To Save a Love - Alexa Aston Page 0,46

he walked past in his superior manner. Have Matron slap her or an attendant trip her. Something to help her get a grip on her wild emotions.

Then she felt Dez near. She could smell the faint scent of sandalwood. Feel the warmth of his body behind her.

He slipped his arms around her, drawing her up and carrying her to the porch, where he sat in a chair. He murmured words to her but she didn’t think on their meaning. His tone was soothing, which was all that mattered. She had felt rejected and angry and unwanted but that had changed. She was with Dez again.

And that was enough.

Chapter Fourteen

Dez held Anna, hoping he reassured her as he sensed the tension melting from her. He had wanted to give her control of the situation and her body, firming up her belief in herself.

He decided she suffered from what he’d seen in other soldiers who had been affected by the war. Some called it being hipped or blue-deviled. The few men he had been in contact with behaved recklessly and had trouble sleeping. They had wild mood swings and would endanger themselves—and sometimes others—on the battlefield. They usually drank too much and no longer acted morally.

He supposed Anna had been affected in a similar way. It would explain her sudden mood swings and the weeping. The distance she placed between herself and him, as if she were in another world at times. She seemed to have no regard for propriety and boundaries between men and women. He would have to take care and make a special effort when her behavior changed radically. Not scold her but continue to speak calmly and patiently, trying to help her come back to the world she’d left, with all its rules, both spoken and unspoken. He feared that would be the greatest hurdle to climb. Anna might never function well in Polite Society again.

It didn’t matter. She could live in the country at Shelton Park. Or he hoped with him, as his wife, at Torville Manor. They would have no need of London and its gaiety during the Season. He only hoped that could be a possibility. If not, he would have to respect her need for solace and merely be a visitor. A friend to her. No matter how much it pained him.

“Would you like to go for a walk?” he asked. “We could go through the woods. Down to the lake.”

She pushed against him and clambered to her feet then grabbed his forearm and pulled him to his. Anticipation lit her face.

“Where first?” he asked. “Why don’t you lead me where you wish to go?”

He wanted to give her choice and control as much as possible. Eagerly, she took his hand and he threaded his fingers through hers.

“Slow down,” he said, laughing, as she began pulling him quickly. “You have always loved nature. Let’s enjoy the day and take our time.”

He watched her consider his advice and then she began moving, more slowly this time. Anna led him to the water. They stood looking across the lake for some minutes, no words necessary. If anything, the outdoors would help to restore her to the Anna of old, or at least as much as she could be after all that had happened to her. Dez still wanted to string up Dr. Cheshire for taking a beautiful, spirited girl and almost crushing the life from her. Dez could still see sparks within her, though, of the Anna she had been. Being away from Gollingham and its inhumane practices was the first step in her recovery.

She pulled away from him and began searching along the shore, collecting rocks. He knew what she was doing and he did the same. Soon, they skimmed rocks along the water.

After flinging another stone, she huffed and slammed the rocks she held to the ground. Dez caught her by the shoulders.

“You are merely out of practice, Anna. Be patient. Keep trying. Remember, it is all in the wrist action. Will you try again?”

She looked contrite and knew the flash of temper was merely frustration on her part. She bent and retrieved the stones she’d dropped and began again. After several minutes, she had regained her old form and her tosses bounced three, four, five, even six times. Gleefully, she clapped her hands and then hugged him.

“See? I knew you could do it. Don’t forget that there are many things you haven’t done in a good while. Try to be patient and take