Watching, the Duke thought he had a little difficulty in focusing them, then he saw Benedicta and there was a faint expression of surprise in his eyes.
“Where – am – I? What – has – happened?” he asked.
The words were hardly audible and slurred and yet it was possible to understand them.
“You are quite safe,” Benedicta told him softly. “Go back to sleep.”
He looked at her for a few seconds, then obediently closed his eyes.
Without speaking, Benedicta walked out of the room and the Duke followed her.
“I know Hawkins was afraid that your cousin might die,” she said, “but he will live, although it may be a long time before he is well enough to do everything he did before.”
“That he is alive is all that matters.”
She looked as if she would like to argue with the Duke, but she said noth
