Mistress Wilding by Rafael Sabatini

Notwithstanding the brave face Ruth Westmacott had kept during his presence, when he departed Sir Rowland left behind him a distress amounting almost to anguish in her mind. Yet though she might suffer, there was no weakness in Ruth's nature. She knew how to endure. Diana, bearing Richard not a tenth of the affection his sister consecrated to him, was alarmed for him. Besides, her own interests urged the averting of this encounter. And so she held in accents almost tearful that something must be done to save him.

This, too, appeared to be Richard's own view, when presently - within a few minutes of Blake's departure - he came to join them. They watched his approach in silence, and both noted - though with different eyes and different feelings - the pallor of his fair face, the dark lines under his colourless eyes. His condition was abject, and his manners, never of the best - for there was much of the spoiled child about Richard - were clearly suffering from it.