Chapter Twenty-Eight
Emily
“There now. A bowl of hot soup should help you feel much better,” Lady Blackthorne said as she settled the tray over Emily’s lap.
“I already feel better,” Emily replied. “I wonder if it would be more efficient to put the soup in a cup? Then I could simply drink it. Like tea.”
“Oh, Emily.” Her mother laughed softly. “You have the oddest ideas about things sometimes. Now, open up for a bite like a good girl.”
Emily did as instructed, barely containing an eyeroll at her mother’s insistence to treat her like a child.
She’d only sprained a wrist. Not lost a limb.
Swallowing the spoonful of soup, she examined her wrist, now wrapped in a strip of crisp, clinical white cloth.
It throbbed a bit, but the doctor indicated that was to be expected.
He’d also given her a small dose of laudanum for pain, but Emily did not care for the floaty feeling that came from taking the medicine.
Thankfully, the effects from that first dose were finally subsiding, and she was determined not to take it more than was necessary.
“What happened to Wyldewood’s cravat?” she asked in a most casual manner. Hopefully, it had not been accidentally discarded by one of the maids.
Lady Blackthorne smiled. “Do not fret, my dear. Charlotte made sure that the maids took it to be cleaned. It will be returned to Lord Wyldewood soon.”
“All right.” Emily bit her bottom lip, wondering how best to broach the subject of having Wylder visit her.
“Charlotte will be coming in soon to sit with you,” her mother offered, her lovely features pinched with concern.
“I do hate to leave you, my darling. But with so many guests in attendance and the ball happening tomorrow night, there are a thousand and one things that unfortunately require my attention.”
“There is no need for anyone to sit with me, Mother. I promise I feel fine. The pain is only slightly bothersome.” Taking the spoon from her mother’s hand, she dipped it into the soup and swallowed it. “See? I can manage perfectly well with one hand.”
“Yes, yes.” Lady Blackthorne said with an indulgent grin. “You’ve proven your point. But, you will still adhere to the good doctor’s advice and remain in bed, young lady.”
“But, the ball tomorrow night,” Emily protested.
“It is not fair to say I cannot go. I will even promise not to dance. I shall simply sit on the sidelines… or spend the time mingling with our guests. Please, Mother. Do not confine me to my room. I will not be able to bear it.” She could not bring herself to inquire about the possible scandal of Wylder bringing her home in her earlier condition.
Was it all just being swept away somehow?
Her lips tightened. Any other young lady of her social set would already have a hasty wedding planned, the groom standing at the ready with a special license in hand if he could obtain one.
The reasons for this not happening were more than concerning.
Had Wylder refused to marry her, provided the subject had been put forth?
He was so intent on remaining a bachelor, certain in his convictions that he was not the man she should marry, and yet…
And yet…
Emily’s heart tightened with remembrance, butterflies fluttering about in the pit of her stomach.
There was that magical moment in the woods when Wylder swept her up into his arms and cradled her as though she were a precious treasure he’d just found.
He’d told her that he loved her, although he might believe she was too woozy to remember his surprising confession.
She remembered it. She remembered, and she did not know what to think about it. Or even how to feel about it.
“We shall see, my dear,” Lady Blackthorne replied in a soothing voice. “Rest tonight and then we shall see what the morning brings.”
After Lady Blackthorne departed, Emily drifted off to sleep, exhaustion unexpectedly overtaking her. When she awoke some time later, she found Charlotte seated by her bedside with a book in hand.
“Hullo… how are you feeling?” Charlotte asked, setting the book aside. She poured a glass of water from the pitcher on the bedside table, then hesitated. When Emily reached for it, her jaw set at a stubborn angle, Charlotte wisely handed it over rather than attempting to hold it to Emily’s lips.
“Far better than my mother will believe,” Emily replied with a deep sigh, passing the glass back to Charlotte after quenching her thirst. She straightened the neckline of her nightgown and watched as Charlotte set the glass down and rearranged a stack of books.
“I thought you might wish to read while confined to your bed,” Charlotte explained with a grin before shaking a finger at Emily.
“Clever girl. You took my advice to heart. When I suggested that you find some way that Wylder could come to your rescue, I did not mean that you should place yourself in grave danger.”
“I promise it was not intentional.” The corners of Emily’s mouth turned up in a slight smile at Charlotte’s words. “It was a complete accident. And I had no idea he followed me. Thank goodness he did, however. I might still be propped against that tree had he not found me there.”
“Well, it did the trick, I think.” Charlotte straightened the covers around Emily.
“Do you wish me to tell you what I have learned this afternoon?” At Emily’s eager nod, Charlotte sat back down in the chair and leaned forward.
“It is not much, but there is this. Wyldewood and your father have had a discussion of some sort. I was not privy to it, but Lucien was. Lord Blackthorne asked Lucien to remain in his study along with himself and Lord Wyldewood. Lucien refuses to tell me what occurred, however, the stubborn man. What I can tell you about that meeting, however, is that your brother was excluded from that meeting, and he is very upset about the whole incident. He voiced strenuous opposition to any suggestion that you and Wyldewood may need to marry before your father made him leave. He brought up the earl’s reputation and how unsuitable he is for marriage. ”
“That happens to be Simon’s favorite reason when it comes to driving a wedge between me and Wylder.
And Wylder has agreed with him for as long as I can remember.
” Emily plucked at the coverlet’s intricately embroidered design.
“I was afraid to ask my mother what decisions had been made. I can only imagine what rumors are swirling, considering Wylder carried me into the house while we were both dripping wet and I was suffering an injury.”
“From what I gather, nothing has been decided as of yet.” Charlotte chewed the end of her finger as she considered Emily’s statement. “And I’ve not heard any guests speaking of a potential scandal. All that’s being said is you had a riding accident and require a day or two of rest.”
“I wish Wylder would come to me,” Emily said sadly. “But knowing my brother, he probably put up such a fuss that Wylder will not dare provoke him for fear of causing an argument.”
Charlotte shook her head. “I have a feeling that Lord Wyldewood no longer cares what your brother wants when it comes to you.”
*
Her parents briefly checked in on her before they retired for the evening, but Emily was too exhausted to start any conversations regarding her future. And she wanted to speak with Wylder before broaching the delicate subject of scandal and marriage with her mother and father.
The rain, which had let up earlier that afternoon, returned during the late evening hours.
It created a drumming beat against the windows, the sound rhythmic and steady.
Now and then, thunder would rumble, and soft flashes of lightning lit the dimness of her room.
It was unlike the violent storm she’d experienced when she was out riding.
Snuggling into her pillow and being careful of her injured wrist, Emily listened to the sounds of the rain and drifted off to sleep.
She woke suddenly, not sure what had disturbed her. Struggling, she tried propping herself up against the pillows and whimpered when she bumped her wrist.
“Let me help you, little minx.”
Emily startled upon hearing Wylder’s low voice. It emanated from the darkness, then she heard footsteps falling softly on the hardwood floor as he approached.
“Wylder?” she breathed as he stepped into the light cast off from the fireplace.
“I’m here, Emily.” He was dressed in breeches and boots and a white lawn shirt with no coat or cravat. Sinking down on the side of the bed, he reached out and tenderly brushed a stray curl away from her forehead. “How are you feeling?”
“I’m fine,” she replied, feeling as though she might launch herself into his arms and never let go of him.
She drank in the sight of him, noting the dark stubble on his jaw and chin and the harsh planes of his handsome face.
He appeared troubled by something, but he remained silent, his eyes hooded as he regarded her.
Curving a hand around her chin, he gently turned her face until he could see the slight bruising on her cheek. Emily trembled at his touch, her body shaking in an uncontrollable reaction to his nearness.
“Are you in pain?” His gaze flickered down to her wrist, a frown marring his brow as he noted the new bandaging. “I wanted to stay as the doctor attended you, but obviously, that was impossible.”
“It aches, but it is nothing I cannot bear.” Emily’s lashes swept down, her fingers twisting nervously as he continued to examine her.
Was the coolness between them her imagination or real?
She couldn’t tell, especially with the lingering effects of laudanum.
The drug tended to color everything in a dreamy swirl.
“Do you have news of my mare? Mother said she was fine, but she does not really know horseflesh and may have told me what I wanted to hear to keep me from going down to the stables myself.”
“The mare is fine, although at some point you and I will have a conversation regarding your recklessness.”
There was an underlying thread of steel to Wylder’s words.
When Emily peeked up at him, she saw his tongue swipe at his lips as though he greatly anticipated taking her to task for her behavior.
His eyes darkened to a stormy gray color, and she shivered at how ruggedly handsome he appeared in that moment.
It truly felt as though he might pounce on her any second.
“I must ask you something, Emily. And I hope you think well enough of me to answer truthfully.” His voice was husky, an unknown element lurking within it.
It might have been uncertainty, but Emily could not credit this man with anything less than absolute strength and utter confidence in everything he did.
“Why did you invite Bashear to accompany you on your ride today?”
Emily shook her head at the question before huffing out a sigh of frustration.
“Don’t you know why, Wylder? I think you do.
During our last private conversation regarding our relationship, you made it very clear that I was not worth your effort.
And Lord Bashear indicated interest in me.
I would be foolish not to give the man a chance.
He is very charming, even if he suffers from an intense infatuation with himself. ”
A muscle clenched and unclenched in Wylder’s jaw. “If he had gone with you, it would have been him carrying you into the house. Your father would have been in deep discussions with him this afternoon rather than with me. There would have been no way to avoid it.”
“Avoid what?” Emily asked in confusion.
“Marriage. To Bashear.”
“I’m not marrying Bashear!” she sputtered.
“You would have no choice. Bashear would have insisted upon it, and your father would not be in a position to object. As it is, your reputation is still in danger of being ruined. Lord Blackthorne and I hope to avoid any hint of impropriety arising from today’s incident.”
“You discussed such things with my father?” Emily’s voice wobbled. “Why would you do that? Charlotte says there is no indication of a scandal being bandied about. There-there will be no need for the two of us to marry without a scandal to provoke it.”
“I will not marry you because of scandal, Emily,” he ground out between clenched teeth.
“Then why are you here, Wylder?” she whispered in defeat. It was foolish to think he might change his mind regarding marriage. He seemed even more set against it now than ever before.
“You know why.” Wylder caught her uninjured hand, pressing it against his chest and forcing her to feel the wild beat of his heart.
“This… this is yours, Emily,” he muttered in a raw, desperate voice.
“It’s always been yours. Even if I lose you now, if I lost everything in this life, my heart would remain yours.
You are the only thing I’ve ever wanted. ”