Bits and pieces of memory came flooding back. The mist, the rapid, irregular beat of her horse’s hooves. Crying out for help. Being sure that none would come.
“Is Alexander terribly furious with me?” Emily swallowed, nerves and guilt forming a thick lump in her throat.
“What?” Rose’s eyes widened in surprise. “Why would he be?”
“Because he will have had to call off the hunt.” Emily explained.
Everything would have been stopped. The men would have been disappointed and all because she could not keep her head about her enough to steady her horse. Her cheeks flushed.I cannot believe I have ruined everything.
Rose squeezed her hand gently, shaking her head. “He is not furious. He is concerned.”
“We all were. You gave us quite the scare.” Jane added, taking Emily’s other hand in her own. “But the physician has said you will make a full recovery. You did not even need stitches!”
“You will need to rest for the next few days.” Rose added. “And the doctor will check again tomorrow and the day after.”
“I shudder to think what might have happened if Duke Warren had not found you.” Jane shivered involuntarily.
“Duke Warren?” Emily frowned, bits of her dream returning to her.
It was real? At least some of it was?
Rose had a look in her eyes that Emily did not understand. “He did say you were not in your right mind.”
“He carried you in his arms all the way back to the estate.” Jane added, shaking her head in wonder. “I do not know how he managed to ride and hold you, but he did.”
Emily could remember the warmth of being in his arms, the feel of them around her. Her cheeks flushed.
“Alexander tried to thank him, to offer him some token of our gratitude for saving you.” Rose shook her head. “But he refused everything.”
“He refused?”
“Yes, he insisted that he was honour bound to behave as he did. He said that as his brother had failed in protecting you in the first place, he was the one who owed us a debt.” Rose explained. “He was furious with Lord Baine.”
“It was not his fault.” Emily said. “It was my own.”
“The Duke does not share that sentiment.” Jane frowned. “He said that his brother had failed in his duty, and by extension so had he. And that he would owe us a great debt.”
He only cares about his duty.The Duke was not worried about her for her own sake, but for propriety. Of course, what else had she expected.
“I may still see if I can find some way to thank him.” Rose murmured stroking her chin.
“I doubt he would accept it.” Emily tried to keep the bitterness from her voice. “He values propriety above all, if he does not want any token of thanks, we should respect that.”
“You are probably right.” Rose sighed. “You should rest now. I will let the others know you have woken.”
“Thank you.” Emily murmured.
“I will stay with you.” Jane added. “To make sure you are safe.”
“You do not have to –” Emily began but Jane cut her off.
“- I am your sister, it is my job to make sure you are safe, Emily.”
“If you insist.”
“Now rest.”
Emily closed her eyes, trying to ignore the empty feeling spreading through her chest. It was just exhaustion. Nothing more.
