The Formidable Earl (Diamonds in the Rough #6) - Sophie Barnes Page 0,60
the nearby oil lamp. Her ball gown lay in a crumpled mess on the chair in the corner. Ida stared at it for a moment before considering her current attire. No nightgown. Just the chemise she’d worn under her gown. The stays had been removed. All of which would suggest that Simon had sent Miranda away and seen to Ida himself.
And what he must have seen.
The chemise was one of the underthings that had been ordered from La Belle Anglaise, so fine and sheer it didn’t conceal much at all. A little miffed that she’d been so exposed without being able to protest, she started forward, intent on finding her nightgown, when the bedroom door suddenly opened.
Simon had barely slept. Every time Ida moved or made a noise in her sleep, he’d awoken, ready to leap from the bed and fetch whatever she might require. Eventually, he’d decided to go have a glass of brandy to help him relax. Returning to the bedchamber, he entered quietly so as not to disturb her. What he didn’t expect was to find her standing fully upright in the middle of the room without the decent covering her eiderdown had provided.
Shocked, he stared at her for a moment – at the soft outlines of her curves, so faintly visible they seemed to tease him from behind the veil of her chemise. “Ida,” he blurted. “For God’s sake. You ought to be resting. Get back into bed.”
“But—”
“No buts.” He hastened across to where she stood and wound one arm around her for support. “Head injuries are a serious matter. You mustn’t get up and start walking about until we have Redding’s approval.”
“I only meant to put on my nightgown.”
Ah. That would, in fact, be an excellent idea.
“Let’s get you settled on the edge of the bed and then I will find it. All right?”
“Is Miranda not here? I think I’d prefer her help with this.”
Simon helped Ida sit, took the oil lamp from her hand, and set it aside on her nightstand. The yellow glow flickered across her exposed skin, dressing it in gold. Lord help him, he wanted nothing more than to run his fingers across the rounded smoothness of her shoulder, trace the delicate edge of her collarbone, press his mouth to hers and—
He shook his head. Roughly. “It’s the middle of the night, Ida. She’s sleeping.”
“I see.”
So did he. Far more than what was proper.
He averted his gaze and cleared his throat. “Where do you keep your nightgown?”
“In the top drawer of the dresser.”
Simon crossed to the piece of furniture, opened the drawer, and pulled out the garment he sought. Cut from the finest white muslin, with lace trimming and satin ribbons adorning the edges, it really wasn’t much better than the chemise in terms of protecting her modesty. But if it would make her more comfortable, then he’d certainly not be the one to point out the obvious.
Aware that what came next might cause her embarrassment, he said, “I can help you get changed in the dark. Furthermore, I promise not to look.”
“I’m sure I can manage alone.”
“Are you?”
She frowned at the nightgown. “Not really.”
“All right then. Do you trust me?” He knew he was asking her a difficult question after everything they’d just been through, so he hastened to add, “I want to help you. That’s all.”
“If we’re to move forward, we have to start somewhere. So yes, I’ll allow you to help.”
No promise of trust, but the joyous relief her words gave him felt wonderful all the same. “Thank you.” It was a test, he realized. Most likely the first of many.
Determined to prove himself worthy, he snuffed out the light and closed his eyes. “Take my hand.”
She placed her palm in his and allowed him to help her rise.
“Now, you’ll have to guide me a little,” he told her. “Help me find the edge of your chemise.”
Taking both his hands, she placed them on either side of her, leading his fingers toward the fine hem until he was able to catch it. Doing his best to refrain from touching her, he pulled the fabric out to the sides, as far away from her body as possible, before beginning to lift it. But when he reached the spot where her hips flared out, he had no choice, and his knuckles scraped over her skin.
She chuckled.
“What is it?” he asked, surprised by the sound since neither had spoken for quite a while.