She harrumphed.
I certainly can be.
Which was precisely why she’d left. There was something about him that she couldn’t place.
Never mind the fever-flushed face. The man was impossible—distant one moment, almost tender the next. And for some reason, he couldn’t be close enough for her to be satisfied with… how odd. Perhaps she was falling ill after all?
Must be the cold.
Men did have a way of reverting to infants when unwell. That would explain the gentleness. Which would mean his usual disposition was rather… rude.
Still.
She pressed her ear to the door.
Silly. And yet she strained to listen.
Fine. She also felt guilty for leaving so abruptly. When he’d leaned into her touch… Lord.
For a moment—a very fleeting moment—she’d forgotten everything else. And in that same fleeting moment… she’d wanted to lean in, too.
Urgh!
“Maddie?”
Maddie whirled around to find Ashley watching her with lifted brows. “Are you all right?”
“Yes. Perfectly fine.”
Ashley’s gaze dropped to the small silver etui in Maddie’s hand. “You usually only carry that when the gardens are in bloom… or when there are cats about. Why now?”
Maddie’s throat tightened for a moment at the thought of sweet, purring fluffballs and the havoc they could wreak. “No reason,” she said lightly, tucking the case into her reticule.
Ashley nodded toward the door. “Have you checked on Cambridge?”
Maddie gave a tight nod. “He’ll survive. He just needs rest.”
“You do not mind if I have a look?” Ashley started forward. “Thisis Thomas’s best friend.”
Maddie frowned. “Shouldn’t you know him well? You are engaged to…”
Ashley shrugged. “Never spoken to him alone. I am curious.”
“We just had dinner with him.”
“I was not paying him any attention.”
Of course she hadn’t been.
“Why must you disturb a sick man now of all times?”
“Why else? I want to see what sort of man my future husband chooses as his closest friend.”
“Can it not wait until morning?”
“Certainly not.” With that, Ashley turned the knob and slipped inside.
Maddie bit her lip.
