Captive Scoundrel Read Online Free Page A

doubt.
     
    “I won’t fail him, Harris.”
     
    The retainer grunted, an acknowledgment of sorts, Faith guessed. “If you please, I would like to know your routine.”
     
    He gave a half-nod. “After his medicine, I bathe and shave him then give him his milk for breakfast. I feed him three times between and again at eight when I give him his evening dose.”
     
    “Fine, I’ll let you finish.” She turned away, then back. “Have the door that leads to my room unlocked. Today, please.”
     
    Faith went back to see Beth. When she entered, Beth began to cry, until Faith took a gingerbread man from her pocket, stopping her mid-sob. A lone tear on the brink of falling, Beth popped a finger in her mouth, but she didn’t take the offered treat.
     
    Faith pointed to the cookie’s raisin trim. “Eyes.” She traced the curved row. “Smile.” She touched her own lips. “Faith smile.” She touched Beth’s. “Beth smile?” But Beth’s mouth did not turn up at the corners, so Faith set the treat on the bedside table. “You may have the cookie, Beth.”
     
    As Faith and Sally talked, Beth took the cookie and nibbled its feet. Faith’s heart warmed when Beth pointed to its smile.
     
    Over the next week, Faith improved Justin’s care. “Every day, the maids will clean,” she told Harris. “And I’ll change his bed.” She lifted a curl off Justin’s forehead and looked at his portrait. “Trim his hair and nails. He’s a man who once took pride in his appearance. He is no less a man now.”
     
    Harris smiled fondly. “Worried more about his appearance than he did. Laughed at me a time or two. He was…is a good man. Cared for his dependents. Doted on that baby girl.”
     
    When the servants finally came to clean, they worked around Justin. But Faith believed the only way he would feel alive would be if he was included in life. So she included him.
     
    “Good morning, Justin. How are you today? You’re looking better.” She massaged his shoulders. “Did I ever tell you about my family?” She rubbed his arm, his wrist, his fingers. “Andy is the baby. Then there’s our Lissa….”
     
    Faith missed her family, but when she stroked Justin’s hand, she realized touching him gave her comfort. “I’m not sure if talking to you will make a difference,” she said. “But I believe that deep inside you’re whole, and I intend to reach you.”
     
    Harris came in just then and Faith turned to him. “To lie in bed so long seems inconceivable. Let’s sit him in a chair.”
     
    Harris stared as if she’d sprouted horns. “He’ll fall.”
     
    “We’ll tie him with strips of cloth and sit him by a window.”
     
    Harris nodded, but he muttered all the way out the door.
     
    The day Faith’s new clothes arrived, Jenny couldn’t hide her excitement, nor Faith her irritation. “It makes no sense. He spends money on clothes for me but not on a doctor for Justin.”
     
    Jenny looked up. “A doctor came once. He said there was no hope.” But Faith refused to be discouraged.
     
    She established a routine with Beth. Every morning she chose Beth’s dress. Every afternoon she brought Beth a gingerbread man and pointed to its smile. Every night she rocked and sang to Beth as she slept. Until one night when Faith was rocking her, humming…and Beth stiffened and opened her eyes.
     
    Faith faltered. Beth didn’t seem frightened, but she was tense, so Faith continued to hum. Beth gazed about, but didn’t move much. After a while she raised a tentative hand to touch the broach pinned to Faith’s bodice. Then, to Faith’s utter surprise, Beth lifted that tiny hand further to trace Faith’s lips, as Faith had often done on a cookie’s smile.
     
    When Faith smiled, Beth stopped tracing, but didn’t remove her fingers, so Faith kissed them. And there was a spark, just a spark, of something other than fear or mistrust on Beth’s face. Oh her mouth did not change, but her eyes did. They surely