Page 67 of Her Daring Earl
“I am not certain I like the sounds of that.”
“He left Appleton to face his threat.”
“He did?” Levi said, his one eyebrow rising above his eyepatch. “Why would he do such a thing?”
“I can only guess as he didn’t explain his plans to me,” she said somewhat helplessly. “All I know for certain is that he left for London. The rest is all supposition.”
“No matter his intention, if he is alone in London, he is in danger,” Levi said gravely, confirming her suspicions. “You have come to see if I could help, have you?”
“That’s exactly it,” she said, nearly sagging into the wall with relief that he understood. “I know you don’t want to leave Siena, but if I stayed here with her, could you possibly go to London and ensure that Fitz is well? I hope he at least contacted the detective, but I cannot know for certain.”
“Of course,” he said. “I shall go shortly.”
He crossed over to Siena, wrapping his arms around her and pulling her in closely. Eliza had to blink back tears once more at the affection they showed one another, hoping that she would soon be able to demonstrate to Fitz the depths of her own emotion.
For Henrietta had been right.
She loved him.
Despite all of her intentions to remove her emotions from their physical joining, she couldn’t help that she had fallen in love with the way he had cared for her when she wasn’t well, how he dedicated himself to his work despite his longing for leisure, and the charming, affable way he approached life.
She could hardly wait to see him again to tell him so.
She just had to believe that there would be the opportunity to do so.
CHAPTER 23
“Eliza? Siena?”
Eliza exchanged a look of unease from across the breakfast table with Siena.
“We’re in here!” Siena called out as both of them got to their feet. Levi had only left the night before. Eliza prayed he was returning to tell them that Fitz was fine and, hopefully, had agreed to accompany him here while they made a true plan. The urgency in his voice, however, had her heart beating so rapidly that she imagined it was about to gallop right out of her chest.
Levi pushed into the room, rather disheveled. Eliza realized that her request for him to go to London was a huge one, for despite its proximity to his estate, he had returned to the city only a couple of times since he had been injured. She knew, however, that Fitz was the one person who he would be willing to take the chance to help.
“What is it?” Eliza asked, crossing the room toward him, knowing that she was being rather rude, but she couldn’t help herself. She needed the truth immediately. “Where is Fitz?”
“Fitz is… at his townhouse in London.”
“Alone?” she insisted, wondering why on earth Levi would have left him there.
“No. I hired another detective to look after him and make sure he is well cared for. A detective who might actually make a difference, unlike the first one. Archibald, I believe his name is.”
“Why didyouhire him and not Fitz?” Eliza asked and, when Levi didn’t respond, Siena placed a hand on her husband’s arm.
“Why do you not sit down and tell us what you have discovered? I shall pour you some tea.”
Levi nodded, taking a seat rather woodenly, running a hand over his face. Eliza retook her chair, trying to be as patient as possible and not demand knowledge on Fitz.
“When I arrived in London, Fitz was already at home,” he began, clearing his throat, not looking either of them in the eye. “He had been out at White’s with a few other gentlemen. They had just sat down when he had a drink.”
He paused, and this time Eliza couldn’t help but ask, “And?”.
“And then, apparently, he lost consciousness.”
“What?” she couldn’t help from practically shrieking out, as she jumped out of her chair. “Is he—did he?—”
“He is alive,” Levi said, reading her thoughts. “But he has not yet awoken.”
