Ladies whom he would not look at in distaste when they wore a risqué gown.

That was a rather lowering thought. She almost preferred for him to look at her with a lascivious leer instead of the way he looked at her now—as though she were something he stepped on and squashed beneath his shoe.

His gaze made its way back to her face.

Perhaps she was being overly sensitive. He’d surveyed her from head to toe in a matter of seconds. It was impossible to know what he was thinking.

“Ah. Yes, I am,” she said.

He stopped before her and offered his arm. “Shall I escort you?”

She hesitated before taking hold of his proffered arm.

Beside him, she looked up and yet did not move. Not quite yet. It felt necessary to speak first—to say what needed to be said . . . what she felt compelled to say.

“Thank you.”

An expression of gratitude was overdue.

He angled his head. “What are you thanking me for, Miss Langley?”

She moistened her lips. “For what you did, what you said to the duke.” She flexed her fingers over his sleeve. “I wouldn’t be here if not for you. Thank you for inviting me.”

“Ah.” He nodded. “Well, it was rather unexpected, I must confess. Until the words escaped my mouth, I did not know I would say them.”

“Then why did you?”

Why did you lie for me?

He looked at her as though that answer were the most obvious thing in the world. “You said you could help the duchess. I’d be foolish not to give you that chance. For her sake, if nothing else.”

For her sake. Of course. It wasn’t because of Nora. It was not because Nora asked him to do it. She was naught but an unwanted factor in all of this. She was here only for the duchess.

“Yes,” she said in a little puff of breath. “Well, thank you. I’m here because of you.”

“You’re here because you barged your way in.” His lips twisted in a semblance of a smile as they started down the corridor.

“Well. I needed your endorsement.” She shrugged. “You gave it.”

“No thanks needed. Help the duchess. That is all that is required.”

Required. No pressure with that.

They proceeded down the corridor. “I spent most of the day with the duchess. She did not exhibit any symptoms. Presently, she seems in fine health.”

“Give it some time. I’ve been told she has been afflicted for well over a year now with this malaise. As much as I wish her suffering would simply stop, I doubt it will.”