If You're Going to Sell Yourself, Sell It to Me - Chapter 22

In her dream, Georgiana wandered endlessly through a vast desert. She couldn’t understand why she was in a desert when she was supposed to be heading to the New World, but her heavy body sank into the sand with each step, and the burning thirst made her stumble repeatedly.

Just as she felt she was on the verge of death, she would find an oasis.

Though the cool water barely trickled out, just enough to wet her parched throat, it tasted bitter like medicine. Yet, determined to survive, she clung to the water, holding the stream in her mouth. Despite the bitterness, the water carried a familiar, calming scent, one that she recognized but couldn’t quite place.

The scent grew stronger until she suddenly jolted awake.

Her heavy eyelids slowly lifted, feeling as though it had been a long time since she had last opened them. Her eyelashes were stiff, and she rubbed her eyes gently until her vision gradually came into focus.

The first thing she noticed was the bluish dawn beyond the window. Cobalt-colored paint, reminiscent of his eyes, seemed to be scattered across the horizon above the endless sea. The water near the ship was dark, almost black.

It was still some time before morning.

Judging by the dawn, she had been asleep on the sofa for several hours.

She had no idea how deeply she had slept, but her entire body felt refreshed.

Considering how much fatigue had built up, she was surprised to have woken up so early. As she looked around, she realized she wasn’t on the sofa but in the middle of a soft bed.

When had she moved? Before she could even recall, she noticed someone sitting by the bed, and her eyes widened in surprise.

Lockwood was sitting on a chair, sound asleep. Even in his sleep, he maintained a straight posture, his head slightly bowed.

It became clear that he was the source of the scent from her dream. No wonder it felt familiar.

Had he moved me from the sofa? And then fallen asleep in the chair?

In the dim light of dawn, his face looked a bit rougher than usual. His smooth chin now showed signs of stubble, though it did nothing to diminish his handsome features.

Though his eyes were closed, the deep-set lines of his eyes beneath his brow, his sharp nose, and firmly pressed lips gave him a distinctly aristocratic appearance.

Despite his proud features, his relaxed indoor attire revealed the silhouette of his broad shoulders and toned abs. It was an odd combination, but with him, everything seemed to make sense.

With nothing urgent pressing her, Georgiana took her time observing him.

He had an enigmatic quality, but there was no denying that he was incredibly handsome. Even if she were to place a statue from a museum next to him, the man before her would still look more like a work of art.

It still felt strange to think of such a man as her husband.

Suddenly, that realization struck her anew, making her feel even more awkward.

“Mmm…”

Whether sensing her gaze or lost in a dream, his breathing grew a little louder, and his eyebrows twitched. Whatever dream he was having seemed to be intense, as his index finger twitched as if pulling a trigger.

She marveled at how even his long, elegant fingers looked, shaking her head slowly. She couldn’t just keep staring at him.

Should I wake him and suggest he sleep in the bed instead?

He was much taller than her, and it made more sense for him to sleep in the bed. The sofa wasn’t that uncomfortable for her.

Even the red velvet sofa was much softer and more comfortable than the bed she had at home, so it wasn’t an issue.

However, when she actually tried to wake him, he seemed so deeply asleep that she hesitated to call his name. Though she had noticed it the moment she woke up, it was clear he was more exhausted than she had ever seen him before.

Her lips parted several times as she debated whether to wake him, but in the end, she couldn’t bring herself to do it. She wasn’t bold enough to lie in bed next to him, so she quietly tidied the blankets and slipped out of the bedroom.

As she moved, she realized that the pain in her stomach had almost completely subsided. She had expected it to last for days, but it seemed she hadn’t been as badly injured as she thought.

Grrr…

As soon as the pain was gone, hunger suddenly hit her. She hadn’t eaten in two days, after all.

Fortunately, there was a tray of simple refreshments and a teapot on the table by the window, so she didn’t need to call for anyone. As she filled a transparent glass with water and drank, she noticed her reflection in the window and nearly spat out the water.

When had I changed clothes?

Somehow, as if by magic, her clothes had changed overnight.

She wiped her mouth hastily with her sleeve and examined her attire again. It wasn’t just that her outer dress had been removed—her entire outfit had changed.

She must have changed clothes in her sleep because she was now wearing a white silk chemise and a thin gown, both of which he had apparently bought in advance.

The gown was long, so nothing was exposed, but the thought of having fallen asleep in front of him in this attire made her blush with embarrassment.

The neckline was modest, but she realized that if she had moved carelessly, her cleavage might have been visible.

Why had I changed clothes? And when?

No matter how hard she tried, the last thing she could remember was sitting on the sofa, lost in thought.

Had something happened while I was unaware?

She didn’t doubt him, but a wave of anxiety made her check herself over, and that’s when she noticed the bandages wrapped tightly around her abdomen.

Lifting her clothes, she saw that the bandages had been meticulously applied.

Had a doctor visited? Why hadn’t I known?

She had thought it remarkable that she hadn’t fainted after what she had been through, but it seemed she had passed out later. Perhaps they had called a doctor when she didn’t wake up.

Assuming that the doctor had changed her clothes along with a maid, she felt a bit more at ease. Lockwood had probably watched over her after they left.

Feeling somewhat relieved, she was about to pick up a pastry when the door to the hallway suddenly swung open. She quickly turned, pulling her neckline up.

“Oh? When did you wake up?”

Henry, his hair a mess as if he had just woken up, stood frozen at the door, holding a coal scuttle.

“I woke up a little while ago. I must have been more tired than I thought—I didn’t even realize I had fallen asleep.”

“What do you mean? You’ve been asleep for four whole days.”

“What? Four days?”

Georgiana’s eyes widened in disbelief at Henry’s words.

Had four days passed since she fell asleep on the sofa? She hadn’t done anything, yet it felt as though a time thief had stolen away her days.

It couldn’t be true.

Seeing her shocked expression, Henry added, “It wasn’t just because you were tired—you broke a rib. That’s why you were constantly on painkillers and fever reducers, and you slept the whole time.”

“My rib was broken? So that’s why…”

No wonder the pain had been so severe, much more so than just from a bruise. Her head had felt foggy, too. Willow’s violence had escalated to the point where he had finally broken her bone.

And now… she felt ashamed knowing that Henry and Lockwood were aware of it.

She blushed with embarrassment, imagining how pathetic they must think she was, beaten to the point of breaking a bone.

She hung her head, her ears turning red from the embarrassment.

“So I must have been a burden to you for the past four days, Henry. Thank you.”

Unable to meet his gaze because of her attire, Georgiana bowed her head low.

“No, no, I didn’t do anything. It was our master who personally administered your medicine and changed your bandages. And since there’s no female doctor on board, please don’t think he had any other intentions.”

Henry scratched his head as he spoke, but Georgiana had to stifle a scream.

Lockwood had given me medicine? And even changed my bandages? That meant there was a high chance he had changed my clothes too.

“What about the maid?”

“The master didn’t want anyone seeing your injuries, so he sent them away.”

“Oh…”

He wasn’t wrong.

It didn’t take much imagination to realize how shocked a maid would have been to see the wounds on her body. It could have led to misunderstandings about him.

So, he had taken care of her entirely on his own… and now she understood why he had looked so tired. Even the faint stubble on his face was a sign of that.

Georgiana squirmed in embarrassment and guilt.

“Well… I need to change the coal, so I’ll come back in an hour. Even though it’s summer, the sea air can be chilly at night, so I’ve kept the stove lit to keep you warm. If it gets too hot, please let me know.”

That explained why the room felt so warm—it was being heated by the central coal stove.

“Thank you, Henry.”

After Henry left to give her time to change, she took a fresh set of clothes from the wardrobe and headed for the bathroom.

Her body felt fresh as if someone had wiped away the sweat, but after lying in bed for days, she desperately needed a bath. She also wanted to present herself as clean and tidy when Lockwood woke up.

Even though it was dawn, warm water gushed from the faucet. There was also soap in a shell-shaped dish beside the bathtub.

As she unwrapped the bandages, she saw that there were no external wounds, so she decided it was safe to bathe. She was careful not to let the water touch the bandaged area directly.

As she washed, mindful of even the sound of water droplets in case it woke him, the bathroom door suddenly burst open.

“Where did you go…?”

Had he not realized she was in the bathroom because she was so quiet?

Lockwood’s eyes darted around, unable to find a place to rest as he took in the sight of Georgiana standing there, naked.