He groaned. “Didn’t you try to stopher?”
Erina chewed her lip. “I couldn’tdissuade her. I’ll go and look for her.”
Harry slid an arm out from beneath thecovers and reached for her hand. “Don’t, please, Erina. I don’twant to lie here worrying about you.”
His strong fingers curled around hers.Erina hesitated, torn by conflicting emotions. She wanted toconfess she’d found the special license. To reassure him that sucha noble act was entirely unnecessary, but now was not the time.“Very well.” She slipped her hand from his.
He smiled his eyes heavy-lidded withpain. “Write to your father, Erina. It is time to tell him thetruth.”
“Yes, I know.” WithCathleen reluctant to come to England, Erina had been wondering howto couch the letter in terms that wouldn’t shock her father morethan was necessary. So far, she’d come up with nothing. It wouldhave to be the plain unadulterated truth. She and Harry must remainin Dublin until he was well, which could be weeks. Her chesttightened. She was a dreadful coward. How furious her father wouldbe. Erina steeled herself to bear his condemnation.
“Ask him to notify myfather. But don’t make aCheltenhamtragedyout of it, Erina. Write that I’vebeen winged in an unfortunate accident but am on the mend and willbe on my feet in a matter of days.”
“I doubt you will be,Harry.”
“No.” He sighed. “What abumblebroth. I’ll be flat on my back for a couple of weeks atleast. You’ll be terribly bored cooped up here.”
“We shall make do,” Erinasaid, although she wasn’t at all confident of it. “When you’rebetter, we’ll play cards.”
His lips quirked up. “Not sure howlong that shall sustain us, when I consistently beat you. Andyou’re not gracious in defeat, Erina.”
She raised her chin. “Oh, that isuntrue! And I seem to remember beating you resoundingly atRoundtree Park!”
His eyelids dropped. “You had me at adisadvantage.”
“I don’t see how,” shesaid, delighted to find him sparring with her the way they usedto.
“You wore that low-neckedgown. The green one. And I, understandably, had trouble keeping myeyes on my cards.”
“I beat you fair andsquare!” Pleasure mixed with annoyance, but any reply that dancedon her tongue had to wait for another time. Harry wassnoring.
“Coward!” she whispered andtucked his hand beneath the covers. When assured he was well, shesat back and watched him. The lines of strain around his eyes andon his brow, that might have appeared during his years at war, weresmoothed away as he slept. He looked younger and veryhandsome.
An hour passed while Erin pleated hermuslin skirt and chewed her bottom lip. She was never good atwaiting. And she simply had to discuss the special license. Shemust dissuade him from this foolish idea that he had to marry herbecause he considered her his responsibility.
She left Harry’s room and went insearch of Cathleen. Relieved, she saw her hurrying into thefoyer.
Excitement and relief brightenedCathleen’s green eyes. “Erina! They arrested him! Gormley is ingaol!”
“Oh, that’s wonderful!”Erina joyfully linked her arm with Cathleen’s and they walked tothe stairs.
Cathleen cast her a gleeful glance.“He’ll remain there awaiting the trial.”
“Did they say when thatwould be held?”
“When thesummerAssizessit. You and Mr. Featherwon’t need to attend.” She paused, a hand on the staircasebannister. “Erina, I’m ever so grateful to you and Mr.Feather.”
“You have no need tobe.”
“I shan’t be coming toEngland, now.”
Disconcerted, Erina tried to hide herdisappointment. “Of course. I understand completely.”
Cathleen smiled. “I will missyou.”
“And I you.” Erina kissedher cheek.
“Harry is asleep. I can’twait to tell him when he wakes,” Erina said. “He’ll be so pleased.He was worried about you.”
