“Itwashis,” came a croaking voice from the bed.
Annabelle and Caroline’s gazes shot to Sterling.
“My sister came to me for help,” he went on, his eyes slitted open. “I orchestrated the clean-up, saw Babette and Caroline to my apartments, and summoned a physician for the maid. Then I delivered Gaston to his apartments, making every effort to be seen and heard doing so.”
Annabelle shook her head as if she could erase the past. “He was a monster. A monster. A part of me knew. But not the extent. I swear to you.”
“How could you have known?” Caroline asked. “You couldn’t. And I wouldn’t have wanted that for you, in any case. What could you have done?”
Annabelle looked between Caroline and Sterling, who regarded her very steadily.
“And my father?” she asked.
Sterling held up his hand. “Can we, please, continue this discussion tomorrow when I am feeling somewhat more human? I would like to explain the letter you found.”
“You found the letter?” Caroline asked.
Annabelle nodded. “I…snuck out to read it. It’s what alerted Lord Vane to my presence, I’m afraid.”
Sterling groaned.
“Are you all right?” Annabelle demanded in alarm, leaping to her feet and bending over him. She smoothed her palm over his forehead as gently as she could. He was hot to the touch.
He laid his hand over hers, and gazed up at her. “Caroline, would you mind leaving us for a moment?”
Annabelle glanced over to apologize and was surprised to see the chair where her sister-in-law had been was already vacant. Then she turned to see the bedchamber door closing, softly.
Annabelle crouched at Sterling’s bedside.
“No, lie beside me. I wish to say something, and don’t wish to see my wife on her knees. Leastways, not in this capacity.”
Already doing as he suggested, she hesitated. “Whatever does that mean?”
His mouth tried to curve into a smile, then he winced as one of the cuts he’d acquired in the brawl split anew. “Never mind,” he murmured, shifting to pull her into his arms.
“Oh, Sterling,” she murmured, snuggling into him. “I was so afraid. Whatever were you thinking taking on three goons by yourself?”
“I was thinking that they’d hurt my wife. I was thinking I wanted to kill each of them, slowly.”
“But…” She lifted her head to gaze at him, a wobbly smile pulling at her mouth. “You don’t believe in that sort of thing.”
“It turns out, I do, when my wife happens to be you. Annabelle, I got your note.”
Heat rushed up her neck and into her cheeks in the span of one heartbeat. “Oh.” She shoved her face into his pillow. “You weren’t supposed to see that until after I left.”
“Then perhaps you should have placed it inside the desk rather than on the floor,” he murmured.
“Oh, dear. I don’t recall dropping it.”
“Probably because you were distracted by the letter from your father. And we’ll talk about that—later. First, I need to tell you something.”
The bedcovers had shifted lower to reveal his bared chest and her fingers doodled over his skin, careful to avoid the darkening bruises. “Very well.” Was this when he told her he was going to send her away for good? Lock her up so she couldn’t cause any more trouble for him?
“Look at me—if you can bear the sight.”
She propped herself onto one elbow. “You’re the most beautiful creature I’ve ever seen, and I’ll never tire of looking at you.” She bit her lip. “Do you mind?”
“Mind?”
