Page 72 of Broken

Yesterday, Giles had seen Lilly’s suffering, and the distress of doing nothing had pained him. What must Lilly feel like today? Did she even want him to become more involved?

Carrington cleared his throat. “Stop frowning.”

“Could you?”

His friend leaned against the window. “I imagine not. She needed help to climb the stairs last night.”

Fury gripped him. “Did you follow Lilly after you left us?”

“Calm down. Calm down,” Carrington whispered, glancing toward the door. “I wanted to be sure she made it safely to her bedchamber. She was listing to starboard like a ship in a gale. But the butler and housekeeper had her right and tight.”

He gripped Carrington’s arm. “Stay away from Lilly.”

“My friend, she told me that very same thing, and right smartly indeed. She has a remarkable temper for such a little chit.”

“My ghost.”

The scrape of boot on marble alerted them to company. Lord Winter crossed the room and headed directly for the liquor tray. Giles snorted. Lilly deserved better than a father who ran for a bottle at the first sign of trouble.

“Your woman is with Lillian, Daventry, but I don’t see she is doing her any good.” Lord Winter’s words dripped with bitter accusation. “Any number of nurses have done just the same and with no improvement. Why isn’t she better anymore?”

Giles turned back to the window to grind his teeth. Of course there was no improvement without him. Mrs. Osprey had no idea what he had been doing with his nights. However, he was spared the need for an evasive reply because Barrette, of course, had followed close behind Lord Winter.

He suppressed a growl. The only way he could help Lillian was if everyone would leave them alone. If Lillian was his responsibility he could see her any time he liked.

But to avoid causing her reputation harm they’d have to wed.

He pinched the bridge of his nose. Lillian Wexham, Lady Daventry. Her name sounded perfect next to his and always had. Yet everyone would say a rogue was all wrong for someone as innocent as Lilly.

When she did not make it downstairs for dinner either, Giles realized his time for vacillation was gone. He spent the early part of the meal watching a smug little smile flit across Barrette’s face, only to disappear into a grave expression. He appeared happy that Lilly was unwell again, and was doing his best to hide it.

Giles wiped his mouth with his napkin. “Carrington, would you keep my guests entertained? I have just recalled a task that requires my attention. I shall rejoin you before the dessert course.”

Carrington waved him away. “Excellent. That means I can have seconds of your cook’s famous braised duck without fighting you for it. This visit, I am going to pester her into giving me the recipe for my own cook to try.”

“Ha. You can make the attempt, but she guards that book with her life.”

Giles left the room and hurried up the stairs. He tapped on Lilly’s bedchamber door, and after a brief word, Mrs. Osprey let him in. “She is so much worse, my lord.”

Lilly said his name when he touched her skin, and then fell silent. He raised her hand to his lips but, judging by the heavy weight of her limb, she didn’t realize he was there.

“Mrs. Osprey, I do believe I could kill someone.”

“Oh, no, my lord, you mustn’t. What would happen to Miss Winter then?”

“Yes. What indeed?” He glanced at Osprey. “She seems drugged to me?”

The housekeeper swallowed. “To me too, but I cannot account for how it could have happened.”

He pulled back the covers and slipped his arms beneath her body to lift her against his chest.

“What can I do, my lord?”

Giles nodded to the door. “You can help me compromise Miss Winter. Get that door open, but keep the dog inside this room. Then hurry along to mine. Now. And be very quiet in the hall and make sure no one sees you.”

With Lilly lying boneless against his chest, he slipped into the hall and watched Mrs. Osprey convince his wolfhound to stay. The poor thing appeared bereft. “Make sure to throw in a bone later. We don’t want him howling all night.”

Mrs. Osprey rushed up the hall before him and held his door open wide. “You’re doing the right thing, my lord. Miss Winter was so sad last night. She missed you.”