Page 9 of A Wish Upon an Earl
She frowned.“Is that wise?”
His brows went up.It was him or the doctor, and he wished to assess the damage before that.“May I please check the swelling?”
With a tentative nod, she held still as he took off her dancing slipper and then untied her stocking.Her skin was like silk under his fingers, and he nearly groaned aloud.Perhaps she had been right and this wasn’t the wisest plan.
When he’d removed the silk stocking, he clasped her foot in both his hands, gently turning the leg to look at the damage.
A large lump had formed on the outside of her ankle.“Drat,” she murmured.
“Precisely.”Ever so gently, he touched the damaged flesh.“I’m so sorry.”
“What are you sorry for?”Drew asked.
He felt Sarah jump a bit, and Jack had to confess, he startled too.He’d forgotten the other man was there, and he’d been so wrapped up in Sarah and?—
“He’s sorry my injuries look so painful,” Sarah answered for him.“It was so silly.I should have had that gown hemmed shorter.”
He looked at her, his lips parted in surprise.She really was going to bear the blame.It was time he told Amesbury exactly how she’d been hurt.
At that very moment, her door banged open and Ash came striding through.His red hair stood up as though he’d run his fingers through it several times.It was unlike Ash to look so flustered, but between the hair and the look of panic in his eyes… “What happened?”
Aubrey was just behind him, her hands clasped in front of her as she nibbled on her lip.
Jack grimaced.Sarah was not lying for him again.He appreciated what she was trying to do, but he didn’t want her to.Not to Ash.“Ash.”He interjected.“Did you send for the doctor?”
“Of course,” Ash answered as he crossed the room.
Jack looked down at the leg.“The good news is that only one spot is swollen.That should mean that the ankle isn't broken.”
Her brother crossed to the bed, looking down at Sarah’s foot.He made a hissing noise.“The leg doesn’t look good.”
“No,” Jack answered, looking into Sarah’s eyes.Which had gone wide.Was she worried what her brother would think?He wished he could hold her hand in comfort.“It’s a nasty bump to be certain.”
“How did it happen?”
Sarah opened her mouth to answer.Likely about to tell the same story of how it was all her fault.But Jack held up his hand to stop her.Then he looked at Ash.“May I speak to you in the hall?”
Ash gave a single nod and then, with a pat to his sister’s shoulder, turned toward the door.“Aubrey, you’ll keep watch over her?”
“Of course,” Aubrey answered.“Always.”
Jack stood and followed.He’d have to tell Ash the entire truth.He drew in a sharp breath.Could this night get any worse?
He believed the answer was most definitely yes.
Ash stopped just outside the door, turning back to his friend.Without a word, Ash’s arms crossed over his chest.
Jack stopped, straightening.“Do you remember that last visit your family made to Eton?”
Ash blinked in surprise.“I suppose.Probably.”He cocked his head to one side.“What does that have to do with Sarah’s ankle?”
Jack drew in a long breath.“Sarah surprised me out in the garden that night and professed her feelings to me in front of all our chums.”
“I know,” Ash said, his gaze narrowing.“They crowed about it for weeks.They called her the carrot cupid.”He pointed toward the red hair he shared with his sister.“It wasn’t particularly pleasant for either of us.”
Jack scrubbed his face as he chose his next words.“I…I was rather sharp with her that night.”
“I know that too,” Ash answered.“She cried for two weeks.”
