Page 53 of The Duke’s Hidden Duchess

“What happened?”

“Nothing of consequence.”

“Then it will survive being looked at.”

He glanced at his hand as though he had forgotten it. The skin had split across two knuckles, and a narrow splinter stood beneath the third.

Selina sent for warm water and clean linen and directed him into the small morning room. He obeyed with a resignation she found suspicious.

When the basin arrived, she set it upon the table and held out her hand.

“Nathaniel.”

He surrendered his.

She turned it towards the window. “This was not done by falling from a horse.”

“No.”

“Nor by Mr Rowland, unless his face has lately acquired a grain.”

Nathaniel looked towards the window. “A stable door.”

“You struck a stable door.”

“Once.”

“And lost.”

“There was an iron fitting I had not taken into account.”

“That must be a comfort to the door.”

She dipped the cloth into the water and began cleaning the blood from his knuckles.

“Tell me what happened at the inn.”

Nathaniel let her work.

“I spoke to the landlord. Rowland took his rooms yesterday, as Bassett learnt, and has made no great effort to conceal himself. He has mentioned Giles’s name more than once and allowed it to be understood that his business in Berkshire concerns Wexford Park.”

“Allowed it to be understood?”

“He has not been foolish enough to say precisely what his business is. Only enough to make people curious.”

“Which is generally more effective.”

“Yes.”

Selina turned his hand beneath hers. “And that was sufficient to send you home quarrelling with doors?”

“No. Giles was there yesterday.”

Her fingers stopped.

“At the Wexford Arms?”

“He came in the afternoon. The landlord gave them the private parlour. They remained there for nearly an hour.”