Page 101 of The Earl She Once Saved

“You have never seen her dismiss a footman who scratched the silver.”

Rafe glanced toward Win. “Perhaps the artillery was safer.”

Verity laughed again, quietly this time. Rafe leaned nearer, as though laughter were a confidence not meant to travel beyond them.

“He will ask her to go to London,” he said.

“She will refuse.”

His amusement faded. “Why?”

“Because she will believe leaving me is disloyal.”

“You would want her to go,” he pointed out with conviction.

She nodded. “If it made her happy.”

“Then tell her.”

“I would only like her to go if she truly believed that he sees Win, not Mrs. Hale.”

Rafe’s gaze settled upon his friend. Ezra had taken the plate from Win but still held her hand at its edge. Neither appeared aware of the food between them.

“He does,” Rafe said.

“I know.”

“Then why does she not?”

“Because women are taught very young that a gentleman may feel warmly toward them without ever meaning to risk anything for it.”

Rafe went still beside her. The words had reached somewhere beyond Ezra and Win. Verity felt it. She turned her face toward him. His eyes were upon her.

“And if he does mean to risk something?” he asked.

Her heartbeat changed. “Then he must say so plainly.”

Rafe drew breath. Before he could speak, a child ran between them in pursuit of a wooden hoop. Verity stepped back. The moment broke, but it did not vanish. She felt it remain beneath everything that followed.

Rafe cleared his throat. “You have not asked why I owe Ezra my loyalty.”

“You are friends.”

“We are alive because of one another.”

She looked at him. Rafe watched Ezra for a long moment before speaking.

“At Vitoria, a shell brought my horse down. I was trapped beneath it. The line was withdrawing, and the guns had the range.”

His voice became flatter with each word. Verity recognized the old soldier’s habit of making horror orderly.

“Ezra was already clear. He came back.”

“He dragged you out.”

“Yes.”

Rafe’s thumb rubbed repeatedly across the edge of his cup.