Aubrey responded immediately, his hand coming up to cradle her face, his mouth moving against hers with tender reverence. Not the hungry passion of the night before, but something sweeter. Something that felt like a promise.
When they finally pulled apart, both breathing unsteadily, Aubrey rested his forehead against hers.
"Stay," he whispered. "Just for tonight. Sleep here. In my arms. Nothing more than that, I swear it. I just… I need to hold you. Need to know you're real."
Eleanor knew she should refuse. Knew that sleeping in her husband's bed was dangerous when her emotions were this raw, this overwhelming.
But the thought of returning to her own cold bed, alone, after this, felt hollow.
"Just sleeping," she said firmly. "Nothing more."
"Just sleeping," Aubrey agreed, his smile suggesting he was pleased beyond measure.
Eleanor carefully set the pearl earrings on the bedside table where she could see them, then settled against the pillows. Aubrey blew out the candle and pulled her close, her back against his chest, his arm around her waist.
"Thank you," Eleanor whispered into the darkness. "For the earrings. For finding them. For thinking of me."
"Always," Aubrey murmured against her hair. "It’ll be my priority, Eleanor. Always."
Within minutes, his breathing had evened out, his body relaxed behind hers. But Eleanor lay awake for a long time, staring at the faint outline of the pearl earrings in the moonlight.
She wanted to engrave this moment in her memory—being held by the man she loved—before everything evaporated. Before her husband’s guilt driven fascination with his wife wears off.
Eleanor closed her eyes and let herself drift off to sleep, feeling, for now, that she was home.
Chapter twenty-five
Ninth Day of Wooing a Wife
Aubrey
Aubrey woke to find Eleanor gone from his bed—returned to her own room sometime in the early morning hours, he supposed. But the indent of her head remained on the pillow beside him, and the faint scent of lavender lingered on the sheets.
He pressed his face into her pillow like a besotted fool and smiled.
"My lord," Morrison's pained voice came from the doorway. "Dr Fielding has arrived for your examination. Might I suggest you attempt to look less like a man who has been—" He stopped, his expressionscandalised. "Less dishevelled?"
"No need for euphemisms, Morrison." Aubrey sat up, wincing at the pull in his hip. He swung his legs carefully over the side of the bed. "Send him in. I need to discuss something important with both of you."
Morrison's eyebrows rose, but he simply nodded and withdrew.
Dr Fielding entered moments later with his usual cheerful energy, medical bag in hand. "Good morning, Lord Madeley! How are we feeling today? Any pain? Swelling? Unusual symptoms?"
"I'm feeling excellent," Aubrey said. "And I need to stand today. Properly stand. For the orphans' luncheon this afternoon."
Dr Fielding's smile faltered. "My lord, while your recovery has been remarkable, standing for any extended period may aggravate the symptoms."
"Not extended. Briefly to greet the children. To show unity with my wife and appear as her husband properly." Aubrey met the doctor's eyes directly. "And in two days, I need to walk. With a cane, yes. But I need to be able to take my wife to a ball."
"A ball?" Dr Fielding blinked. "My lord, I don't think you understand the consequence of what you’re asking for."
"I understand perfectly." Aubrey's voice was firm. "I've been bedridden for nearly three weeks. I've spent that time watching my wife manage everything alone while I lay useless in this bed. It’s given me ample time to reflect on my past actions, and presenting her to thetonis the first step in making amends. Even if I have to sit most of the time and cannot dance. I need to get there on my own two feet."
Dr Fielding studied him with new interest. "This is about Lady Madeley."
"Everything is about Lady Madeley," Aubrey said simply. "So tell me what I need to do. What's possible. Because I will do whatever it takes."
The doctor was quiet for a long moment. Then he began his examination, prodding Aubrey's hip, testing his range of motion, assessing the healing wounds with practiced efficiency.
