Just as swiftly as she had moved, Alex was behind her, pulling back her hair just seconds before she started to vomit.
“There, there, it's alright,” Alex assured her gently, holding back her hair with one hand whilst rubbing her back with the other. She trembled violently beneath his hand, making small whimpering sounds between bouts of vomiting.
The small amount of water grew murkier and murkier. Though he owned a club and was far too used to the sight of vomit to be disgusted by it, he looked away for her sake, certain she would not wish for him to see such things—ladylike as she was.
“Be calm, my love,” he told her gently, rubbing her back until he was certain she had calmed. “It is alright.”
Even as the situation calmed, Alex's mind reeled.Is she ill? Does she regret what we did last evening? Did somebody slip something into her drink last night?
All these things and far worse, some even far more wondrous things, flipped through his mind.
“Emmaline, are you well?” he dared to ask into the near darkness when she leaned back against him, her body still trembling.
“I… I think so.”
“Sit,” Alex instructed, guiding Emmaline to the nearest chair. She made no protest and Alex hurried to the jacket he had worn the evening before, grabbing his handkerchief from the pocket. Returning to her, he dropped down onto his knees and dabbed her mouth ever so gently before he handed it to her. “Emmaline, forgive my asking this as I know it is not my place to ask until you are ready to tell but do you believe, perhaps, that you might be pregnant?”
Emmaline looked up at him, her eyes wide and wild with the notion. Alex's own heart skipped a beat. He had not realized until he had spoken just how much the idea thrilled him.
As if she saw the excitement upon his face, she reached out and laid a gentle, soft and lavender-smelling hand upon his cheek. “My delightful duke, I do believe it is far too early for that.”
She gazed at him softly as his heart sank. Feeling foolish, and knowing quite well that she was right, he guided her hand down from his face, shaking his head.
“I was a fool to even suggest such a thing. Of course, you are right.”
He averted his gaze from hers, embarrassed beyond belief. A feeling he was not in any way used to, one that made him feel quite sick to his stomach himself.
“It is not foolish, Alex,” Emmaline said, gripping his hand tightly until it caused him to meet her gaze once more. “It is hopefulness, I suspect.”
Alex's chest swelled for she was right. He was anxious to fulfill his duties.
As if she guessed that, she smiled gently and eased her grip on his hand, never letting go as she assured him, “We will fulfill your father's wishes soon enough. I am certain.”
In that moment, Alex might have gushed with love and adoration for the woman sitting before him. He might have spoken sonnets and rushed to the window to scream his love from the top floor of the building, but before he could do so, there was a knock at the door.
Panic rose in Emmaline's face. Alex placed a hand on her knee and squeezed gently.
“No cause for alarm, my love,” he assured her before rising to his feet. Fighting the urge to remain there with her, he crossed to the door and pulled it ajar. “Yes?”
Finding the face of his closest friend on the other side, he smiled. The twinkle in his eye suggested he knew very well what had happened the night before and was most certainly approving.
“Please, forgive my interruption, Your Grace,” Sean said, dipping his head in a most formal manner, though his smirk betrayed his friendly approving boyishness. “But I wished to remind you that you have your usual engagements to uphold.”
Alex stiffened. Why did responsibility have to get in the way? He would happily have fallen back into bed for the rest of the day.
“What day is it?” he demanded, his mind still reeling from the night before.
“The third Wednesday of the month, Your Grace.”
At that little reminder of just which responsibility he was being called to, he couldn't help but smile.
“Please have a maid sent up with a fresh basin for us to wash,” Alex instructed his friend. “We shall be ready shortly. I shall not be needing your accompaniment this morning. You may take your leave.”
Sean looked quite shocked at that.
“Are you certain, Your Grace?” Sean asked and Alex nodded.
He dismissed his friend. “Thank you, Sean.”
