Page 85 of The Earl She Once Saved

Chapter 14

By early afternoon, Rafe decided he was recovered.

His body, however, disagreed. The room shifted slightly when he stood, and he was obliged to grip the bedpost until the floor settled beneath him. The weakness irritated him more than the fever had. Fever permitted no argument. Weakness lingered merely to insult.

He dressed slowly. One sleeve caught at his shoulder. His fingers fumbled the third button of his waistcoat twice before he left it undone.

As he reached the passage, a voice rose from below.

“Where was he seen?”

Rafe stopped at the head of the stairs.

“At Ripon, my lady.”

“By whom?”

“A clerk in my employ spoke to a groom who had seen him at the King’s Arms.”

“And you consider that reliable?”

The man answered too softly for Rafe to hear.

Verity’s voice sharpened. “Is he there now?”

“I cannot say.”

“Is he coming to Edgeworth?”

“That, too, I cannot say.”

“Then what can you say?”

Rafe descended. He found Verity in the hall with a thin, gray-haired man standing before her. Her hands were clasped at her waist, but the fingers of one hand had closed around the other wrist hard enough to whiten the skin.

The man bowed. “Only that the rumors appear to have some foundation.”

“Some foundation.” Verity released her wrist and flexed her fingers once. “My husband has either returned from the dead or he has not.”

The word husband struck Rafe unpleasantly.

“I am sorry,” the man said. “I came as soon as I heard.”

“With no more news than before.”

“No.”

Verity turned her face away. Rafe reached the last step. The solicitor noticed him first.

“My lord.”

Verity looked around. Her body went still. Fear flickered across her face before she pushed it down. Her gaze traveled over him, taking in the untidy cravat, the unfastened button, and whatever illness had left visible in his face.

“You should be in bed. You are not recovered.”

“I am improved.”

“That is not the same thing.”