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Three daysin an old Haversham coach that wasn’t well sprung. Caroline would have been sick to her stomach even if she wasn’t with child. From the window, the familiar sights of London came into view. Almost there,thankGod.
Callie lifted her head from Caroline’s shoulder to watch the approaching city, while Emma explained everything on the horizon in greatdetail.
From the opposite bench, Luke sighed. “You should rest before—” hebegan.
“It’s taken three days, Luke. I’m not waiting a moment more.” Who knew what had happened to Marc while they were on the road to London? Had he woken up? Was he on the mend? Or had the fever taken him? That last thought turned Caroline’s stomachoncemore.
“He would want you to take care of yourself,” her brother repeated the same words he’d said all along their journey, and Caroline was quite tired ofhearingthem.
“Then he can get out of his sickbed and make me do so,” she replied more tartly than she meant to, but she was tired and she did ache and she didn’t feel like herselfatall.
“I’m trying to help you,” Luke said evenly. “I don’t know what we’ll find once we get there, sweetheart. Let me discover that before you race headfirst into hischambersand—”
“I know you’re trying to help me,” Caroline said. “And I love you for it. But is there anything in the world that would keep you from racing to Juliet’s side if thiswasher?”
He winced slightly but didn’t contradict her words. And how could he dispute something that was soobviouslytrue?
“Of course there isn’t,” she continued. “If you want to be helpful, head to Lambeth Palace for me, Luke. I am in desperate need of a SpecialLicense.”
He agreed with a nod of his head. “Of course, sweetheart. I was already planningonit.”
* * *
It was stiflingly hot.Breathing was difficult. And Marc’s back ached as though someone had driven a hot fire iron right into him. He hadn’t felt so miserable since that sabre he’d taken to his side inDublin.
He groaned. He couldn’thelpit.
“Papa?”
Callie? Where was he? At Saddleworth? The air didn’t smell like Yorkshire. It smelled likeLondon.
And then someone squeezed his hand. “Marc, please come backtome.”
Caroline. Her voice floated around him like the softest caress. He hadn’t left her, had he? Why would he leave her? He loved her morethanlife.
And then a pair of cool hands touched his brow. “Yes, yes,” came a familiar voice. “I believe the fever has broken, Lady Staveley.” Watts. What was the London doctor doing at Saddleworth? Or was he in London? Damn it all, why couldn’t Marc think straight? Why were all of his thoughts ajumbledmess?
Marc tried to open his eyes, but they were so heavy and he ached so badly. He groaned again indefeat.
Then that pressure on his hand squeezedoncemore.
“You vowed you would never leave me, Marc,” Caroline said softly, her breath touching his cheek. “And you never lie to me. So I’m holding you toyourword.”
He wasn’t leaving her, he just wanted…Well, he was so tired. “Need…to…sleep,” he managed to mutter before a heavy slumber took himagain.
* * *
Caroline’s heart nearly stopped.Her gaze flew to Callie on the other side of Marc’s bed. “Did youhearthat?”
And Callie nodded quickly. “He wants to…sleep?”
He’d been doing that very thing for days, but this was the first time he’d spokenaloud.
“I won’t give him any more laudanum,” Doctor Watts said, as he watched Marc’s chest rise and fall with breath. “See if that will help him comearound.”
“But he’ll be in pain.” Caroline frowned at thedoctor.
“He’s not a stranger to pain, my lady. And it may just wake him up.” Then he smiled at her kindly. “For what it’s worth, he might have the right idea. You could do with a bit of sleep yourself, if you don’t mind mesayingso.”
