Chapter 31
Rory walked to the hospital just after sunrise, anxious to get him home and have him all to herself. The woman at the front desk recognized her and waved her through.
Hank was just waking up. She kissed his forehead and caressed his bristly cheek.
“I need a shave,” he said as she pulled away. “And a bath,” he said, sniffing. “I’m sorry you’re seeing me like this.”
She furrowed her brow and shook her head. “Nonsense.”
“Rory, how would you feel if I asked Mr. Curtiss about being a test pilot from time to time so that I don’t have to give up flying?”
She grinned from ear to ear. “Simply smashing, darling. There’s nothing more dashing than a test pilot.”
“Oh? Any test pilots I should know about?”
“Absurd.” As if she’d look at anyone else when she had Hank.
“And you wouldn’t worry about my safety?” There was something behind his eyes that made her think this was a desperately important question.
“Of course, I’d worry. How could I not? But when has a little risk ever bothered me? I think it’s a grand idea.”
The look in his eyes made her want to throw caution to the wind and kiss him to pieces right then.
A nurse came in with a breakfast tray. Hank practically dove for the coffee.
“Thank you, nurse,” he said.
She gave him a kind nod.
“Mmm. Better than yesterday. Nice and hot.”
“Don’t burn your tongue,” warned the nurse. “You have enough injuries as it is.”
With a smile, she left them alone.
Moments later, the doctor who caught them kissing came in.
He looked from one to the other with a censorious gaze and then turned to Hank.
“You have recovered sufficiently that we can allow you to go home. It will take another few weeks for your head to fully recover. During that time, you must get plenty of rest and avoid exerting yourself in any way.” The doctor looked back and forth between the two of them with narrowed eyes.
“Nor should you let yourself get upset. You can come back two weeks from today to have your stitches out. You should change your bandage daily. I’ll give you some cream to put on your head wound as well as the bandages you need. ”
He flipped a page on the chart and gave Hank another pointed look.
“Your leg will take longer to heal. You’ll be in that cast for six to eight weeks. During that time, you must use crutches to walk, and you must make sure not to get your cast wet when you bathe. Do you understand?”
Hank nodded.
“You will come back here for a check-up at six weeks, and we will determine whether the cast is ready to come off.”
“Yes, doctor.”
“I’ll be right back with your—”
He was interrupted by a commotion outside, and a moment later, her father strode into the room. Her whole body went rigid at the sight of him.
“Aurora, what are you doing here? It’s indecent for you to be here at this hour.”
“What am I doing here? What are you doing here, Papa? Haven’t you done enough already?” It was only with difficulty that she resisted the urge to throw things at him.
“You said yesterday you were going to marry as soon as he was out of the hospital. I thought I had better hurry if I was going to catch him before it was too late.” Turning to Hank, he said, “I know I said you wouldn’t get a cent from me, but this has to stop.
Young man, what is it going to cost me to convince you not to marry Aurora? ”
She clenched her fists and faced him down. “Papa, I am not a racehorse you can buy and sell. You threw me out, and I am never coming back, no matter what you do.”
“No amount of money will convince me not to marry Rory,” Hank said, swinging his leg down with difficulty and using his crutches to stand. Even hunched on crutches, he loomed over her father. “For the last time, I don’t want your money, Major.”
“Nonsense,” her father said. “Every man has his price.”
“Papa, stop. Enough. Do you remember when you married Eleanor, and the Vanderbilts threatened to end their contract with your company? Did it stop you?”
“Of course not. I fail to see your point,” he fumed.
“My point is that I love Hank, and nothing you say or do will change my mind about marrying him, nor will it change his,” she said, looking at Hank. “We love each other like you and Eleanor did, and we’re willing to face the consequences. The sooner you accept that, the better.”
The doctor rushed in and implored, “Ladies and gentlemen, this is a hospital. I’ll thank you to keep your voices down, or I’m going to call the police.”
“No need to call us. We’re right here,” said Inspector Green, striding into the room. “Major Belmont, if you don’t leave right away, I’m going to place you under arrest. You’re still under suspicion for the sabotage of Mr. Hawley’s plane, and even you aren’t above the law.”
“Wait! No! Papa didn’t do it,” she said.
“Can you prove that, Miss Belmont?”
“Well, no, but—”
“Your father had motive and opportunity, being a Major with significant access to both the pilots and the airplanes. However, his secretary and his wife have vouched for his whereabouts over the last week. Whether they can be trusted to be truthful is an open question. Until concrete evidence of guilt or innocence emerges, he will continue to be a person of interest. Mr. Belmont, I suggest you consider your next actions very carefully.”
Her father stepped right up to the inspector and stared him down with a steely gaze. The inspector didn’t budge.
“Leave, Major,” said Inspector Green. “I have my handcuffs ready if you refuse to cooperate.”
Rory watched as her father sized up the inspector and then looked at the two officers flanking the door. He was outmatched, and he knew it. “I will cooperate, as I seem to have no choice, but I promise you will pay for your insolence.”
“Threatening me is unwise, Major. It just makes things look worse for you.”
Rory watched, speechless, as her father was escorted out of the hospital by the police.
Hank sat down hard on the bed, looking exhausted from even that short moment of standing. She rushed to him. “Are you all right? Did you hurt yourself standing up like that?”
“I’m all right. Just a little unsteady on my feet is all, princess. I’m more worried about you.”
She sat next to him and took his hand. “I’ll be fine.” Or as fine as one could be with a father under suspicion for attempted murder of one’s fiancé.
The doctor cleared his throat. “Uh, well, a nurse will bring you some cream and extra bandages, and then you will be free to go. There’s a note here saying the Army covered the cost of your stay, since the accident happened while you were in active service.
So, there’s no need to worry about payment.
But you are under the strictest of orders to rest, Lieutenant Hawley. Are we clear?”
“Yes doctor.”
“Very well. I’ll leave you be. Best wishes for a speedy recovery, Lieutenant Hawley.”
A nurse came in a few minutes later to finish his discharge, and they were free to go. They headed back to his house together at last. After all that had transpired, she wanted nothing more than a nice long afternoon alone with the man she loved.
“Lunch smells delicious, princess—worlds better than that swill they served at the hospital.”
They sat down together in his breakfast nook, and she couldn’t hold back a grin of pride.
“I’m impressed,” he said after his first few bites. “Who knew the princess of New York knew how to cook?”
“I’m not completely useless, Hank. You may have noticed I have an independent streak. I like to do things for myself. Just because I didn’t have to didn’t mean I didn’t want to learn. I’ll have you know I can also change a flat tire on a car, keep household accounts, and mend clothing.”
Hank grinned. “You never cease to surprise me, Rory,” he said, taking her hand and kissing it. “I’m a very lucky man.”
His velvety voice sent heat straight to her core, and she leaned close, brushing her lips against his. “Yes, you are.”
He pulled her closer and kissed her deep and hard, exactly like she wanted him to. This was the kiss she’d been dreaming of ever since she decided to say yes, and she savored every moment of it.
A knock on the door interrupted them, much to her annoyance. Reluctantly, she released him. “I’ll get it.”
Opening the door, she saw Edward, unshaven and wild-eyed, accompanied by her father. Before she could register what was happening, Edward shoved her out of the way and headed straight for Hank, pulling back his fist.
“No,” she screamed and threw herself at Edward, knocking him sideways. He was her worst nightmare made flesh, and she had no intention of letting him anywhere near the man she loved with all her heart.
“Edward, for the love of God, what are you doing? I thought you were coming to apologize to Rory.” Her father ran toward them and tried to pull her away from Edward, but she wouldn’t let go.
“Get off me, you bitch,” Edward growled, trying to free himself from her clutches.
She wrapped her arms around his torso as tightly as she could, trapping his arms. Edward might be bigger and stronger than she was, but no one was going to touch her Hank.
They wrestled in an awkward dance and ran into her father, knocking him backwards to the floor. Hank hoisted himself from his seat.
“I’ve been wanting to do this for a long time, Senator.” Hank’s fist flew, and there was a horrifying crack as Edward slumped against her, knocked unconscious. Releasing her hold, she let her former fiancé crumple in a heap on the floor.
“Christ, that felt good,” Hank said, leaning on the table for support. “We should tie him up before he wakes up. I’ve got some rope in the basement.” He pointed to the door on the other side of the kitchen.
“Good God. I had no idea he was going to attack Lieutenant Hawley. You must believe me, Aurora.” Her father staggered to his feet.