Chapter 9

Carina stepped from the chamber then rested against the wall, a hand pressed against her breast. He was going to survive. The fever had broken, and Knight was awake. Thank goodness.

The relief was so great it left her limbs weakened and made it difficult for her to find her way to her own chamber.

A maid slept and waited within but woke as soon as Carina entered.

"Mr. Knight is awake. Please see that a footman is in constant attendance in the event he needs something."

"I will as soon as I have readied you for bed."

Carina turned so that the maid could unfasten the back of her dress then shrugged her arms out of the sleeves and let it fall to the ground.

"I am going to try and sleep now, but if he does take a turn for the worse again, make certain I am awakened."

Carina pulled the chemise over her head then pulled on her nightshift.

For two or was it three nights, she'd slept in a chair, afraid that Knight would die alone. Now she just wanted to sleep in her own bed.

"I promise to send for you immediately, Miss Carina," the maid said as she pulled back the counterpane on Carina's bed.

"Thank you, Molly. You have been a dear."

When Carina was next alert, her room was bright from the sun shining outside and she pushed herself up on the bed.

Her heart pounded with immediate thoughts of Knight and how close he had come to death. She should assume that since nobody woke her that he was recovering, but she needed to witness it for herself.

After jumping from her bed, and without ringing for a maid, she quickly dressed, then brushed her hair before tying it back away from her face and hurried to his chamber.

She quietly knocked and hoped that she didn't wake Knight if he was sleeping, then pushed the door open.

He lounged against pillows, a tray on his lap. But that is not what brought heat to her body. It was the fact that he was shirtless, the counterpane only coming to just above his hips and the only thing blocking the view of such a beautiful, muscled chest with a sprinkling of blond hair was the bandage wrapped around his shoulder, chest and around the side.

Goodness!

Carina dipped her chin and averted her eyes. "I apologize. I will come back later when you are…"

"Not eating bland porridge?" he asked.

"Yes," she answered even though she hadn't even considered what might be in the bowl.

"Miss Leonelli, please come in and meet my older brother, Al…Alton."

Carina hadn't even noticed that anyone else was in the room. "It is a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Knight, and so good of you to arrive so quickly."

"Bolton should not have sent for him at all as I am recovering."

"Yes, but until early this morning, we were not so certain that you would."

"Miss Leonelli has been keeping watch over me," Felix explained as his blue eyes warmed with adoration.

It caused the oddest sensation of butterflies in her stomach.

"Have you told your brother how you were injured?" She would not be the one to break confidence if Felix had not.

"That I acted second for Bolton, but not the reason."

Her face heated. Thank goodness he had not mentioned her name in his explanation, as she did not wish for Society to learn. Though given Felix was a coachman, it was likely his brother was a servant as well, though his clothes were rather fine for being one.

Not that it mattered.

"Well, if you will excuse me." She backed out of the room and closed the door to Felix's chamber before she rested against the wall.

Goodness! She always thought Felix to be handsome, but to see him halfway unclothed had sent her pulse racing and heart pounding. The queerest sensations also suddenly developed from her breasts to her nether regions.

All she could determine was that she was struck with desire. Desire for Felix Knight. She had already been infatuated with him. Now she desired him as well.

Felix grinned at the closed door.

He knew desire and longing when he witnessed it in a woman's eyes and it was most definitely there in Carina's beautiful brown eyes. Not only that, but she'd sucked in a breath as her full red lips parted and the blush of her cheeks darkened.

At least he was no longer the only one desiring and for that very reason, he'd not put a shirt on. The footman had suggested it, but it pained him too much to move his arm into a sleeve, which made it equally impossible to try and pull on a night shirt.

No, he would remain in bed exactly as he was and hoped that Carina visited him often.

Except, maybe it hadn't been desire at all but shock.

Blast!

He hated wondering and worrying.

"Why did you just lie about my name?" Alden asked.

"Cari…Miss Leonelli does not know who I really am."

Alden blew out a belabored sigh. "Does anyone?"

"Bolton learned it on his own but has told no one."

"You have been masquerading as a coachman for nearly two years and nobody has discovered the truth?"

"No. I haven't even changed my name because people, if they make the connection, assume there is a Felix Knight who is the son of a viscount and grandson of an earl, and another Felix Knight who is a coachman."

"I envy you, Felix."

"Because I ran away?"

"Yes, and you have no responsibilities."

"I have different duties, ones that I prefer," Felix answered.

"Instead of the demands to further grandfather's goals," Alden agreed.

"Has he arranged a marriage for you yet?"

"I warned him that if he even attempted to do so, I would disappear just like you did. I made certain that he knew I was serious."

Felix nodded. "How are mother and father?"

"Well. Little has changed."

"Meaning he is still under grandfather's thumb and takes orders from him."

"Whereas I do not and have no intention of doing so."

"What of Johanna and Serena?"

"Our sisters are well. Though grandfather is frustrated that neither has married and each time he has attempted to force a courtship, our sisters are so unpleasant that the gentlemen never call on them."

Felix started to laugh but stopped because of the pain below his shoulder. "I hope that it isn't just to spite grandfather, and they are not missing out on what could be a happy situation, or even love."

"Neither would be so stubborn. They have met each gentleman and were pleasant and gave them an opportunity, but when they were not who either Johanna or Serena wanted, they made certain the gentleman did not want them either."

"When you see them, make certain they know that I am proud of them not being forced into something they do not want."

"I will." Alden smiled. "Now, back to Miss Leonelli. What was her first name? She is very pretty, if not beautiful."

Felix narrowed his eyes. "Carina, and yes she is."

"Is she a friend of Lady Lydell?" Alden frowned.

"Yes," Felix bit out.

"Wait, not last Season, but the one before…Yes. She attended balls with Lady Lydell, though she hadn't married yet. Except, Miss Leonelli stood with the wallflowers."

"She was acting as a companion to Lady Lydell."

"But no longer?" he inquired.

"That would depend on if you asked Lady Lydell or Miss Leonelli."

"Perhaps I will ask Miss Leonelli."

Felix glared at his brother.

"Why do you lie to the woman you love?" Alden asked.

"I never claimed to love her," Felix argued.

Alden snorted. "I saw the way you looked at her. It is love, or you are very smitten."

Felix chose not to confirm where his feelings lie for Carina. "If she knew who my father was, our grandfather, she would distance herself from me."

"Why? One would think relation to a title would make you more appealing. Certainly, more than a coachman."

"Carina does not believe she is worthy of anyone given scandals in her family."

"Are they so horrible?"

"Not to me," Felix answered. "However, grandfather would never approve."

"Since when do you care for his approval?" Alden asked.

"I do not. But it's her heart I need to win, and I cannot do so as a spare to a viscount."

"Yet, if a coachman wins her, will you not lose her when she learns the truth?"

That was something Felix did not wish to think on. He hoped that when Karina learned what he had been hiding, she would love him so much that forgiveness would soon follow.