“What happened?” Tristan gestured to Ledger’s convalescing form. “You survived the tumble into the Thames but not unscathed, I gather.”
Ledger nodded. “Thankfully, I can swim, but I still swallowed an unhealthy amount of water.”
Tristan winced. Most of the effluence of the city drained into the Thames. It was a cesspool on the best of days.
“I understand only too well the fear of nearly drowning. We both have had close calls these past weeks.”
“Indeed, Your Grace. In my case, I surfaced downstream, coughing and gagging and barely able to breathe. Thankfully, a pair of bargemen fished me from the water and dragged me to Dr. Fitzhugh. I rapidly developed pneumonia and lay in a fevered haze for well over a week, they tell me. I was slow to heal after the worst of my fever had passed, so Dr. Fitzhugh sent me here to his widowed sister to further recuperate. Once I was lucid enough to explain the situation, everyone agreed it would be best if I remained silent. After all, it did appear that someone had attempted to end my life, and we thought it prudent to not bring my continued existence to Mr. Gilbert’s attention by attempting to contact Your Grace. No need to tempt fate.”
“You acted wisely, Ledger. My cousin and his wife have been brazen in their attempts to undermine the duchy. Her Majesty is aware of their perfidy, I assure you. They have been dealt with and will bother you no more. I have declined to bring charges, but that can change if you would like.”
Ledger blinked. “Thequeenknows what occurred?”
“Yes.”
Ledger sat in silence as if his brain struggled to accommodate the fact that even the sovereign had involved herself in his plight.
“To respond to your earlier question, Dr. Fitzhugh responded to my advertisement and here I am.” Tristan spread his arms.
“I see.” Ledger swallowed. “But why did you . . .”
“Why did I come, and not some other lackey?”
Ledger nodded.
A soft smile touched Tristan’s lips. Dammit, he could feel emotion rise in his throat.
“I came because not so many weeks past, you traveled the length of Great Britain to ensure that my body was returned to Hawthorn in state.”
“I was merely doing my—”
“Job?” Tristan supplied. “I know, but no one else had even thought to act. No other person had given a fig. Returning the favor seemed the least I could do.”
Silence for a long moment.
“Incidentally, Ledger, your sister said she misses you,” Tristan continued.
The man winced.
“And Mr. John Rutland hopes you are well.”
Ledger pinched his brow.
“You visited them all, Your Grace?” he asked in a strangled voice.
“I did.”
Ledger plucked at the belt of his banyan, unable to meet Tristan’s gaze. “That was very kind of you, Your Grace. You must consider me the worst of gentlemen to keep my friends and family in the dark as to my location.”
“Quite the contrary, I assure you. I have learned you are a devoted son, brother, uncle, and friend. You are the sort to engender loyalty, as shown by Mrs. Bertram’s reluctance just now to tell me of your location until she knew my intentions.”
“Intentions, Your Grace?”
“Yes. You were dismissed most unfairly, Ledger.” Again, Tristan swallowed back the lump swelling in his throat. “And I was decidedly upset, once I learned what Mr. Gilbert had said and done.”
Ledger drew in a slow breath. “You . . . are not angry with me?”
“Angry? Whyever should I be angry?”
