Too late to turn back, Nora pressed on despite the room’s additional occupants. Her gaze skimmed over the duke and Constantine and then looked away as she carried the tray to the bedside table and gently set it down. Even with her gaze averted, she felt Constantine’s stare, sharp as a knife on her.

She did not glance to the gentlemen again as she addressed the duchess. “I’m happy to see you looking so well today, Your Grace.”

“It just had to run its course.” She nodded and looked pointedly in the direction of her husband. “That’s what I keep telling him. I detest the bloodletting. I feel terrible afterward.”

Nora followed her gaze to the duke, finally facing the sight of him. He looked at her with a hint of something in his eyes. Sheepishness, perhaps? He had, after all, spoken to her so horribly in his wife’s bedchamber yesterday, prompting Sinclair to come to her defense. Birchwood had to feel a little awkward given the duchess had sent a maid to fetch her first thing this morning.

Nora tracked Constantine with her gaze. He stood near the window, bathed in the morning light. He looked no worse for wear from last night’s events. At least there was that. He was well. No irreparable harm done.

He caught her looking at him and she snapped her attention back to the tea, pouring a cup for the duchess, mentally chiding herself when her hand unaccountably trembled.

“Here you go, Your Grace.” Nora lifted the teacup up for the duchess with both hands, forcing them steady.

The lady accepted the cup and took a sip, wincing as she did so. “’Tis the most foul concoction, but it is effective at easing my muscles and aches and taking the edge off one’s pain.”

“Are you still suffering, Your Grace?” Nora asked, frowning.

The duchess slid a wary glance to her husband before answering, which informed Nora that there was indeed still some remaining discomfort, but she had no wish to openly divulge this truth. “No. Not really.”

“Maude, m’dear.” The duke tsked. “If you are still hurting you cannot think to entertain tomorrow evening.”

“Oh, I have a few minor aches in my shoulders and my hips, which I live with most of the time,” she snapped. “Rare is the day I do not suffer aches to some degree. I will not stop living my life and I most assuredly will not confine myself to a bed before I must do so.”

Silence followed her outburst. The lady’s hand shook ever so slightly as she lifted her cup and took a few more sips of the tea Nora had prepared for her. With a contented sigh, she handed the cup back to Nora.