hosted by a known madam for gentlemen in search of a mistress. Carina had learned of that ball from Gaia after finding out that Bolton had taken Knight and Lydell as his guests, though none of them found anyone to their liking to engage as a mistress. It was the next day that Gaia encountered Lydell for the first time since they had met a year earlier, and he never gave thoughts to a mistress again.

"Follies of youth," Knight assured her.

Carina laughed. "Are you so much more mature now than you were, say, six months ago?"

"I will have you know that I have only visited pubs with Bolton and no other place since our introduction."

Carina tilted her head and studied him.

"If you do not believe me, ask Bolton."

"He may say what you wish me to hear."

"Bolton would not lie on my behalf. He is terribly honest."

Carina pursed her lips. "Perhaps I will."

"Ah, I see you have recovered," Bolton announced as he too stepped onto the terrace. Was he aware they were just discussing him?

"I fear that I must end our friendship, Lord Bolton," Knight announced. "Carina has judged me by your actions and therefore, I must put distance between us so that she realizes I am not a rake, scoundrel or rogue. I am certain you understand."

"Are you one of those or all three?" he asked with humor.

Felix looked at Carina. "Which one am I guilty of?"

She looked at him and tried to determine which was more fitting but couldn't decide. "I believe you are all three equally."

Bolton laughed. "Then who shall I have to drink with me?"

"You have other friends, but I must redeem my respectability if I am to earn Carina's heart."

"My heart?" she asked in surprise. Oh, if only he knew that he already held it. But that was something she could not confess.

"Yes, your heart." Knight lifted her hand and kissed her knuckles. "It is a possession that I ardently seek."

Heat swept through her when his eyes met hers. For a moment Carina thought he was teasing, a simple flirtation, but the intensity of his blue eyes made Carina wonder if he was not speaking the truth.

"Assure her that I have been nothing but respectable since December, Bolton."

"He has been terribly dull, if I am to be honest," Bolton admitted.

"Not dull, for I pride myself on being an excellent conversationalist."

Bolton rolled his eyes. "We have had several conversations at pubs, but he has foregone any other enjoyable entertainments."

Carina looked from Knight to Bolton and tried to gauge the truth of the matter. Had Knight truly stopped his roguish ways?

"Tell me, Carina, do I have even a chance to court you." Knight leaned close. "You did kiss me once. A memory that stayed with me as I lingered in my bed eager to recover so that I might see you again."

"I kissed you because you asked and only because I thought you were dying," she reminded him again.

"Must I be fatally wounded to taste your lips a second time?"

"Your honeyed words will not sway me when I know that they are spoken from the lips of a rogue."

"I personally find them nauseating," Bolton grumbled. "Therefore, I shall take my leave, having been abandoned by my friend who would rather seek the heart of a woman."

Carina tried to stifle her laughter, but the two were quite funny.

Once he was gone, Knight turned fully toward her.

"You do not believe me." His tone was serious as his blue eyes searched hers.

Goodness. Knight was genuine about winning her heart.

Though his shoulder pained him greatly, Felix intended to spend each day pressing his suit and given Lydell refused to allow him to work in the stables, drive or even perform footman duties until he was completely healed, Felix had time to win Carina, which he was determined to do.

He had first been irritated when Bolton emerged from the house, but his friend had helped in his cause by speaking the truth of Felix's behavior then left them alone.

"Did you enjoy the visit with your brother?" she asked.

Felix didn't want to talk about Alden. "Yes, I did."

"He did not remain but an afternoon."

"He needed to return."

"Where are you from? I do not believe you have ever told me."

"A town north of London but south of Cambridge."

"Does this town have a name?" she chuckled.

"You would likely have never heard of it, nor does it matter, as my life is no longer there."

"There is no wish to return?" she asked.

Not so long as his grandfather was alive, but Felix could not tell her that, as she may ask questions that he did not want to answer. "No. I am quite happy where I am at this very moment."

"You do not miss your home?" she asked with seriousness.

"There are times, I suppose." He missed his siblings and mother and sometimes the family estate, but not enough to return.

"There are times that I deeply miss Italy."

"Perhaps I will take you there one day." If it would make Carina happy, he'd book passage now.

"On a coachman's salary?" she laughed.

He needed to remember his position and forget that he had nearly two years of quarterlies waiting for him to withdraw. "Lydell pays well," he assured her.

His father had managed to deposit his quarterlies, but Felix did not dare withdraw them for fear his grandfather would learn where he was or order his father not to deposit anything further. By not using any of those funds proved that he did not need his grandfather for anything, and removed any control that man might try to exploit. Obtaining a position with Lydell kept Felix from the need to withdraw anything and save those funds in case they were needed in the future.

"Maybe one day I will return," she sighed.

"How long has it been since you've been back to Genoa?"

"Not since I was five and ten."

"Then I understand your wish to return."

"Oh, not there," she corrected him. "Florence, where I lived with Gaia and her mother when we were not in school or in England. There I was happy. I haven't been back since my mother died last year."

"Then I will be saving so that I can take you to Florence."

"We will be too old by the time either of us can afford such a holiday."

"Perhaps not. One never knows what the future may hold."

"Perhaps," she agreed looking into his eyes.

They were so close and all he needed to do was lean in and then press his lips to hers. It was about all he thought about while lying in his bed recovering.

As he leaned forward, Carina pulled back. "Mr. Knight, what are you doing?"

"I was about to kiss you." Certainly, she realized.

"You should not." She turned her face away from his.

"Why will you not kiss me?" he asked.

"It would not be proper."

"You kissed me before."

"I thought you were going to die." She repeated the argument that he was tired of hearing.

"I could still die."

"You are recovered and given your progress, you will be back to work for Lydell in less than a fortnight."

"What if I suffer a relapse?"

"Then perhaps you should return to your bed and remain there."

"You could join me." He grinned.

"Mr. Knight!" she exclaimed, aghast. "If you wish for me to stop thinking of you as a scoundrel, I suggest you stop making such shocking suggestions."

"I could return to bed and you could sit in the chair beside me and we can talk, or you could read to me, or we could play chess."

"I shan't be alone with you in your bedchamber, Mr. Knight."

Perhaps not today, but one day he hoped it came to be.

"One day I will gain another kiss from your sweet lips," he promised.

"No, you will not," she argued and stood. "You are a coachman. I am a companion who turns wallflower when in Society. This is not a romance, nor will it be."

"We have the same employer. I do not understand why I cannot court you," he argued.

"Because, despite your protestations and Bolton's complaints, you are still very much a scoundrel given your flirtations today, which means that once you have gained my affection, you will grow bored, yet we will remain in the same employ, which will make matters difficult."

"You insult me!" Felix asserted.

"Yet, it is the truth. Good day."