“Are you all right?” I put a hesitant hand on his back. He shook it off and straightened, wiping spittle from his lips. “No!” His face set. “Mama is on her deathbed, Peter’s left town, William’s fled the country, my hand feels like I broke every bone from punching that idiot, an angry steward might be trailing at our heels, and you keep making me run around like a headless chicken harnessed to a runaway horse! Turns out committing crimes and learning of your loathsome cad of a fiancé doesn’t agree with me! Who the devil knew.”
