Mr. Aldridge had been that way for her, pushing the darkness from her life. She craved his light, wishing it would shine on her now and relieve her worries. She closed her eyes.
He simply has to get better. He has to.
As if hearing her plea, a soft moan sounded from the bed. Joanna turned slowly. Mr. Aldridge stirred, pain flashing across his face at the movement. A sudden urge came over Joanna and she followed it. She hurried to the seat beside the bed, taking his hand in hers.
“There, there.”
His eyes flew open. “Joanna?”
His voice was raspy and weak, but she had never heard so sweet a sound as her name on his lips.
Relief washed over her like the waves of the sea and tears formed in her eyes.
“Yes, I am here.”
His expression relaxed, however his eyes were unfocused.
“You cannot see me, can you?”
“No,” he whispered. “Not clearly, but I know your voice. And this,” he rubbed his thumb across her hand, his own still shaking. “This is familiar.”
She laughed through her tears. Her uncle entered her field of vision and she realized he’d stood back for a moment.
“How do you feel, Mr. Aldridge?” he asked.
“Miserable,” Mr. Aldridge replied, then his expression softened. “And yet hopeful.”
Joanna’s heart nearly burst, all the hope she’d held within swelling.
Mr. Garvey checked Mr. Aldridge’s pulse, listened to his breathing, examined his wound and asked many questions. Most of which, Mr. Aldridge answered readily.
“Well,” her uncle said. “You are certainly not fully recovered yet, and I think your confusion is likely still in effect to an extent. But I do think you will survive.” He smiled. “You are a very lucky man.”
Mr. Aldridge smiled weakly.
“I hope so.” He swallowed. “May I have some water?”
Joanna looked to her uncle.
“Of course,” he said.
Joanna stood and filled a glass from the pitcher before taking it over to Mr. Aldridge. “Allow me?”
The corner of his mouth quirked and he nodded very slightly. Joanna helped him take several sips, placed the cup back on the tray, then returned to her seat, taking his hand again.
Her uncle looked between them.
“Excuse me for a moment,” he said before quitting the room.
“How long have I been this way?” Mr. Aldridge asked.
“Since last evening. What were you thinking leaving London when you were ill?”
He hesitated before answering. “I had to see you.”
The words were low and quiet, but filled her with hope.
He continued, “I could not stop thinking of you. You were so distraught, I wanted nothing more than to return home and set things right.”
Joanna was touched by his confession, though she felt guilty for being the cause of his present distress. She squeezed his hand.
“You ought not have risked your health for that.”
“Perhaps.” His eyes looked very heavy. “But I found I could not help myself.”
Joanna’s heart pounded. “Truly?”
He pressed his eyes closed then opened them. “Joanna, I can’t—” He was clearly struggling to remain awake.
This was the longest he had gone without rest since he had first gained consciousness. Joanna knew she should not be surprised, though she was disappointed.
“Get some rest,” she said. “You need to recover.”
His shaky grip tightened on her hand for a moment. “I am sorry. This is not what I’d hoped for.”
Joanna leaned closer to him and whispered. “Then you will have to make it up to me.”
He smiled softly, his eyes now closed. “For as long as I live.”
His grip on her hand loosened as he drifted to sleep.
A few moments later, a soft knock sounded before her uncle came in the open door. He motioned her toward the fireplace and she joined him there.
“Joanna, I do hope you do not take this the wrong way, but Mr. Aldridge needs as much rest as he can get just now. I am concerned that with you here, he will feel more inclined to stay awake and speak with you rather than rest as he should.”
“Are you asking me to leave?”
“As your uncle, no.” He smiled at her softly. “But as his doctor, I am.”
Joanna frowned. She did not want to go, yet she too knew that if she stayed she would want to talk to him each time he awoke instead of allowing him rest. She sighed.
“Very well. You will keep me informed of his condition, won’t you?”
His smile increased. “I would not imagine doing otherwise.”
Joanna looked out the window, watching the occasional passerby wander past her home. She sighed heavily, unable to withhold her vexation.
“Is there a problem, Joanna?” Edith asked. She sat nearby, embroidery in hand, smirk in place.
“You know very well what the problem is,” Joanna said, casting her a dark look.
“Yes, but I do take such pleasure in your commentary on your predicament.”
Joanna sensed her sarcasm but was more than willing to give her what she asked for. She turned away from the window and tossed her own embroidery into the basket.
“Well, my dearest friend, as you know it has been eight days since I left Mr. Aldridge’s house, and I have heard nothing from him in the entirety of that time. I have only heard from my uncle that he is recovering well. Which, I must add, I am endlessly grateful for.”
Edith nodded along as Joanna spoke.
“But from the man himself, I have heard nothing.” Joanna frowned.
Edith looked up at her narrowly, as she had before. “You know Joanna, he is recovering from not only a bad fall, but also an episode of his illness.”
Joanna turned to her fully now, her hands before her. “Yes, I understand that. But after the things he said to me, Edith—”
Usually Joanna stopped here, the words hanging in the air as did her hopes. Yet on this occasion, she sighed again.
“I was certain there was more he would have said if only he could.”
“As am I.”
Joanna shook her head. “The more time that passes, the more concerned I am that it was nothing but his confused state speaking to me, not his true feelings.”
Edith gave Joanna her most incredulous look. “Do not be ridiculous. Anyone who has seen the way Mr. Aldridge looks at you would be daft to think anything other than that he loves you.”
“I hope it is true.” Joanna turned and looked out the window again. “Even the fears I’ve harbored would not be so terrifying if he could love me.” She sighed. “With all my heart I hope he loves me.”
A voice as deep and encompassing as the ocean startled them both. “Your hope is not in vain.”
Joanna leapt from her seat, turning toward the door. It had opened, silently of course, and Susan, the housekeeper, stood there with Mr. Aldridge.
What had he said?
Poor Susan did not look as if she knew quite what to do. “Um, Mr. Aldridge to see you, ma’am.” She curtsied and scurried away.
How Joanna wished she could scurry as Susan did, yet propriety dictated that she stay. She lowered her eyes, embarrassed to look at him, and curtsied.
“Welcome, Mr. Aldridge.”
He bowed. “Thank you, Miss Leighton. Miss Colborne, it is good to see you.”
Joanna looked up and saw Edith curtsy. “And you, sir. You must forgive me, I was about to leave. I am glad to hear you are recovered.”
She cast Joanna a look and she could see the laughter in Edith’s eyes.
She would laugh, leaving me here, embarrassed.
And yet Joanna was more hopeful than she’d been in some time.
“Shall I call on you tomorrow, then?” Joanna asked.
“I would never forgive you if you did not.” Edith winked at her.
Absurd girl!
Edith hurri
ed from the room, leaving Joanna alone with Mr. Aldridge.
“I am glad to see you so well recovered,” Joanna said. She hated the formality she felt she must uphold, but she was too uncertain as to what he truly felt to behave any differently.
He nodded. “Thank you. It took far longer than I desired. As I’ve told you before, I hate to be idle, especially when there is something specific I wish to do.”
There was a suggestive tone in his voice which encouraged Joanna to meet his gaze. His eyes sparkled like the sun on the sea and she endeavored to stay above their depths.
He took a step toward her. “You could have come to see me.”
A wave of discomfort swept over her.
“It is improper for a woman to call on a man whom she is not related or engaged to.” Her mouth stumbled around the final two words and she felt her face flame.
“That has never stopped you before.” He was now only a few feet away. He shook his head, though his mouth lifted in a smile. “In fact, I can think of at least three times you came to my home without my invitation.”
Joanna pressed her lips together, pleading for her mind to form a response. He closed the last few feet of distance between them and Joanna’s heart beat furiously against her chest.
“I must advise you, Miss Leighton,” his voice was low and sent shivers down her spine. He ran his thumb across her still pressed lips, igniting them. “When you do that, I am beyond tempted to kiss you.”
He looked deep into her eyes, then exhaled slowly. “And as you have only just reminded me, we are not engaged. Therefore, kissing you would be inappropriate.”
“Most definitely,” she whispered, her stomach squirming with anticipation.
He smiled softly. “However, I do hope to remedy that.”
He took her hand in his and brushed the curls back from her face with the other.
“I must confess that I hesitated to come here today. I know how much you have suffered, and could not tolerate the idea of causing you more pain.” He ran his fingers along her cheek. “Your coming when I fell ill encouraged me, and I could not help but overhear your remarks as I came into the room just now. I do hope you were in earnest, because I can assure you that Miss Colborne was right. You have healed an ache in my heart that I had been denying existence. You have filled me with life and taught me to trust again. To love again. I love you more and more each day, and pray for more days with you than I can count. My heart is yours, Joanna. If you want it.”
The fear and worry in her heart fled, replaced by confidence and love. “I want every day you can give to me.”
His smile grew. “I hoped you would say that.”
He moved his hand from hers to cup her face, then leaned toward her until their lips were only a breath apart. He paused there and she drew in a shaky breath. Before she could exhale, his lips were on hers and she sighed with pleasure. His kiss was as deep and soulful as his eyes and she knew in an instant she would never tire of it. She knew that his kiss, just as his eyes, would always be able to draw her in, drowning in its depths.
She wound her arms around his neck and his hands fell from her face to her waist, pulling her close to him and she melted into his embrace.
For the first time in a long while, Joanna was overwhelmed with incandescent joy. All too soon, Mr. Aldridge pulled away, resting his forehead against hers. In an attempt to stay her tears, Joanna bit her lips together. She heard him chuckle and was surprised to feel his lips on hers again. His kiss was more insistent this time, and she relished the difference.
“I warned you,” he whispered, his lips brushing against hers as he spoke.
She smiled. “Yes, I suppose I deserved that.”
He leaned back enough to look into her eyes. “I cannot believe I am lucky enough to call you mine.”
“Someone once told me that at times we must relinquish our control and let another take it for us.” She laid her hand on his cheek. “You have held control of my heart for longer than I’ve even been aware of it. And I will always trust you with it.”
“That is one thing I will never relinquish. I will spend every day of my life earning that privilege.” He bent his head and kissed her again, tenderly this time.
Joanna sighed when he pulled away. “You are doing fabulously already.”
His smile warmed her to her soul. “Then let me continue.”
He swept her in a circle, and before she had ceased laughing his lips met hers again.
There would undeniably be difficult times in the future, and the promise of pain was certain. But there would be good memories, wonderful hours spent together, and blissful moments of pure joy as well.
Joanna would not trade those for the world.
Dear Reader,
Thank you for reading Healing Hearts, I hope you enjoyed it! Please do me a favor and consider leaving a review or rating on Amazon. Reviews help an author in so many ways, and really are a great way to thank an author.
If you enjoyed Daring to Dream, I hope you’ll check out Forgotten Friend and Daring to Dream, the other stories in the Roselund Heights series.
If you’d like to learn more about my books, including new releases and sales, I hope you’ll join Miranda’s Sweet Swooners, my Facebook reader group. This is where I get to know my readers, share deals from other sweet romance authors, and have fun!
If you have any questions or comments, you can contact me at [email protected]
Thanks again for reading!
Miranda D Nelson
Just like raising a child, writing a book takes a village! First off, I have to say I could not have done this without the support of my family. My husband and kids have let me take much needed time to finish this project. Without their support there’s no way this dream would have become a reality. Also a special thanks to my mom for being my Regency resource, my brother, Corey, for seeing past the “mushy parts” and helping with the structure of my story, and Cheyanna for reminding me that I had a story worth telling.
Thank you to the awesome writing community I’ve found. Kristi for making me set a goal (even though I really didn’t think it would be possible) and guiding me along my way, Lindzee for answering countless questions, my critique partners for helping me shape a better story, and all the writers in Sprint Writers Central for countless hours of sprints and support.
Miranda D Nelson was born and raised in California. From a young age she’s nourished a deep love of stories. Her passion for reading quickly extended to writing and she has been writing this or that as long as she can remember.
As a longtime lover of romance, Miranda believes in true love. While at BYU-Idaho, she met and married her one true love who is her best friend and a shining light in her life. They now live in Utah with their three wonderful, crazy kids.
When she’s not busy chasing her littles or working on her next story, Miranda enjoys reading, crafting, and being outdoors. This is her first published novel and she is very much looking forward to continuing with the series. She hopes to share her love of romance with you and take you on a new journey with each book.
Miranda loves to hear from her readers and looks forward to getting to know them and other writers as she moves forward on this venture!
Contact Miranda:
Email: [email protected]
Blog: http://mirandadnelson.blogspot.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/MirandaDNelson/
Twitter: @AuthorMDNelson
Instagram: @authormirandadnelson
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Healing Hearts (Roselund Heights Book 1) Page 15