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Instead of leaving, he faced the bedchamber door as Miss Matthews appeared.
Chapter Fourteen
“Your Grace!” Edwina heard Kitty say after she had gone to investigate the noise.
Her heart jumped. They had just been talking about trapping him and she hoped he had not heard anything. She listened but nothing was said by either Kitty or Albert. She wished she could leave the confines of her bed to see what was happening.
A moment later, she heard the door close, then Kitty appeared in the doorway. “What is it?” Edwina asked impatiently.
“It was the Duke. I think he heard our conversation because I have never seen anyone look so angry.”
Her heart sank and she covered her face with her hands.This is it! I am ruined! Albert will never forgive me and the engagement will be over before I find anyone.Without the shield her false engagement was providing, no gentleman would give her any attention. Everyone knew they had been discovered in a compromising position.
“I am well and truly ruined now!” she mumbled into her hands, her heart twisting painfully in her chest. “I cannot avoid Cornwall now.”
“Oh, do not say that, Edwina!” Kitty came to sit beside her. “You are not ruined.”
She looked up, fighting the tears that were pooling in her eyes. “Tell me who will marry me if I get jilted. The plan was for me to leave the Duke and not the other way around.”
“Listen to me,” Kitty said. “I was very angry with him yesterday after your confession and I think it showed in my treatment of him but I do not think he will leave you to the wild beasts now. And I am no longer angry with him.”
“Why? What changed?” She accidentally moved her injured ankle that was propped on a pillow and winced when the dull ache that had subsided began again.
"I saw how frantic he was when he thought you were harmed yesterday and I thought more about it later. I think he cares for you, Edwina. Only a man that cared would have you looked after like this," Kitty said.
If only he had walked in a bit earlier or even a few seconds later, she would not be in this situation right now. It was positively frustrating how she could not get up from the bed, find him, and explain things to him properly. Now was the best time for her to make him understand. A delay would cause his ill feelings to fester and convincing him of her good intentions would be more difficult.
God knew what he had heard and what he thought of her right now. Of all the times and in all the ways for him to find out, it had to be like this. Her puppy sighed from its place at the foot of the bed, sleeping peacefully. Edwina envied it.
“I don’t know, Kitty. He must hate me right now. I do not know exactly what he heard but I know what we said. If I heard such things, I would feel betrayed.”
“Perhaps you should give him some time and then explain things to him.”
“I do not have a choice. I cannot even walk.” Her voice sounded pathetic. She felt pathetic. She had intended to confess to Albert but the opportunity to do so had not presented itself. She knew she should have sought the opportunity. It appeared time had different plans than affording her more of itself to think.
“Here,” Kitty put a book in her hand, “read this and endeavor to forget what is troubling you.”
Edwina’s brows rose. “Endeavor to forget?”
“I know it may be impossible but—”
A knock came and she set the book down on her nightstand while Kitty crossed the room to see who their visitor was. Edwina momentarily imagined Albert walking in and confronting her about her lies and deception. Hecoulddo that but he was a good gentleman. The puppy climbed up the bed and nuzzled into her.
She stroked his curly grayish-yellow coat. At least Kitty and the dog liked her and that was something to be grateful for. Tommen appeared in the doorway. "Good morning, Sister." His voice was cheery which she found suspicious.
Her eyes narrowed as she regarded him. "It is, is it not?" Of course, the morning would be good because she was bedridden and he was not. It was a petty thought, she knew but childishness came to her when Tommen was around. Sighing, she turned her gaze to the window, at the inviting weather outside.
"How is the leg?" he asked.
"As if you care." she snorted.
"You are right. I do not. I might have cared a little if you were dying but you are not. I hear you will be well enough to walk in a few days." He leaned against the door frame and crossed his legs at the ankles, balancing his cane on the toe of one boot.
"Then, why are you here, Tommen?" She sounded weary. She had bigger problems to brood over.
"Why, to confirm the news I heard, of course," Tommen replied. "Even though it does not surprise me in the least. It is you, and you are capable of far worse."
"Your point being?" Edwina asked even though that rational voice in her head urged her to simply ignore his needling comments and not encourage the argument he was clearly trying to start.
