“I came back for us, Agatha. Us.”
With Amelia climbing on his back, Felton helped me stand. “How is Tramel, Jane?”
“Weak. But he’s asking for her. Some visitor or gift will be here tomorrow for Lady Gantry.”
Felton put down Amelia, and then snatched up Agatha and kissed her brow. “Girls, continue to mind your aunt. Come on, my lady, let’s see Tramel together.”
He clasped my hand and kissed it.
That made his sister’s eyes glaze with a kiln’s fire. Part of me didn’t blame her. I know how protective I’d always been about my siblings.
But Felton wove my fingers with his. He wasn’t letting me wallow. We walked up the stairs, sharing each tread.
He leaned over the rail. “Have that painting brought to Tramel once we greet him. In ten minutes.”
Felton retook my arm, and we walked to the end of the hall into duke’s chambers.
The room was hot, feverishly so. My powerful friend was bundled into his bed, buried in burgundy blankets. He looked gray and weak, when before Tramel was always color.
All my thoughts went to Helena, and how pale she turned before she slept forever.
“Wake up, my lord. Your artist has returned.”
His eyes opened. His ringed hand extended.
I flew to it. “What are you doing in this bed? A man like you has too much life to sleep all day.”
“You think so, my dear?” His chuckle sounded dry and without strength.
“I know so, Your Grace.” I kissed and held his palm.
Felton stayed a few feet away, poking at the fireplace.
“So, you did it, son? You brought her to me.”
My husband jabbed at a log. “Glad you stuck it out until I returned. Lady Gantry was most anxious to see you.”
Half a smirk claimed Tramel’s face. “Had to. I have a surprise for you, my dearest Cecilia.”
The duke eased back into his pillows. “Gantry, you’re showing a certain fortitude, winning against the odds. Maybe you’re more like me than you’ll admit. Singularly focused on the object of your love. That’s good.”
Tramel coughed. It didn’t sound so awful, but that might be my hope.
Father and son looked civil, but that could change in a moment. “You need to save your energy. And I need no surprise, Lord Tramel. You’ve already been very generous.”
Felton turned his back to the bed. “Yes, most generous.”
“Tomorrow, my surprise shall be here. I shall live to see it.”
The thoughtful man probably had some new type of brush or canvas for me, but I couldn’t be concerned about this. “You must recover, my lord. I shall hear of nothing less.”
“But I had my men search—”
“Yes, your network of smugglers, Tramel. Do you know how much trouble you could—”
My glance at Felton silenced him. He knew that it was only his father’s methods that brought me peace about my sister.
“Sorry,” he said. His countenance wasn’t stone. It had more emotion than I’d ever seen, a mash of reddened, flushed cheeks and a tight frown. He was conflicted. Felton may have forgiven me, but not Tramel.
