Rage surged through Evan. Who had laid a hand on Alexandra? He’d kill whoever was responsible. He winced as he swung his legs over the side of the bed.
“And just where do you think you’re going?” the doctor asked.
“I’m going to see Alexandra, of course.”
“Lady Alexandra is resting comfortably. She’s asleep right now. She should not be disturbed. I assure you she is fine and will recover.”
“No one will keep me from her!”
“I don’t think anyone is going to keep you from her, my lord. However, your visit with Lady Alexandra will have to wait until later, perhaps when you are both fully awake.”
Evan stood and grimaced. A pain shot through his thigh. “I don’t care if she’s not awake. I need to see her. Where’s that blasted cane you brought me last time?” He looked around and spied the walking stick in the corner.
“I can see no one will talk you out of this.” Dr. Stanton retrieved the cane and handed it to Evan. “Please do not disturb her, and please get back here as soon as possible and continue resting.”
Evan left his bedchamber, pain lancing through his leg, and walked down the hall to Alexandra’s room. He knocked quietly. A few seconds later, Sophie came to the door.
“Evan! What are you doing here? You should be resting.”
“I assure you, I am fine. Why was I not informed of Alexandra’s condition?”
“We didn’t want to disturb you.”
“Disturb me? Are you daft? I love this woman.”
Sophie smiled. “The doctor assures us she will be fine. Trust me, Evan, I have seen her in…worse condition.”
Evan’s heart nearly broke at Sophie’s words. “Please, I must see her. I need to know for myself that she is all right.”
Sophie opened the door wider. “Come in, then. But be quiet. She is sleeping, and I don’t want her woken.”
Evan stumbled past Sophie to Alexandra’s bed. She lay, breathing rapidly, her beautiful face marred with blue and purple contusions. Her eyes were swollen. He shuddered. Those bruises might as well have been on his own body. He felt the agony of every single one of them.
“Who did this to her?” Evan said through clenched teeth.
“I’m afraid we don’t know. She hasn’t been awake long enough to tell me or anyone.”
“I don’t accept that. We must know something.”
“Only that she
was brought home last night in a hansom cab. Woods said that two men had paid the cabbie.”
“Where had she come from?”
“The cabbie didn’t say. It probably didn’t occur to Woods to ask.”
“Goddamn it! I’ll have him removed from service.”
“No, Evan, please don’t. It’s not Woods’s fault.”
Evan breathed in and let out a long sigh. Woods had been with the family for years. But God, he should have thought…
“When I find out who did this to her—”
A knock on the door interrupted Evan’s words.
Sophie opened it. Woods stood there.