Scoundrel With A Noble Heart (sequel of Disgraceful)

Chapter 27

For the dozenth time Matthew's gaze flicked at the doorway that evening. He didn't know when it started, but he found himself expecting to see Marguerite coming through that door, and it had nothing to do with the food she'd always brought for him.

It was just good to have her around. He truly enjoyed her company, and she seemed to feel the same way. However, she had been a little bit strange when she left his room this afternoon, he wondered if he'd made her uncomfortable with his earlier answer. He'd known it might sound ridiculous, still, he couldn't give her anything other than an honest answer.

As if on cue, the next time he glanced at the door, it clicked open and Marguerite swept into the room with a dinner tray. She immediately paused when their gazes met, fixing her eyes on the floor as she continued to walk toward him. Matthew almost opened his mouth to greet her but then refrained, afraid that after his inappropriate remark, she might feel the need to keep her distance from him.

Marguerite had resolved to get herself together and not to fluster whenever she saw him, but the moment he looked up to see her from his bed across the room, her heart skipped a beat. This afternoon after he'd told her that, she'd hastily turned her face away and left the room, so he wouldn't see how his answer had knocked the breath out of her. The words had been taking up most of her waking thoughts ever since. However, when she could no longer avoid meeting his eyes, Marguerite managed to hide her nerves and greet him with a smile.

Relieved to see her usual friendly smile, Matthew sat upright and returned her greeting. His mouth instantly watered when she handed him a serving tray brimming with delectable food. The main dish was a large cut of something resembling a pie comprising cabbage, carrot and meat. Marguerite told him it was a French dish called chartreuse of partridge, which he couldn't help but forget not a minute after she mentioned it. Equally tempting was the dessert, a sponge cake sprinkled with icing sugar sitting prettily in the middle of peeled fresh oranges.

Without wasting another minute, he stuffed a large bite of the pie into his mouth. Normally he would feel uncomfortable eating with someone watching, but somehow Marguerite's presence never bothered him. It felt natural to have her around, as if she'd been around forever.

The entire food in the tray was demolished in less than ten minutes. When Matthew ate the last glorious bite of the delicious cake, he was sorely tempted to lick the powdered sugar off of his fingers, but, willing himself to look civilized in her eyes, he used the napkin to wipe his hands. As if she could read his mind, she offered,
"If you want more, I can ring the maid. I made plenty of it."

The temptation was almost too much to bear, but he managed to reply,
"No, thanks. This is really good, but I've had my fill."

Marguerite remained seated as she took the tray from him and put it on the bedside table, clearly not planning to leave soon.

"Matthew, I know having to stay in bed all day must have been boring for you. Can I get you something? Books or anything?"

"No, Maggie. You have quite enough trouble taking care of me."

"No, no. It's no trouble at all."
She paused, her expression turned wistful.
"There hasn't been much joy in the house after my mother's death and I have no one to talk to. Papa is doing his best to take care of me, but he is never one to show his feelings. I know he's been burying himself in his work to forget his grief."

Matthew knew how hard it was to deal with crushing grief, and how devastating it could have been to go through it with no one to share.
"Have you ever tried to talk about it with him?"

"I tried, but he turned me away. He'd rather not talk about it at all. He'd rather be alone in his office."

"I'm sorry to hear that."