Read Once Upon an Accident 01 - The Accidental Countess for Free Online

chuckle that sent a wave of heat down his spine that had nothing to do with the fever. “Oh, don’t worry. Harry had the mouth of a sailor.”
    A smiled played about her lips as she walked forward and stopped by the side of the bed.
    Close enough to grab.
    Where the hell had that idea come from? He shook his head trying to clear it.
    “Harry?”
    “My stepfather.”
    Good Lord. He glanced toward the door, and she chuckled again, capturing his attention once more.
    “He’s deceased. There is no worry of being forced to marry me.”
    “Really? Things like that have been known to happen.”
    “It won’t happen here. And the one thing that almost killed you could save you. The blizzard will keep people away for days. They know I stocked up on supplies and can handle myself.”
    The forceful tone of her voice had him convinced. She leaned closer and touched the back of her hand to his forehead. Her braid fell forward over her shoulder, the scent of cinnamon drifting around him.
    “It seems your fever has finally broken.” Her lips pulled down in a frown.
    “What’s wrong?”
    “What? Oh, nothing.” She walked toward the door. “I’m going to the kitchen to warm some broth. I haven’t gotten much down you.”
    Two days . He’d forgotten. “I’ll need to arrange a horse as soon as possible.”
    She turned, her hand still resting on the doorknob. “I doubt anyone will be leaving soon. The town inn is probably still locked up tight.” Releasing the door, she walked to the window. “It’s been snowing the entire time you’ve been recovering. It finally slowed down, but I doubt anyone is braving the weather just yet. It’s still piled fairly deep, and the hard winds are blowing the drifts. Now, I’ll get you something to eat. It shouldn’t take but a few moments.”
    Her full red lips curled and something nudged his memory. Somewhere, his mind brought back the tasting of those lips, the touch of her hand at the base of his neck, her full breast against his palm. He shook his head again. The fever must have soured his brain. The woman would have chopped off his hand had he touched her.
    “You just rest,” she said.
    She slipped out the door. Her scent still lingered in the room. He licked his lips, thinking about Cook’s sticky buns, and winced at the pain. His lips were as dry as his throat. He massaged his temples. Two days out of his mind with fever. Hopefully, he hadn’t said anything incriminating. A slow smile spread across his lips. Maybe he had. Maybe he had shocked her. Served the prude right.
     
    *
     
    As Colleen set a kettle on the tray, the muted sound of a carriage froze her very action. Who would be here in the middle of the night, in such horrible weather? She peeked out the window and almost cursed. She’d learned quite a few new words while nursing Lord Ware. The vicar descended from the carriage, his already round body fuller from the amount of extra clothing he was wearing. He and one of the stable lads from the inn were walking to her door.
    Panic lanced through her. She had to get to Lord Ware and warn him to be quiet.
    As she neared the door, she thought about her varied reactions to Lord Ware. While he slept, she had forgotten what a rogue the man was. When he had first awakened a few moments earlier, she had been paralyzed by the memory of their shared kiss, worried that he would tease her. Thankfully, the man had been too sick and appeared to have no memory of the event. And for him to think that she was trying to trap him into marriage by getting caught with him in her room. Blasted man!
    She balanced the tray with one hand, opened the door with the other and almost dropped the tray when she saw him. He had pulled himself out of bed and was using the footboard to support himself as he walked. His back was to her, so intent on his task he hadn’t heard her.
    “Lord Ware!”
    At the sound of her voice, he turned, lost his balance and fell to the floor with a curse. She hurried