Since Pippa was busy in the kitchen and, more importantly, he did not want to expose the already vulnerable young woman to the disaster that was Mr. Carrington, not alone anyway, he went downstairs to open the door himself - even if it did make him look poorer.

"Mr. Carrington, how are you?" he said in as cheerful a tone as he could muster. Did the other man seem to look just slightly healthier than last time? "Can I take your hat? Do come through. We're upstairs." And if Darius let him, he took the hat and put it on the stand. Then he led the man upstairs into the drawing room. Did it look drabber as he reentered it? "Do sit down. Dinner is almost ready." He would ring for drinks but his one maid was busy.