Page 27 of The Earl She Once Saved

Verity sat near the window with Ezra. He watched the scene across the room.

“Your friend is trapped,” she observed.

Ezra looked toward Rafe with amusement. “He has survived worse.”

“Has he?”

Something in her tone must have reached him. Ezra’s expression changed. Verity looked down at the book she had not been reading, remembering how he appeared out of nowhere and turned her entire life upside down.

“He has a great gift for appearing precisely where he is least wanted.”

Ezra smiled faintly. “Yes.”

She glanced at him. “You agree?”

“I have known Rafe too long to waste effort making him admirable.”

That drew the smallest laugh from her. Ezra rested both hands over the head of his cane.

“He is a good man.”

Verity’s expression cooled. Ezra did not hurry to repair the statement. Instead, he looked toward the fire.

“The war marked him.” His voice had changed. He was quieter now. “His body came home whole.”

Verity’s eyes moved to Rafe. He was listening to Aunt Cordelia with grave attention, with one hand behind his back. The scar at his temple caught faintly in the firelight.

“But?” she asked.

Ezra’s jaw shifted. “But not all of him did.”

He said no more. Verity waited, but nothing else came. Still, she understood then that none would. It was not Ezra’s story to tell. And Rafe was only ten feet away. She liked Ezra better for the restraint.

Her gaze dropped to the cane. “And you?”

Ezra followed it, then he shrugged. “My scars are much less interesting.”

“I doubt that.”

He waved a dismissive hand. “Entirely dull, I assure you.”

“The leg troubles you.”

“The leg complains,” he agreed this much.

“Frequently?”

“Whenever it thinks itself neglected.”

Verity gave him a look. “You avoid answers very neatly.”

He revealed a row of pearly whites. “I learned from officers.”

Then Win entered carrying the tea tray and Ezra forgot the conversation. His eyes went to her. The warmth in his face appeared before he seemed aware of it.

Win set down the tray. “Tea, my lady.”

“Thank you.”