Read Ladies of Deception 03 - Betraying the Highwayman for Free Online Page B

impatiently.
    Elenore closed her eyes and took a deep breath before speaking. “Are you too weak, my lord, to feed yourself?”
    “Yes,” he barked.
    “Very well,” Elenore said in resignation, “Then I suppose I’ll have to help.”
    She picked up a silver spoon from the tray with one hand and grasped the bowl of runny porridge with her other, dunking the spoon into the sludge before extending it towards Lord Brattondale’s lips. She held the spoon barely an inch from his mouth, but apparently the effort he would need to exert to take a bite was too much for him. He sat there silently staring at the spoon, clearly waiting for her to bring it closer. Elenore was baffled. She’d never had occasion to see a grown gentleman behave so childishly. Her first reaction was to throw the spoon back into the bowl, then slam the bowl down on the tray, before turning to leave, but she somehow managed to draw on a supply of patience she didn’t know she possessed and instead inched the spoon closer so he could slurp the porridge without having to move a muscle.
    Elenore fed Lord Brattondale spoonful after painful spoonful of the unappetizing concoction, her irritation growing with every spoonful he slurped. It was with great relief that she fed him the last bite of porridge in the bowl before setting it back down on the tray forcefully.
    “Now help me with my tea,” Lord Brattondale insisted.
    Elenore was fully aware of Lord Bridgerton’s eyes watching her every move, his rapt attention only causing her more unease. She lifted the porcelain teacup from the saucer and carefully assisted Lord Brattondale in drinking the now cold tea. When he had finished, she pulled the cup back from his mouth and watched in disgust as a rivulet of tea mixed with saliva dripped down his chin.
    “Wipe my face at once.” The command came instantly, and Elenore wondered how it was that Lord Brattondale could have enough strength to bark commands at her effortlessly when he apparently had no strength to do something as menial as feeding himself.
    Clutching the linen napkin tightly in her hand, Elenore attempted to take out some of her frustration on the innocent piece of fabric before she was tempted to take it out on the earl. Leaning forward she wiped his face as quickly as possible, then turned and threw the offending napkin down on the tray with the dishes.
    “Is there anything else I can do for you, my lord?” Elenore asked between gritted teeth.
    “If you wouldn’t mind adjusting my pillows, I think I will rest for a bit.”
    Elenore went and fluffed the two down pillows vigorously, before placing them under Lord Brattondale’s head.
    “Very well. That is all.”
    Relieved, Elenore scooped the tray up and nodded towards Lord Bridgerton, as she began making her exit. She wasn't sure where she was going. All she knew was that she had to get out of the aggravating man's presence.
    “Devon, show Sister Genevieve to the lavender room would you?” Lord Brattondale spoke from behind her.
    “Of course, Father,” he replied as he rose and followed behind Elenore, who had just walked into the hall.
    As soon as the earl’s door was closed, Lord Bridgerton reached over and took the tray out of Elenore’s hands and set it on the floor up against the wall, out of the way of anyone who might chance down the hall. “I’m heading to the kitchen after I show you to your room. I’ll save you the trip and take it with me.”
    “Thank you,” Elenore said sincerely, anticipating some time alone so she could rest and rethink her current dilemma. The last thing she wanted to do was to be stuck there nursing an oversized baby back to health. A month may very well prove to be more than her patience could handle.
    Lord Bridgerton turned and began walking down the hall, leaving Elenore following behind him. His legs were longer than hers, so she practically had to run to keep up with him. She was relieved when he stopped in front of a large wooden door,