The carriage stopped then and she threw the door open even before it slowed to a stop. She hurtled herself out and rushed toward her door, trying to flee the hurt, the fear, the hope. Perhaps the hope most of all.
“Julia.” He was on her heels. “Please don’t do this.”
She pivoted back. “Everything I’m doing, I’m doing to save you. From me and from yourself.”
Before he could respond to that, the door opened and Parsons stepped out. He looked nervous as he moved toward them and Julia pushed her shaking hands to her sides.
“What is it?” she asked, sharper than she wished to be.
“I’m sorry, miss, but I have news. Lord Blackburn sent word an hour ago. Lady Blackburn is having the baby.”
All the fight went out of Julia and she felt her knees wobble. Alexander caught her elbow, shoring her up, holding her steady.
“What happy news,” he said, the strain from their fight gone from his voice. “I’ll take Miss Comerford to them straight away.”
“Please send the best from the staff,” Parsons said.
Alexander guided her back to the carriage and said something to the driver, she couldn’t even hear what her ears were rushing with blood. It was only when Alexander settled himself back into the seat across from her that she felt herself wake from the dream.
“No, you—you don’t have to take me. Not after I just said no to…to…”
“My feelings for you are not dictated by what you do or say, Julia. Nor is my desire to help and protect you. Iwilltake you to your sister’s house and I’ll stay as long asyouneed me. The rest will be resolved when it’s resolved and I am a patient man. I can wait.”
She stared at him. It would be so easy for him to be cruel about her rejection. To abandon her in her fear. But he didn’t. It was why she loved him. Because in that moment she knew she did love him. It didn’t make any of it easier.
He took her hand, just as he had a moment before, but this time it didn’t feel like fire, but comfort. “Tell me,” he said softly.
“I’m so happy for her,” she whispered. “And so excited to meet my niece or nephew. But so many women are lost to childbirth, including our mother. I don’t know what I would ever do without her.”
He cupped her cheek. “You’ll never have to know. Evelina will do well.”
“How can you say that? You don’t even know her.”
He smiled. “I know you. And I know that there is a strength that moves through the Comerford women that the Devil himself could not break.”
She nodded and then slowly shifted to his side of the carriage. He tucked her against him and she shuddered out a breath as she rested a hand on his chest so she could feel the steady beat of his heart.
For the rest of the ride they said nothing. But she didn’t need his words. His presence was powerful. And it was something she didn’t want to lose, even if she would very likely to be forced to walk away.
CHAPTER 24
The sting of Julia’s rejection was heavy in Alexander’s heart, but he refused to share that and make things harder for her as they pulled up to the Earl of Blackburn’s home. She was trembling as the carriage door was opened and he squeezed her hand.
“I’ll help you out,” he promised, and stepped out before he reached back to do that.
She leaned heavily on him as they approached the house. The door was opened by the earl, himself, who looked nervous even as he pulled Julia in for a tight hug.
“Julia,” he said. “Oh, she’ll be so happy you’re here.”
Whatever fears she had expressed to Alexander in the carriage, they were erased from her face as she smiled up at her brother-in-law. “She’s going to do wonderfully, Vaughn. Don’t you worry, Arabella and I will be at her side and yours.”
The earl seemed to realize she wasn’t alone suddenly and jolted as he looked at Alexander. “Oh, Castleton. I didn’t realize you were with Julia.”
“You have a great deal else on your mind. May I be of any assistance? Run for the doctor or tell anyone else about the news?”
Blackburn’s expression gentled. “You’re too kind, but aside from their aunt Caroline, who is on her way, we have everyone we need now. But please stay if you’d like.”
Alexander nodded and he and Julia fully entered the house. She glanced back over her shoulder at him, their eyes meeting. He nodded a little and that seemed to shore her up.
