“You mean to say that all six of us have been duped in one way or another?”
Lord Wiltsham nodded.
“We have.”
“Then what are we to do?”
Henry sat down heavily in his chair, his back aching furiously, and a sharp pain shooting from his shoulder through to his heart.
“I am not quite certain what we are to do,” Lord Wiltsham admitted quietly. “Lord Foster is determined to discover the truth, and to regain his fortune in one way or another, although I am not convinced that he will be able to do so. However, he has asked me to stay in London for a short while to aid him in his search, even though my intention was to return to my estate.”
“Then you intend to do so? To stay here?”
“I do not think it would be right of me to run away, not when my friend has asked for my aid,” Lord Wiltsham admitted. “I will stay for a time. However long it may be, I cannot say as yet.”
“I will return to my estate.” Henry spoke with great decisiveness, finding it an antithesis to the concern, fear, and confusion which ran through him. “If Lord Foster finds anything of use, however, then I will return.”
Shifting in his seat, he grimaced as yet more pain ran through his frame.
Lord Wiltsham frowned.
“You look as though you are in pain. You have not been injured also, have you?”
“I am unaware of it. There was no blood on my shirt,” Henry replied. “My valet would have mentioned it otherwise.”
“But would he have mentioned an injury?” Lord Foster asked. “Or would he say nothing, believing that you were already aware of it?”
Scowling, Henry pulled his mouth to one side.
“Perhaps, perhaps not. I will admit however, that I am in some pain whenever my shoulders twist. Whenever I turn my head or rest my back against something, be it soft or hard, then there is some pain.”
“Then might I suggest you look?” Lord Foster rose. “I will give you privacy should you wish it.”
Henry laughed darkly.
“Given that I cannot see my back, I think that I require your presence rather than your absence,” he stated with a grin. “You are my friend. Perhaps you would be able to aid me in much the same way as you are willing to aid Lord Foster?”
“But of course.”
Shrugging out of his jacket, Henry removed his shirt without even a flicker of embarrassment. He and Lord Wiltsham had been friends for a long time, and this was in no way a mortification. When he turned, however, Lord Foster’s exclamation was enough to make him jump in surprise.
“What is it?”
Twisting his head, Henry attempted to look over his shoulder but could see very little, finding himself wincing in pain.
“Little wonder that you are suffering!” Lord Wiltsham was out of his chair in an instant. “There are bruises all over your back – a great many of them.” He came a little closer, his eyes narrowed. “And there are one or two very significant red marks, as though the tip of a knife has been pushed hard against your skin. These are significant injuries, Thornbridge. Something severe must have happened to you.”
“And how can I recall none of it?” Grabbing for his shirt, Henry shook his head. “How can I have no recollection of it whatsoever? It makes very little sense and I –”
The door opened again and to his horror, none other than Lady Emma came into the room. Her eyes flared and, for a moment, it seemed as though everything stopped. Henry could not help but stare at her, his breath twisting in his chest, his mouth a little ajar – and then, without a word passing between them, her face disappeared again.
The heat which seared him was so significant that he felt it burn his face, his body, and even his very heart. Why had he been so foolish as to say that anyone who came to the door should be shown in immediately, without question, and without an introduction? He had quite forgotten that Lady Emma and her cousin were to come to call, and had only been expecting his friends, ready to discuss what had taken place and to find out what each of them now planned to do about their circumstances.
Instead, Lady Emma had been the one to see him, bare-chested and with such a look of fury on his face that she would be wondering just what she had stumbled upon. She would also, most likely, have been able to see his bruises, his injuries and as yet, he had no explanation for it.
“Allow me to show the ladies to the library, perhaps,” Lord Wiltsham suggested as Henry hurriedly replaced his shirt. “I will do whatever I can to explain this situation away.”
“I thank you.”
