Dearest Thea,
I hope this letter finds you well and that your leg is healing properly. As to that, Father has informed me of the dire circumstances involved if we were to move you in your current condition. I visited Dr. Blanchard in town myself and he has confirmed what Father said. I will stay away and not visit as I’m told that you’re in the house secretively and not accepting visitors. I look forward to seeing you when you return. Please do not be cross with me.
Yours most sincerely,
Anthony
Thea grabbed the letter from Maggie and glared at the offensive thing. “‘Please do not be cross with me,’” she mimicked. “What other way would I be? Why? Why would he do this to me? I explained the situation to him. I told him he could be ruined. Father could be ruined. Does he not care? I even wrote him and explained there’s a maid who knows I’m here and already told me about Phillip. I even told him you’d resorted to drugging me. I’ve already been here far too long.”
“I only drugged you once,” Maggie pointed out, rolling her eyes. “Besides, your brother is worried about your leg.”
“He should be worried about my reputation. And his!”
“I agree with you, Thea, but if Anthony won’t come, it seems you’re out of options.”
Thea feverishly glanced around the room. “I am never out of options as long as my brain is functioning. Get me a quill and some vellum. If Anthony refuses to come to my rescue, I shall just have to write to Uncle Teddy in London. He’ll be worried about my reputation. I’m certain of it.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
Ewan paused outside Phillip’s door. He’d been about to knock, but he could have sworn he heard a man’s voice coming from inside. A man’s voice talking and … laughing? No. That couldn’t possibly be true. He listened for a few more moments and heard it again. First, the sound of Thea’s bright voice met his ears and then a voice he hadn’t heard in years—Phillip’s voice—replying in kind with a definite chuckle.
Had Thea somehow managed the impossible and persuaded Phillip to speak after only a fortnight with him? Ewan had to find out for certain. He knocked quickly and then entered the room. Thea was sitting in her wheelchair near the windows. Phillip was sitting at a small table near her and they were in fact, smiling.
Their gazes swung to Ewan.
“Good morning,” Ewan muttered, feeling like a complete horse’s arse for barging in on their private discussion.
“Good morning, Lord Clayton,” Thea replied with a bright smile. “It’s a lovely day, isn’t it?”
Ewan’s gaze remained locked on Phillip. His friend tipped his head to the side and said, “Good morning, Clayton.”
Ewan swallowed the lump in his throat. His friend had just spoken his first words to him in all these months.
“How are you feeling?” Ewan continued. The idiotic question seemed to burst from his mouth.
“I’m feeling quite fit,” Thea replied, still grinning. “And I’d venture to say Phillip is too. Aren’t you, Phillip?”
Phillip nodded. “Indeed, I am, Lady Thea.”
Ewan’s gaze flipped back and forth between the two of them. He stared at them both in wonder. They were acting as if this were any other day and nothing at all was amiss. Well, Ewan wasn’t about to put an end to the camaraderie. He, too, intended to act as if this was just a normal day. He didn’t want Phillip to feel uncomfortable.
“In fact,” Thea continued. “Phillip was just saying that he would like to see Alabaster now.”
EWAN WASTEDno time scrambling to get both Thea and Phillip out to the stables. He employed both trusted footmen to help carry Thea and her wheelchair out. Phillip walked alongside them.
The moment Phillip entered the stables he made his way to Alabaster’s stall. He petted the horse and spoke to him softly. He rubbed Alabaster’s head, petted his nose, and fed him an apple.
Ewan quietly pushed Thea’s chair to the far side of a nearby stall to give Phillip and the horse time to reacquaint themselves.
As soon as Ewan stopped the wheelchair, Thea said, “Help me to stand, please. I want to watch Phillip and Alabaster together.”
Ewan quickly complied, offering his arm to Thea as she pushed her way to stand on her good leg. Then he lifted her carefully in his arms and set her down next to the stall railing. Thea leaned against the thick wooden rail for support. She was able to see Phillip and Alabaster from there.
“I must admit that you’ve amazed me, Thea.” Ewan said moments later as he watched Phillip yards away petting the fine horse.
“Amazed you?” she replied with a laugh. “How?”
“You’ve done what I could not do. You’ve somehow managed to convince Phillip to speak and to leave his bedchamber.”
