Mr. Leigh inhaled. “That was no accident.”
“No,” Elise said, her voice constricted by emotion. “It was not.” She had not noticed his return.
“And the bruising around his ribs—look here.” Edmund shifted slightly to examine Blake’s side. “Boot marks. More than one.”
Elise clenched her jaw. This was her fault.
A beat of silence stretched between them.
Elise turned back to the task at hand. She cleaned the wound with practised hands, mixing her herbal tincture of calendula and yarrow. When she poured it into the gash, Blake winced violently, his fist clenching in the sheet.
Mr. Leigh did not hesitate. He took the man’s hand, bracing it.
“Steady, now.”
“You have done this before,” Elise murmured.
He did not look at her. “Once or twice.”
Only when the bleeding slowed and the fresh bandage lay neat and secure did Elise step back. She wiped her hands, forcing her breath to slow.
“Thank you for your help,” she said quietly, feeling more composed. “I could not have managed without you.”
Mr. Leigh gave a small, almost sheepish smile. “I am glad to have been of use.”
She looked away, unwilling to meet the warmth in his expression.
“You know him,” Mr. Leigh said softly. “And he knows you.”
Elise said nothing. A beat of silence hung loud in the dim room.
“Does he know the cipher?” he asked.
She shook her head at once—too quickly, she knew. “Please… do not ask that of me.”
Her voice trembled on the last word, and inwardly she cursed herself for it.
Mr. Leigh’s eyes softened with a concern that made her feel unsteady in ways she could not tolerate. He lowered his gaze, accepting—for the moment—the boundary she placed between them.
“Very well,” he said softly. “I shall not press you. How else may I help? I can fetch something from town, if you require it. Medicines? Spirits? Bandages?”
Elise hesitated.
To allow him further involvement was dangerous, although she feared it was too late for that. She needed supplies—and he was able to help without involving Jane.
She folded her hands, choosing with care.
“The apothecary,” she said at last. “If you would please go there… I require willow-bark powder, and a small vialof laudanum. Only a small one,” she added quickly, “for emergencies.”
Mr. Leigh nodded gravely.
“You must tell no one,” she said, again aware she spoke too curtly.
“I will not betray you.” His voice was quiet but steady. “You have my word.”
Elise lowered her gaze, unable to bear the sincerity in his eyes. “Very well. I will remain here with him.”
He gathered himself, pulling his sleeves back down and wiping the dust from his hands, but he did not leave immediately. He paused at the door, his expression troubled.
