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“Did he already know about Haldane?”

“Yes, I’d just told him.” Troubridge shook his head. “He’s damned good at hiding his feelings. None of us guessed.” He dropped his head in his hands. “What a damned coil! Now he’s engaged to the countess. What the bloody hell was Ava thinking?”

“She told me he’d said he asked the countess to marry him but that she hadn’t agreed—yet.”

Robert groaned. “So, Ava came up here to try to stop him!” He clutched his hair in frustration. “If I didn’t love her so much, I’d—”

“No, you wouldn’t!” said Sarah, squeezing his knee most improperly. Rey looked away, his cheeks flushing. He felt like a voyeur with these two.

“No, you’re right, I wouldn’t,” said Troubridge, kissing her hand. They exchanged another one of those looks that made Rey choke with envy.

Troubridge sighed. “Well, at least there is probably no harm done at this point. We will escort her back to London tomorrow, and no one need know anything about this little escapade. I’ll speak to Ravenshaw myself tomorrow before we leave to go home.” He frowned. “I can rely on your discretion?”

Rey stiffened. “I am going to pretend you didn’t ask that! Of course you bloody can!” He swallowed and said, “My apologies for my foul language S—Your Grace.”

Sarah smiled, amused. “No need. Haven’t you heard Robert’s bad language?”

“I have, but just because your husband chooses to be foul-mouthed, is no excuse for me to follow his example in front of you!”

“Point taken, Lannister,” growled Troubridge. “I’m sorry, my dear,” he said to Sarah, who just squeezed his hand affectionately. She then rose.

“Well, I think I had best go up to Ava. I’ll spend the night in her room. You two can share the other one! That should take care of the proprieties.” And she left them, and Rey rang for another bottle of whisky and a pack of cards.

The landlord had arrived with these items just as Sarah reappeared in the doorway, pale and clearly agitated. Troubridge dismissed the interested landlord, who left reluctantly. Robert shut the door in his face and said sharply, “What is it, Sarah?”

“She’s not there. Her bed hasn’t been slept in, I checked with one of the maids, who saw her in the corridor that leads to the back door!”