Arch shared her smile and glanced at Mr. Cushman, who stood across the room near the door with his thick arms crossed, his expression stoic, and his eyes seeming to see everything all at once. The rows of beds on either side of the long room, most of which were full. The doorways on both ends. The tall windows letting in the late afternoon sunshine. The one or two nurses who came and went in their spotless uniforms.
“He’s a good boy, Victoria. Be patient with him while he adjusts to his new job.”
“His new temporary job,” she reminded Arch. “He’s only staying until you’re able to return, which hopefully will be very soon.”
Arch shifted, and his face contorted before he gave a low moan.
She squeezed his hand and waited for the wave of pain to pass. When his breathing grew more rapid and his eyes closed, she glanced around frantically. “Where’s the doctor? I have a patient here who needs the doctor.”
At her declaration, Mr. Cushman stalked across the room, past the other beds, until he stood on the other side of Arch opposite her. “Arch?” Genuine worry laced his voice. “Tell me what’s wrong? Where are you feeling pain?”
After today, she wouldn’t have guessed that anything bothered Mr. Cushman. His emotions and his body were both like granite. But apparently he had a weak spot for Arch, and she liked him for it.
“I don’t need a doctor,” Arch said between gritted teeth. “I’ll be fine in a minute.”
Arch fumbled for Tom’s hand. When he was finally holding each of their hands, his eyes flew open, first resting on Mr. Cushman and then on her. “This is good.” He smiled, pressing their hands together. “Now I’m feeling better again.”
“Are you sure?” She tried to ignore Mr. Cushman’s fingers against hers, but Arch squeezed them closer.
“Why don’t you make your deliveries to the others and visit with them,” Arch suggested, blessedly releasing her hand. “And give me a minute to talk with Tommy boy.”
“Tommy boy?” She quirked a brow at Mr. Cushman and waited for him to quip back.
He didn’t take the bait but instead pressed his lips together grimly. He was much too serious and no fun. She sighed and retrieved one of the packages from the bedstead where her coachman had placed them. As she delivered the sweet rolls and chatted with the other patients, she could feel Mr. Cushman’s intense attention upon her. Even though Arch had always watched her vigilantly too, this was somehow different. Mr. Cushman was different. But she couldn’t put her finger on exactly how.
Maybe she was more aware of his scrutiny because he was so good-looking. Or maybe he was just too close in age to her suitors, to Nathaniel, and to other men who’d admired her so that it was difficult to distinguish his attention from theirs. Whatever the case, every once in a while when she looked up and saw his eyes upon her, the skin at the back of her neck prickled with strange pleasure.
Once when she glanced his way, he and Arch seemed to be arguing about something. From the firmness of Mr. Cushman’s mouth, she could sense that he was angry. Her father had mentioned Mr. Cushman was a personal friend of Arch’s, but how? Arch was old enough to be Mr. Cushman’s father.
Perhaps that was it. Arch had once told her that he and his wife had never been able to have children. After his wife had passed away, he’d had nothing holding him back from going into service as a professional bodyguard. Maybe without children or family, Mr. Cushman was like a son to him.
“You tricked me,” she heard Mr. Cushman say under his breath as she began to cross the room to retrieve another package of sweet rolls.
Arch smiled sheepishly. “I knew it was the only way I could get you to take the job. I couldn’t trust Victoria with anyone else but you.”
“I’m not a nursemaid.”
Victoria stopped at Mr. Cushman’s declaration, and indignation shot through her. Did he think of her as a child?
Arch started to speak but stopped abruptly and put a hand to the swaths of bandages covering his side.
“Say no more,” Mr. Cushman said, worry lines forming at the corners of his eyes. “You know I’ll do anything for you.”
“I’m fine,” Arch reassured. “And you’ll be fine too. At the end of this assignment with Victoria, I have a feeling you’ll be grateful to me for getting