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He jerked back.

“Stupid.”

His hand curled. He glanced outside the carriage and blinked. “Don’t say such things.” Please.

Stupid Simon. Scared Simon. Inwardly, he winced.

“Your self-criticism is unwarranted.” And excruciating. He turned back. “I will take your word that you had no part in my mother’s scheme.”

“Really?” She cast him a glance. “You believe me?”

Why did that wide-eyed look always steal his breath?

“Friends trust one another, don’t they?”

“Yes,” she said with a half-smile. “Friends do trust one another.”

“And”—he dipped his head to catch her gaze—“they tell each other the truth?”

She nodded.

“Lenora, when did you last eat?”

She held her breath. “I’m not sure,” she said on a soft exhale.

The deuce. “I insist we make a stop.”

“Thank you, but no.” She shook her head. “I’d rather—I’d rather go directly to Lady Asquith. I’m sure you must have more important matters to attend.”

He did. Or at least he thought he had this morning. Then again, he hadn’t known then that Lenora was starving herself because of him.

He softened his gaze. “The matters I must attend to can wait.” He gave her a wry smile. “Didn’t my mother tell you that young men always pretend they are urgently needed?”

“Not you,” she said loyally. “You never pretend.”

Not true. He was pretending right now.

Pretending he was stoic. Pretending he was in control. Pretending he didn’t care.

He attempted to clear the suspicious mass in his throat by steadying himself with the carriage strap. “How about stopping for fresh, warm milk from the cowherd within the park?”

Her eyes went wide. “No.”

“Meat pie from a pub?”

“Heavens!” She turned a shade of green. “No.”

“Well...” Since his last suggestion had made her look truly ill, he sought to lighten the mood. “I’d fetch you an Almack’s glass of lemonade if I could, but if I did, you might refuse to take part in the Season. Quite the horror, I assure you.”

“I’ve heard about Almack’s lemonade.” She broke into a tentative smile, and that smile made the world go askew.

Or perhaps they’d hit a loosened cobblestone.

“But I won’t let you down by refusing a voucher, no matter how bad the refreshment.” She placed a hand on his arm. “I promised to take part in good faith.”

Those eyes would kill him. “I know you will keep your promise.”

He riffled through his mind for something that might settle her stomach and put her at ease. Finally, an idea came to him.