Page 79 of Sincerely, the Duke
“I hope I’m not interrupting you.” She smiled, grateful for his warm reception.
“Nothing of importance.” His gaze searched hers curiously. “Is everything well with you and your sisters?”
Edwina thought she heard a tinge of concern in hisvoice and that filled her with even more unease. “Yes, and Aunt Pauline too. I’m here about Rick. Do you mind chatting with me a few minutes?”
The bridge of his nose crinkled and she wasn’t sure if it was because of curiosity or concern, but he said, “Not at all.”
He brushed his long hair away from his forehead, as a distraction or habit she wasn’t sure, but somehow, Edwina discerned Hurst knew exactly where Rick was. But how was she going to get him to tell her? Grabbing hold of his neckcloth and trying to force him sounded like a good idea but probably wouldn’t work.
Instead as she was inclined to do, she clasped her hands together in front of her skirts, and on a hunch, she said, “He wasn’t feeling well when he left home a few days ago. I’ve been worried about him.”
“Let’s go into the drawing room and sit down,” Hurst suggested. “I’ll have tea brought in.”
She grew more anxious by the moment. “That’s not necessary, but thank you.” She moistened her lips and remained still as she said, “How is he? Better?”
The duke fell silent for a moment. He searched her eyes before saying, “Yes, he is. I wasn’t aware you were told he’d been ill.”
Edwina’s pulse jumped. Her thoughts reeled at hearing her instincts had been right. How sick had Rick been? Why hadn’t he wanted her to know? Why had he gone to great lengths to keep it from her? Yes, they were angry with each other about Eileen, but to keep his illness a secret and allow her to think he’d had too much to drink? Suddenly, the urge to demand Hurst tell her immediately where Rick was rose in her again. But she was reminded of something her father used to say:“One could get morebees with honey than vinegar.”She had to be calmer and more civilized in her approach or risk him not telling her anything.
“I’ve been concerned about Rick, thinking every day I would hear from him.” She paused, doing her best to come up with something sensible to say. “I heard from Eileen this morning. He was instrumental in helping her do something. I knew he would want to know she’s settled.”
“Would you like for me to tell him?”
A nervous flutter started in her chest as she did her best to remain composed. “I would rather do that myself, if you don’t mind,” she said, knowing her words sounded more like a plea. “That is why I’m here.”
He studied her face as if searching for a destination on a map. “What makes you think he is staying with me?”
Edwina’s stomach quaked with relief. She’d found him. “A wife’s intuitive spirit led me here,” she answered carefully, hoping that would be enough to sway the duke. If not, she was prepared to search the house until she found him. She wasn’t leaving until she did.
Hurst brushed his hair again and smiled. “That reason’s good enough for me. He’s better. Stronger. The fever’s passed.”
Fever? Yes. That would explain so much.
“It’s probably best if I don’t ask him if he’ll see you,” Hurst said, kindly.
“No, no, no,” she responded quickly, shaking her head and stepping toward him. “You must.”
He chuckled lightly. “If I ask, he might say no. I don’t think you want that.” He motioned toward the stairs with his head. “At the top, turn right. Third door.”
A gust of breath broke past her lips and before thinkingshe grabbed him around his wide chest and hugged him quickly. “Thank you!” she whispered, before racing off.
Edwina quickly found the room and reached up to knock but halted in midair when she realized her hands were shaking and her knees were trembling. What would she do if he insisted she leave? She couldn’t. Taking several deep breaths, she decided to handle that when the time came. Right now, she needed to see him.
Quietly, she opened the door and peeked inside. He was in a sitting position on the bed, leaning against pillows with his face turned away from the door. Tears pooled in her eyes as she walked closer to him. She would never be able to explain how happy she was to see him, and sleeping too peacefully to disturb. The redness and stress had left his face.
It didn’t matter why he hadn’t wanted her to know he was ill, or if he refused to forgive her for the things she said. Right now, she only wanted him to let her stay until he was completely well. Everything else could wait. While watching him, she removed her gloves, bonnet, and pelisse and laid them aside. She took the pins from her hair. Shaking it loose, she let it fall across her shoulders the way he loved to see it. Any small way she could please him was important.
Seeing him made the thought of losing him all the harder. She didn’t want to live without him. When they married it was an arrangement. A means to an end that was the most important thing in her life. Now Rick was her everything and she loved him deeply.
She wanted to press her lips to his while he still slept in case he demanded she leave as soon as he awakened. Brushing that thought aside, she decided to ease onto the bed beside him for a moment and softly lay her head onhis shoulder. She had done that before without waking him. The possibility she might never feel that soothing, wonderful feeling again wrenched her heart.
Edwina slipped out of her shoes, lifted the hem of her dress, and placed her knee on the bed. It creaked loud as a boom of thunder after a hot flash of lightning.
Rick’s lashes flew up. “Edwina,” he murmured, rising from the pillows. “What are you doing here?”
“Trying not to wake you.” She smiled with all the love she was feeling though tension racked her body. She bent over him and placed her hands on his shoulders, gently pressing him back down. “Don’t try to rise. Rest.”
“I’ve been resting for days,” he grumbled in the irritable voice she’d come to enjoy as he acquiesced. “I can’t believe Hurst told you I was here.”
