“I didn’t have time to be worried.” Rowan tried to shift the pillow. “Everything happened so fast.”
He helped him up. “You’ll get better soon.”
Rowan gave another slow blink. “I feel peculiar.”
“I bet you do.” He was used to the sight of blood and injuries. As absurd as it sounded, he enjoyed the bruises and wounds on his flesh. But Rowan’s heavily bandaged leg disturbed him, even though no blood was visible.
He exchanged a glance with Effie.
She mouthed, “Laudanum.”
Rowan sagged on his pillow. “You don’t have to stay here if you don’t want to,” he drawled.
Tristan poured a glass of water from the pitcher just to have something to do. “I never do anything I don’t want to, and you aren’t fine.”
“I would like to sleep now.” Rowan faced the wall.
“Of course.” Effie caressed his head. “I need to go home as well. I went home quickly to see Papa, but he was out. He’s probably home now, and he’ll want to see me.”
Tristan’s heart tightened as Rowan fell asleep. He escorted Effie out of the room.
“I’ll come back tomorrow,” she said, touching his arm.
“Thank you.” He wasn’t sure why panic caught him right now. Rowan was alive, and Effie didn’t have a scratch. The bloody locomotive would be rebuilt. Yet he was shivering with fear. “Your presence here means a lot. I know you don’t approve of me, but I’m grateful you put aside your dislike for me to come. Rowan needed to see you.”
“You make it sound quite dramatic. I don’t dislike you, and I care about Rowan very much.”
“I’m grateful for that as well.”
“Are you going home? Do you want to come with me? My coachman can drive you there.”
“No, I’m staying here with Rowan.”
She squeezed his hand for a long moment, and he loved the feeling of her soft fingers on his skin. “I’m sure Rowan will be all right.”
Oddly enough, he believed that, too when she said it.
