“Wesley’s parents will stay the night, and I think Wesley is abed already. We should all do the same. This house will be busy in the morning.”
Each of her sisters hugged her once more, and then Willa was alone in her room. She curled up in her bed, expecting exhaustion to claim her once her head hit the pillow, but she lay there awake, her eyes gritty and swollen. Wondering why the devil she couldn't fall asleep. She realized what she missed.
Wesley.
How had she gotten so accustomed to using his shoulder as her pillow? Her body practically protested the lack of muscle to snuggle against, but she wouldn't go to him. Not now. She considered him off-limits until things worked themselves out further.
Josie was right. Marriage was likely, and Willa couldn't find the strength to resist it, unless Wesley truly didn't want it. But what if they married, and then he discovered that he couldn't love her? Not enough to spend the rest of his life with her?
She rubbed her eyes and then clamped them shut, refusing to let them open until morning, but her thoughts still churned in her head. If Wesley remembered something more in the morning, she might wake to find herself betrothed to her best friend who loved her, or a friend who might come to resent her.
Chapter 27
Willa had to be woken from a deep sleep.
Luna shook her shoulder. “You're going to miss breakfast if you don't hurry.”
Willa clutched her head and groaned. “What time is it?”
“Nearly ten,” Luna said, “get dressed and come greet Wesley’s parents. It hasn’t been a good morning for them.”
Willa dressed quickly, eager to see Wesley, and find out if any more of his memory came back, and what it might mean for their future together. She followed Luna into the breakfast parlor where the rest of her family was sitting.
Georgie got up to serve her a plate. “Sit. I know what you like.”
The only open chair happened to be across from Wesley. His head was bandaged, and a small mop of curly brown hair stood out above the white linen strips like an adorable hat.
“Good morning, Wesley,” she said.
“Good morning, Willa.”
“How are you feeling?”
His gaze swept to his mother, who sniffed into a napkin as Sir Thomas patted her back. He shook his head slightly, indicating she should not ask more.
Josie sat on her left and leaned close. “He doesn't recall her name this morning. He walked right past her, looking for you.”
Willa hid a grimace behind her tea cup. Lady Parker excused herself.
“I think it best we return home,” Sir Thomas said. “Where Wesley will be most familiar with his surroundings and recall things more easily.”
Willa wanted to disagree. Their gazes locked across the table.
“I'll send Dr. Hadley to your residence,” Luna offered.
“We thank you,” Sir Thomas replied, and he stood to follow his wife. “Finish up, Wesley, so we can leave.”
The rest of her family had finished eating, and they quickly departed the breakfast parlor, leaving them alone.
“She must be terribly upset,” Willa said.
“I feel terrible too,” Wesley replied, tapping the edge of his butter knife on a folded napkin. “How many more times will I hurt her before I remember who she is? How could I forget?”
“A mace hit you on the side of the head. That's how you forgot. She’ll forgive you. Everyone will. Have you remembered anything new?”
He shook his head. “It's maddening. My father keeps saying things to me as if I should know, and I just don't. He asks me questions, and I think I'm losing bits of our journey. Even afterward, he keeps telling me things about Ned—who is Ned?”
“Our friend,” Willa said. “I’m surprised he isn’t here already—speak of the devil…”
