“No. But I will be.” Luke replied.I will have to be.
He turned from his brother, and walked away. Tomorrow everything would return to normal. He would leave the chaos and excitement of Emberly castle.
He was going home.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
“Miss Emily? It is time for breakfast.” Lucy said opening the curtains.
Sunlight filtered into the room, and Emily turned from it. Her chest ached. Her throat was dry and raspy. She could feel how puffy her eyes were.
She had spent the whole night crying. As soon as her dance with the Duke had finished, she had fled. It had felt as though the world were crashing down around her.
She had not bothered to make any excuses, instead sending Lucy to tell the others that she was unwell. She had pretended to be asleep when her sisters and Natalie had come to check on her.
“I am not hungry.” Emily said.
Luke would be at breakfast. She may have been able to hold herself together for their dance, but she was too raw to do so again. The thought of seeing him filled her chest with icy knives.
“He will not choose me.” She shook her head.
“Miss, you must eat.” Lucy looked at her, a crease in her brow. “Perhaps I can bring you something if you are still feeling poorly.”
“I do not feel well enough to eat.” Emily said.
“Is it your stomach? I shall have the cook brew some peppermint tea, and see if anything plain can be made.” Lucy nodded to herself.
Emily knew that to argue would only keep her maid there longer.I just want to be left alone.She nodded, and tried to look grateful as Lucy swept from the room.
Fresh tears pricked at her eyes, and Emily brushed them away furiously. She rubbed at her chest, trying to sooth some of her aching muscles.
She started to shiver again, and wrapped a dressing gown around herself. She moved to the fire, aimlessly poking at it. It sputtered and a flame kindled. The warmth did nothing for the emptiness settling through her.
There was a knock at the door, and a moment later, Natalie’s voice said, “Emily, Lucy said you were still not feeling very well. We missed you at the rest of the ball.”
“We have brought you some breakfast.” Jane’s voice joined Natalie’s and Emily’s chest constricted.
I do not want them to see me like this.In her mind, she pictured their well meaning looks, imagined the pity creeping across their faces as they realised just how pathetic she was being.
“I am not hungry.” Emily called, her voice hoarse.
“You are always hungry! Something must be terribly wrong if you are not.” Jane sounded worried.
“I will eat later.” The thought of food made her stomach turn violently. “Please, do not worry yourselves.”
“Emily, you are worrying us. This is most unlike you.” Natalie said.
Emily could hear murmuring, but could not make out what was being said through the door. She thought about getting up, showing them her face, but they would see her red-rimmed eyes.
“Is it your head? Is it the accident?” Jane asked. “Shall we send for the physician?”
“No. It… It is nothing, please. I just…” Emily’s voice broke as her mind replayed her conversation with Luke.
I will not.His words crushed her heart again. Her breath became ragged, and a cry escaped her before she could stop it. She shook, digging her fingers into her arms as she tried to contain the tears.There will be nothing between us.
“Emily, please! Can we come in?” Natalie’s voice sounded panicked.
Emily could not answer. Each breath felt like a fight. The room began to swim.
