As she spoke Wolf glanced past the four persons gathered around him. Of course. The room was familiar, although in the bright light of day it looked much shabbier than he remembered. Neglected. Like the rest of the Arrandale estate. Ten years without a master was taking its toll. He frowned.
‘How long have I been here?’
‘The constables carried you in here last night,’ said Richard, ‘after Urmston shot you.’
As memory returned Wolf wanted more answers. He tried to sit up, but Grace’s gentle hands pressed him back.
‘No, no, you must stay there, at least for the present. There is no danger now. Loftus knows Urmston is the true villain. He arrested him immediately.’
‘Aye.’ Richard laughed. ‘Braddenfield was as mad as fire when he found the fellow trying to kill his fiancée!’
Wolf’s eyes flew to Grace. There was a faint flush on her cheeks, but she made no attempt to contradict Richard. Wolf caught her wrist as she went to move away.
‘Grace, I must talk to you, alone. I need to know—’
The blush deepened. Gently she freed herself from his grip and moved out of reach.
‘Hush now, sir. There will be time to talk when you are better.’
That was her answer, then. She loved him, wanted him, but she would not break her promise to marry Braddenfield. Wolf closed his eyes. It was best this way. Grace might love him now, but once the first joyful bliss had faded she would compare him to her first love. Let her marry her magistrate, she would go into that marriage with her eyes open, not blinded by starry infatuation. And as for himself, the sooner he was away from here the better. But first he must see his daughter.
He glared at Raoul Doulevant. ‘How long must I stay in this cursed bed?’
‘I would prefer you did not exert yourself today.’ He put his hand on Wolf’s brow. ‘There is no fever and the wound is not deep, but it might start to bleed again. You have the luck most extraordinary,mon ami,but I beg you will stop putting yourself in the way of bullets. This is the second time I have, how do you say,patched you upand I may not be on hand if you should be shot again.’ Raoul put his arm about Cassie’s waist and pulled her close. ‘You should settle down. I can recommend it.’
Wolf caught the adoring look that passed between Cassie and her Belgian husband and his spirits plummeted. The man was a hero, worthy of any woman’s regard. What had he ever done, save spread mayhem and murder? The opening of the door caught his attention and his sister-in-law came in with Lady Hune.
Wolf’s breath hissed out. ‘Am I to have no peace?’
‘Ungrateful brute,’ Richard admonished him cheerfully. ‘When the family have gathered here to support you! But we will be relieving you of our presence shortly. Now we know you are in no danger Phyllida is anxious to return home to little James.’
Ah, yes, Richard and Phyllida’s son. And they were expecting another child, which might well be another heir. Wolf’s black mood deepened. He did not begrudge Richard his happiness, but it served to highlight his own bleak existence. Well, at least a nephew ensured the entail was safe and lessened the need to stay in England. As if to give an extra twist to the knife, Phyllida announced that the Davenports had arrived.
‘Alex and Diana?’ exclaimed Richard. ‘Why the deuce are they here?’
‘They have brought Florence,’ said Phyllida.
‘My daughter.’ Wolf’s hand clenched at the bedsheet. ‘I must see her.’
‘Not today, I think,’ said Phyllida gently. ‘It might frighten her to see you like this.’
He tried to sit up again. ‘Then let me be dressed and I can sit in a chair.’
There was an immediate outcry. Phyllida and Cassie pushed him back against the pillows, talking over his protests until Lady Hune rapped her cane on the floor and called for quiet.
‘This is a medical matter,’ she declared. ‘Let us ask the surgeon when Wolfgang may get up.’
All eyes turned to Raoul.
‘Tomorrow,’ he said. ‘Ifyou rest today.’
‘I will,’ said Wolf. ‘I will rest now and Grace can sit with me.’
‘That is not possible.’ Again that flush mantled her cheeks and she refused to meet his eyes. ‘Kennet is here and he is anxious to attend you.’
Wolf was about to consign his valet to the devil, but Richard squeezed his bare shoulder.
‘Miss Duncombe sat by your bed all night, Wolf. It is well past noon now; she must be exhausted.’
