Robert stood in the empty hall for a moment, a frown curving his lips. Lisa hadn’t even glanced his way before rushing upstairs. It was as if she’d forgotten he was even there. Which was what he wanted, he reminded himself firmly. She was supposed to move on. He had no desire to marry anyone. If he were interested in marrying, she would certainly be at the top of the list, but he just wasn’t. The Langley men didn’t do well in marriage, he reminded himself firmly. It was better she had her hat set on someone else. Robert just wished he was actually glad she had.

“Oh dear, maybe we should cancel and not attend the Kittriches’ ball either.”

Lisa lifted her head from the basin she had been bent over for the last several hours and shook her head miserably. “No. It’s okay. You go ahead. Suzette and Daniel are expecting you. Besides there is nothing you can do for me here. I shall just—” Hang over the basin tossing up my guts, she finished silently in her head as another round of heaving claimed her. Dear God, her sides ached horribly from the retching and there was nothing left to bring up but bile and still her stomach insisted on heaving.

“Oh dear,” Christiana murmured again, rubbing her back sympathetically. “And all you had to eat today was the pastries Lord Pembroke brought?”

Lisa nodded miserably and sagged as the latest round of heaving stopped.

“Did you not even break your fast?” Christiana asked with a frown.

Lisa shook her head. “I was late rising today and only got below just before Pembroke arrived with his offering.” She grimaced and admitted, “I’m afraid that made me gobble them up like a greedy child. I probably just had too many.”

“Eating too many shouldn’t make you this violently ill,” Christiana muttered, rubbing her back again as Lisa once more began to retch.

“Oh Christiana, go,” she said wearily as the latest round eased. “Once my stomach settles enough to allow it, I am just going to lie down and rest.”

“But I hate to leave you alone like this,” Christiana protested unhappily.

“She won’t be alone,” Robert announced from the door.

Lisa glanced to the side unhappily to see him crossing the room to join them where she knelt on the floor beside the bed, her head hanging over the water basin Bet had brought her. Part of Lisa flinched at his seeing her like this. Another part just felt too weak and poorly to care.

“I shall stay with her until she sleeps and then keep an ear out in case she is sick again,” Robert assured Christiana, nudging her out of his way so that he could replace her in kneeling at Lisa’s side. “You go ahead. Richard is downstairs and the carriage is out front waiting. Go have fun. I shall take care of Lisa.”