She cradled her wrapped arm with her free hand. “I’m afraid you have come to us at an unfortunate time.”
“Your housekeeper mentioned Sir John was indisposed. Ill, I take it? Nothing serious, I hope.”
“Unfortunately, I must disappoint you. We were in a carriage accident during the journey here. Sir John has sufferedterrible injuries. He only opened his eyes a few days ago. And has yet to speak.”
The man looked thunderstruck. “Good heavens. Why did no one tell me? Will he recover? Has a physician been called?”
His questions tumbled out one after another and Hannah answered them quietly and carefully.
At last Mr. Lowden exhaled a long breath. “Thank God no one was killed.”
Hannah hesitated. “Actually ... the driver was killed. And—”
“Is that how you injured your arm?”
She looked down at her ungainly limb. “Yes. I was left with a broken arm and a head wound, which has all but healed.” She self-consciously touched her temple. The gash had faded to a jagged red line, but would definitely leave a scar. “Nothing to Sir John’s injuries.”
His mouth hardened into a grim line. “Yes. Sir John is always the one left hurt, isn’t he?”
She stared at him, uncertain of his meaning. Then she asked, “Have we met before, Mr. Lowden?”
“No.”
“I did not think so.”
He explained, “My father was Sir John’s solicitor for years, but he passed on two months ago.”
“Ah, I thought I recalled Sir John’s solicitor being an older man.”
His green eyes glinted. “And I recall my father describing you, Lady Mayfield.” The solicitor’s tone was not complimentary.
“Oh?”
“You are not at all as I expected.”
“I am sorry.”
One fair brow rose. “Are you? Why?”
She amended quickly, “Sorry for your loss.”
He nodded slightly, studying her with disconcerting directness and, if she was not mistaken, disapproval.
She asked, “How did you find us?”
He shrugged easily. “Sir John informed me he was coming here and asked me to call at my earliest convenience.”
“Did he?” Should she admit she—or at least Marianna—had thought it all a big secret?
“That surprises you?” he asked.
“Well, yes.”
He watched her closely. “He confided in me about this move and the reasons behind it.”
She swallowed the lump in her throat, feeling as guilty as if she really were the unfaithful Marianna, though her guilt stemmed from another source. “I see.”
She redirected the conversation. “Did Sir John know about your father’s passing?”
