He realised that it hurt her to do so as she stifled a cry.
The Earl sat down at the side of the sofa.
“What has happened?” he asked. “I cannot imagine how you could have hurt your back in such a nasty manner.”
She looked at him with large frightened eyes and her lips quivered.
“Tell me what happened,” the Earl said coaxingly. “It would be a great mistake for us to start our married life by having secrets from each other.”
“You will – not tell – Papa I told – you?”
The words were almost inaudible, but the Earl heard them and shook his head.
“I will not tell your father or anyone else what you tell me,” he said. “But I want to help you and to stop you from feeling any more pain from these injuries.”
“It – hurts and – hurts,” Ansella murmured. “I could – not sleep – last night, but I
