Page 80 of Sincerely, the Duke
“He didn’t.” By an act of will, she reluctantly drew her hands away from his shoulders. No need to push her luck when he hadn’t instantly insisted she leave the room. Still, she kept the one knee on the bed. “I have been so worried about you. My heart led me to seek help from your friends and that led me here.”
His eyes searched hers intently but he remained quiet.
“Why didn’t you tell me that morning you were sick with fever and not from brandy?” she asked, wanting to understand.
“That’s a simple answer. I had downed a fair amount of brandy as well.” He looked away from her briefly before making eye contact again. “I didn’t want you to know about the fever.”
“A fever, Rick?” she asked softly, wanting to hold him close. “Not a contagious one. That doesn’t sound so bad. And you’ve recovered now.”
He sat up straighter in the bed, bringing his bodycloser to hers. “Not just an isolated fever. Intermittent fevers, Edwina. This was the third.”
A new rush of fear stabbed her. She hadn’t read much about them but knew they could be deadly. “That can be serious. What can we do about them?”
“I’m doing all that can be done for now. I drink the tonics and wait for the chills, fever, head and body aches to pass.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?” she implored, leaning toward him, longing to wrap her arms around him. “Did you think I wouldn’t understand?”
“I hoped I’d never have another one, and I didn’t want to add to your burden. You were dealing with your own troubles, Edwina, and I know how deeply it hurt you for Eileen to leave. For me to have helped her. I’d given you enough heartache.”
“I still would have wanted to know,” she replied a little briskly, wounded by all that had been said between them last time they were together as well as the news of his illness.
“Would it have made any difference in how you felt at the time?”
“Yes, of course,” she whispered earnestly.
His jaw tightened. “And I would have liked to know you were a triplet, Edwina. But you chose to hide that from me.”
“My life wasn’t in danger,” she argued heatedly. “Yours was. Not only that, but you could have told me about the fevers when you found out I was a triplet. Why didn’t you trust me?”
“Trust?” he said the word as if an oath and leaned toward her. “That is an odd question coming from you, Edwina. Perhaps it was the same reason you didn’t trust me with your past?”
Her heart squeezed. Her anger dissipated as suddenly as it had flared. “You’re right. I didn’t. And after much thought, I am sorry I didn’t. Maybe I should go. I didn’t come here to argue or tire you. I only want you well.”
He took hold of her wrist when she started to move her knee off the bed. “Why did you come?” he asked as his gaze swept over her face.
Should she be honest? A lump rose rapidly in her throat, and she couldn’t seem to swallow it down.Couldshe be completely honest and trust him with the truth of her feelings? Looking into his beautiful eyes, she knew she had to take the chance. “I wanted you to know that no matter what you think or feel about me, I’ve fallen in love with you and want to live with you as your wife for the rest of my life.” The heartfelt words poured from her soul. “I’m sorry for putting my father’s wishes and my sisters’ issues before you. I shouldn’t have done that.”
A smile brightened his expression and he nodded. “I’m sorry I helped Eileen without talking to you first, but I still would have helped her.”
“I know,” she answered with sincerity. Her lashes closed over her eyes for a moment before she spoke. “I am grateful you took steps to see she was safe.”
“Edwina.” He regarded her with deep concentration. “I told you I will always take care of you and your family. Not just because you are my wife, not just because you will be the mother of my heir, but because I love you. I’ve missed having you beside me.”
“I wanted to hear those words,” she whispered, grabbing hold of his hand, and kissing it as she squeezed tightly.
He pulled his hand away and his arms circled her, pulling her close as she crawled onto the creaking mattressand relaxed against him. Their lips met in a brief, tender kiss.
He brushed her hair away from the side of her face. “I’ve always had issues with trusting people. When I was a child, my mother never trusted me to be left on my own. In turn, it was difficult for me to trust anyone because I was constantly watched. Before I was ready to take over my duties as duke and all my inherited properties, my father’s best friend and a trustee mismanaged my estates. The accountants didn’t catch on to what they were doing until I pointed it out to them. In turn, I’ve never trusted anyone.”
“Learning to trust each other is something we are going to have to do together,” she said softly.
Rick hugged her tightly to him before setting his attention on her face once again. “No more hiding or omitting by either of us again. No distrusting each other about anything.”
“I trust you, Rick. With my heart, my sisters, our children. Everything.”
“You’ve probably already guessed the fever is the reason I wanted to marry so quickly. I need an heir.”
Edwina let out a soft, easy breath as she nodded. “And I’m happy to oblige.”
