North shook his head. “Honestly, I don’t believe Davies lived here.”
“I don’t either. Miss Featherstone must have believed he did but the obvious answer is Davies used this place strictly for their liaisons.”
“Do you think he’s married?”
“It’s possible. That would explain why he met her here and why no one in town knows of him.” They walked back to their horses. Simon untied the reins from the tree. “But he couldn’t be from too far or they wouldn’t be able to meet often.”
“How often did they meet?”
“I don’t know.” Nor did he want to know. But he would ask her later. It pained him enough to think of her with another man. But he could understand it if they loved each other. He assumed she must have thought herself infatuated with him. If she discovered Davies was married, she might be devastated.
The last thing he wanted to do was to hurt her. But she deserved to learn the truth about the man she was in love with. If it put Davies in an even worse light in her eyes, all the better.
Chapter 5
Mia spent the entire next day reading in bed and becoming dreadfully bored. Hart had been busy all day with the estate, not allowing him much time to visit. Her mother could only stay a few minutes because one of Middleton’s tenants needed her. But today would be different.
She was determined to stop feeling sorry for herself and get out of the earl’s house. After three days in bed, she had to get back to her work of healing others. With her sister off chasing Middleton’s brother in London, her mother was trying to manage the tenants on both estates. Her mother couldn’t do that alone.
As she walked toward the linen press, her rib ached but she attempted to ignore the pain. The binding on her rib was so tight so she shouldn’t do any damage.
The door to her room opened and her mother strode in. “What exactly do you think you’re doing?”
“Leaving.” Mia opened the linen press doors. “I have been here for three days and I am ready to get back home.”
“Get back in that bed this minute. You are going nowhere.”
“Mother, you have the earl’s tenants and Viscount Middleton’s tenants to take care of. It’s too much.” Mia pulled out the cornflower muslin dress her mother had left yesterday.
“I did it for years before Tia took over.”
“But you were—”
“Do not say, I was younger then,” her mother interrupted indigently. “I am only forty-five. I think I still have a few good years left in me.”
“Of course you do.” She walked back toward the bed and placed the dress on it. “Please help me dress.”
“No. Back in bed now or I will get Hart up here to convince you.”
Mia turned so quickly toward her mother that she gasped from the pain in her side. “You would not do such a thing.”
“I most certainly will. You are not well enough to leave and that look of pain on your face proves it.” Her mother picked up the dress and placed it in the linen press. “Now off to bed.”
Mia blinked back tears. Once again, her mother didn’t need her help. But when had she ever? She hadn’t even thought enough of her to let her take over Middleton’s tenants. Instead, she had told Tia to do it. Her stubborn twin didn’t even want to be a healer. And after she deserted Middleton’s tenants to chase after his brother, her mother had still refused to let Mia move there.
“Back in bed,” her mother demanded again.
Why fight her any longer? Perhaps she would just lie in bed for a fortnight. Then her mother could do it all as she wanted. “Very well.”
Mia climbed back into bed and closed her eyes. Maybe her mother would just leave now. But of course, she didn’t. She fussed over Mia, checking her bindings and bruises.
“You are starting to heal but leaving now and trying to get back to your normal routine would only hinder your progress.”
Mia nodded. In her heart, she knew her mother was right.
“I will return tomorrow. Please try to stay in bed today. I know it’s difficult when you are used to being so active. But I need you healthy.” Her mother pushed the covers up over Mia’s shoulders and then bent over and kissed her cheek. “I will check on you in the morning.”
“Thank you.”