Piers headed for the drawing room. Rosalind noticed that he was walking much slower than normal and he seemed to be leaning on his grandmother’s arm for support. She felt a shiver run down her spine. The crossing from France had taken less than twenty-four hours, but now she worried that it might have been too much for him.

She looked round to see Alex standing at her side. ‘Don’t worry about him, Rosie. My brother is stronger than he looks.’

‘Yes, of course. How are you, though, Alex? Is your leg very painful?’

He smiled. ‘I can bear it. Anyway, it’s good to be home. I feel more comfortable here than I do at Trevenor – don’t ask me why.’

Rosalind gave him a vague smile. If she encouraged him they were in danger of lapsing into the relationship that had developed between them in France, and she was painfully aware that this must be avoided at all costs. ‘Patricia will be waiting to see you. She must be so excited.’

They followed Piers and his grandmother into the drawing room where Patricia and Aurelia were seated at a table, playing a game of loo.

‘Patsy,’ Alexander said tentatively.

‘We’re home at last.’ Rosalind made an effort to sound casual, but she could see that her sister was not going to let Alex off lightly.

‘Patricia,’ Lady Pentelow said sharply. ‘Have you nothing to say to Alexander?’

Patricia looked up from the hand of cards she was clutching. ‘What does one say in a situation like this?’

‘Don’t be mean, Patsy.’ Aurelia jumped to her feet and hugged Alex and then Piers. ‘Welcome, brothers. I’m so glad you are both on the mend.’ She turned to Rosalind with a smile. ‘Thank you for everything you did for them, Rosie. You are a heroine in my eyes.’

Lady Pentelow sat down with a regal nod of her head. ‘I’ve told Rosalind she should have hired a nurse to take over the personal duties. It isn’t done for a lady to soil her hands in such a way. That’s why we have servants.’

‘Perhaps my grandmother is right.’ Piers drew Rosalind aside, lowering his voice, while Lady Pentelow continued in the same vein. ‘I didn’t think at the time, but we should have paid someone to look after both myself and Alex. It wasn’t for you to do.’

Rosalind stared at him in amazement. ‘I thought that was part of my marriage vows, Piers. You were sick and I was there to look after you.’

‘But you weren’t married to Alex. It’s obvious that he’s still very fond of you, despite being engaged to your sister, and that worries me.’

‘Are you feeling all right, Piers?’ Rosalind raised her hand to lay it on his forehead. ‘I hope the boat trip hasn’t brought on another bout of fever.’