her lip as she contemplated the mass of bruises forming over his ribs. When Daniel was fully dressed and wearing his glasses and joking with her, she felt safe in his friendship. But seeing him this way with his broad shoulders uncovered, his chest and stomach tight with muscles, and his upper arms bulging in ways that a woman's never would, she was reminded all too well that he was a man, and not just any man. He was her husband. It was a terrifying notion.
But also a comforting one. There was nothing shocking in tending her husband's body. She could satisfy her curiosity with impunity. Hesitantly, she applied the wet cloth to the muscular bulge over one male nipple, wiping away the dust and blood.
"Your face wasn't all they wanted to rearrange. Don't you think we ought to call a doctor?"
Daniel smiled as her fingers brushed over him. It was almost worth the price he had to pay to have Georgina touching him like this. And she wasn't fussing or nagging or yelling at him. Just the expression of concern on her face made it all worthwhile. He expected she would get around to berating him sooner or later, but it was nice letting her take over for a few minutes.
"Dr. Phelps is with Betsy right now. It probably wouldn't be a good idea. As long as none of the ribs are cracked, I'll be fine. I've survived worse."
"Worse!" Georgina stared at him incredulously.
Daniel had let his eyes drift closed. He opened them again when her soothing touches halted. Her blue eyes were wide with horror, and he offered a sympathetic smile. "Broken bones are much more painful, I assure you. Why don't you fetch me a clean shirt and I'll finish up here?"
Gritting her teeth, she returned to her ministrations. "Men are animals. I can't imagine how the world has come this far in their care."
"Because of women," he murmured. "They patch us up and send us back good as new. You don't know how good your touch makes me feel."
Georgina wanted to throw the wet cloth at him and run, but she seemed to be caught in some magnetic spell that held her bound to him. She pressed a particularly impressive bruise over one rib, and he cringed.
"Might be a crack there," he admitted. "I'll see about it in the morning. We'd better find something to eat before I'm too stiff to move."
Georgina had never been more frightened in her life. Even when those two thugs had attacked her, Daniel had been there to help, and she'd had her home and family to run to. But now she was on her own, and the man she had relied on to help was injured so badly she feared for his health. And she could do nothing. She didn't know how to treat his injuries. She couldn't cook his meal so he didn't have to go out. And she didn't even know where to buy food so he wouldn't have to move. And if the villains who had done this to him came back, she could do nothing to stop them. Was the world outside her father's home always like this?
"You shouldn't go out," she murmured in protest as he stood up.
'There's a little restaurant not far from here. If I don't scare them with my pretty face, we'll be all right. Will soup and sandwiches be enough for you?"
Georgina didn't know how he had made it home. He was swaying just standing there, and she knew he couldn't see out of that one eye. She might be terrified, but she wasn't inhuman. She shoved him back into the chair again.
"Tell me how to find it. I'll take Max and bring something home. Do stoves cost very much? Maybe we should look into finding one."
She was bustling around the room, tidying her hair, looking for a wrap, checking her pockets for coins, and calling for Max. Daniel closed his eyes and let the pounding in his head have its way. He knew better than to let a lady loose in these streets, but he simply didn't have the strength to argue. His hero instincts had had enough for the day. The idea of buying a stove together tickled him. He would have to give that some thought.
"Just say, 'now, Max,' and he'll go into attack position if someone threatens you. Don't say 'attack' unless you have no other choice. He'll go for their throats. I don't think you'll have