Looking up as she entered a frown crossed his face as he saw the splint. She'd not had that when she left and he came to his feet leaving his dinner behind as he crossed the floor to intercept her.

"Ruth, what happened to your hand?" Normally, his manners were impeccable so it was a rare thing for him to call her by her first name and not Miss Blacke. But she'd somehow injured herself in the short time she'd been gone and worry often trumped etiquette.