“How about profound cause? Will that suffice?”
“Hardly,” I huffed, resting back against him. “I’ve promised you my heart, yet you refuse to do the same in return. Maybe you should marry Amelia after all if satisfying your pride means more than my love.”
“Merciless woman,” he said, in between nibbling my ear. Then he took my hand and placed it over his heart. “Can you feel that?”
I closed my eyes, pressing my hand flat against him. “Yes, I feel it.”
“It belongs to you, Selah. I gave it freely and have no intention of taking it back. You are the only woman I love and the only woman who will ever bear my name. The king may bluster and threaten all he wants and I promise to behave myself on your behalf. As for any other man who is fool enough to insult my future wife, I’ll be hard pressed to show the same patience. But for you, I will do my utmost to seek other recourse before submitting to a duel.” He bent his head down and kissed me again, his warm mouth emphasizing the point. My hand was still over his heart, its rhythmic thump beating softly in my own chest.
“Very well,” I said, near breathless when he had finished. “That seems the best I can expect and so I must trust in your sensibility.” Finding his hand, I laced our fingers together. He flinched unexpectedly.
“What is the matter?”
“Nothing much, just a small cut from this morning.”
My power had grown so sluggish, for the past week now it seemed insufficient to heal even a hangnail. But then Henry had kissed me, bringing up a reserve I thought long spent while sailing on the Callisto.
“Take off your glove,” I said, eager to see if I was up to the task.
“You must be tired. It can wait until later.”
“Take it off or I shall heal it right through the leather.”
“Very well,” he laughed, pulling off the glove. “There is a nice gash in between my thumb and index finger.”
Even in the heavy shadow, I could make out the blood stained bandage that had been hastily tied in place. “How did it happen?”
He paused before answering. “I cut it on your father’s pocket watch.”
Loosening the knot, I gently pulled the bandage away and squinted at the wound. It was deep all right, cutting almost to the bone from what I could tell. “I never knew a watch could be so dangerous.”
“Usually they’re not. Mine just happened to be in my hand when the messenger arrived with news of your ship. I expected the worst at first and inadvertently tightened my hand into a fist. The glass facing broke before I realized what I was doing. A goldsmith should be able to fix the damage.”
“I am more concerned about your hand,” I said as Brigid’s fire stirred inside me. It was a fraction of what I had felt while kissing Henry, but certainly enough to heal such a simple wound. With some prodding, the warmth moved down my arms into my fingers before suddenly receding back to my core.
“Are you too tired?” Henry asked.
I shook my head. “My power is just being stubborn.”
Renewing my concentration, I focused directly on the gash. More power stirred this time and I willed it up to my fingertips. The carriage had grown uncomfortably warm while I worked, causing a thin coat of sweat to form on my forehead. Feeling the power begin to pull back, I snapped my eyes shut and forced it from my hands.
The moment it flowed into Henry, my insides prickled unpleasantly. The sensation lasted only a few seconds while I mended the various layers of tissue and rethreaded the nerves and vessels. Once done, I opened my eyes to inspect his hand. The blood still needed to be cleaned up, but the skin looked good as new.
Henry flexed his hand several times. “That is amazing. Thank you, Selah.”
“My pleasure,” I said, which was partly the truth. The other part was more than I wanted to consider at the moment. The carriage wheels clattered along the cobblestones, reminiscent of a clock ticking down the seconds. “Are we near Lansbury House?”
“I’ve arranged for different accommodations with a young widow by the name of Lady Catherine Dinley. She’s a dear friend and a well-known favorite at court. If she likes you, she may even be willing to help with our cause.”
“And if she doesn’t like me?” I couldn’t help asking.
“How could she not?” Henry laughed. “My judgment is impeccable.”
“Just with women or in every aspect of your life?”
“In everything,” he said, kissing my neck playfully. “But especially in women.”
The carriage slowed to a stop, and I scooted off of his lap to straighten my skirts. Henry smoothed the wrinkles from his own clothing. “I sent word of your arrival before I left for the docks so she is expecting you.”