His Lady Mistress

Elizabeth Rolls197take...forgive me.’ The waxy pallor of her face appalled him.‘Sweetheart...’She flinched, shutting her eyes and turning away. Instinctivelyhe reached for her, grasping her shoulders. The shudderthat ripped through her tore into him. Sickened, he releasedher and forced his arms back to his sides. Don’t touch me.He had all but destroyed her. And right now he was the lastperson on earth who could help her. Silently he watched asshe walked away from him and down the steps into the garden.‘For God’s sake, Max! Go after her!’A discreet cough interrupted them.Swearing, Max turned to find Harding hovering at thedoors into the library. ‘Yes, Harding?’‘Beg pardon, sir, but your lawyer, Mr Covell, is here witha colleague.’Max blinked. ‘What? I didn’t send for him...Ricky?’Richard shook his head. ‘No. Must be a mistake. I’ll seehim. You go after Verity.’ Max winced at the cold note inhis voice.The man at the doors, Harding, persisted. ‘Begging yourpardon, Mr Richard, but I understood that Mr Covell had sentfor himself, as it were. And he was quite set that he must seehis lordship.’Max exchanged a blank stare with Richard. What the devilshould he do? He looked at the slight figure almost runningtowards the woods. What did she need? Not him. Anythingbut him. Sickened at his own brutality, he acknowledged that.‘Ricky, I’ll see Covell. Would you...’ Nearly choking on hisshame, he lowered his voice. ‘If you can find her, take herup and ring for Henny. I’m not being callous. The last personshe wants near her is me.’Richard’s jaw tightened. ‘Very well.’His brain still numb, Max went back into the library andwaited. Despite the warmth of the day, he felt chilled to the