“It was worth it just to see your face at the end.” John was laughing.
“This is not funny,” Will said, but even his lips were beginning to turn upwards. “Is it really true? Will he live?”
“Who cares? All that matters is he didn’t make the wedding. Rose is not married.”
Now a real smile was spreading across Will’s features.
“I have to go,” Will said.
“I thought you might,” John smiled as Will let go of him and straightened his coat.
“I have been a fool.”
“Yes,” John agreed. “But someone obviously believed you needed a second chance. I wouldn’t have given you one.”
“I have to go to her.”
“What will you say?”
“I don’t know. I will work that out on the way.”
“I will come with you,” John offered.
“No. I need to go alone.”
With that, Will grabbed his friend in a full bear hug, slapped him hard on the back, and then seized his hat and gloves and strode from the club. He heard John shout “Hallelujah” behind him and then offer to buy everyone a drink.
It was almost dark when Rose finally heard the clatter of hooves in the castle's inner square. She almost beat Jennings to the door.
“I can deal with it, Your Grace,” he said, but Rose could not be restrained.
She rushed outside, wondering who had come and what they would have to say, and then stopped dead in her tracks and gasped as she saw Ernest sitting in the carriage.
CHAPTERTWELVE
The footmen followed closely on the heels of Rose and Jennings and went to open the carriage door. Ernest was half-sitting, half-laying, on the velvet seat, sporting an angry scowl. Rose found herself unable to take a step toward him, but she didn't need to. She could hear him clearly from where she was standing.
"Get your hands off me,” he shouted at one of the young footmen as they reached in to take his arm. “I can manage."
Rose watched as he swung his legs out of the door and attempted to slide down. He misjudged how far it was, however, and his body had left the seat before his feet reached the ground, so for a moment, he was falling. He landed on both feet like a dead weight and let out a half-scream. He grabbed at his side and lower back. The footmen jumped back guiltily, but Rose rushed forward.
“Your Grace, what are you doing here? You are badly hurt.”
Ernest turned his scowl on her.
“Did you celebrate? Rejoice in escaping my clutches? For now.”
He glared straight into her eyes, and it was all she could do not to shudder. She covered her disgust by taking his arm in a perfunctory manner.
“My brother-in-law told me you had been in an accident. He believed you had been taken to a hospital.”
“I was!” He whipped his arm away from her hand. “Festering place. I hate doctors. Nothing but butchers.” He started to take a few unsteady steps across the forecourt. “I am fine. I will be restored in a few days. Don’t you worry."
Despite the pallor of his complexion and the extreme pain he appeared to be in, he still managed to leer at her in his disgusting fashion.
“Did you at least see a physician?”
“I told you. I don’t believe a word they say.”