Why would Roberts have come all the way to Andrew’s estate?
"Let him in."
He shared a look with Andrew but shook his head, refusing to harbor any negative thoughts. Perhaps he had misunderstood when he had been asked to keep an eye on Alice.
"Your Graces," he greeted, bowing to them.
He looked outwardly normal, as though coming for his routine visits and not bearing bad news, so he saw no reason to panic.
"Is anything the matter?" Victor asked. "I wasn’t expecting you for weeks."
"There was an incident at the estate," Roberts stated. "Her Grace was involved."
The familiar signs of dread began working their way up his body, and for an instant, he felt akin to the little boy he had been all those years ago.
No.He told himself.It will be different this time.
"What happened?" Andrew asked because he had apparently been lost in his thoughts.
"She slipped and fell into the lake," he reported. "She sprained her ankle but otherwise she is fine. Mr. Martin attended to her."
"I told her never to go there. Why was she unattended?"
"I escorted her friends to their carriage. It was only for a brief moment."
Victor paced, feeling anger not just at the man but also at himself. If he hadn’t left her, she wouldn’t have had reason to return to the lake.
"Why are you here now? Why aren’t you with her?" he asked. "What if she needed you?"
"She is out of acute danger so I had to report to you as soon as I could."
"When?"
"Your Grace?"
"When did this incident happen?"
"Two days ago," the man answered tonelessly.
"And you didn’t think to inform me sooner?!" His voice was louder than he intended, but his frustration didn’t let him acknowledge it.
"I couldn’t leave until I was sure she was well enough to be without my assistance," Roberts answered, tone depicting his annoyance.
"That isn’t your job," he growled. "It is not your place to help my wife recover. It is mine."
"You’re not keen on fulfilling it."
He stepped back as if he had been slapped, as the truth washed over him as if he had been doused. If Roberts hadn’t been like afather to him, he was sure he would have sacked the man for the slight. At least he looked apologetic once the words were out of his mouth.
"Victor," Andrew called out, trying to hold on to him, but he could barely hear him over the roaring of blood in his ears.
"I must go to her."
"And you will, but you must calm yourself. You’re in no position to ride."
"She is injured, Andrew," he said desperately. "And I left her alone."
His friend sighed, placing a hand on his shoulder.
