God help me.
CHAPTER 14
“Rosie, Mother and Father have been in an accident…”
Alexander lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, listening to the clock tick through the hours. Midnight passed. Then one. Then two. He turned onto his side and ran a hand through his hair. Memories of his parents haunted him. The carriage, the blood, and his sister’s cry when he told her the news returned to him time and again, putting sleep out of reach.
He sat up in his bed.
Perhaps I should go for some training.
But even boxing did not feel like a strong enough distraction.
He groaned and pressed the heels of his palms to his eyes. This was madness. He allowed his mind to drift to Theodora and their encounter in his library. He could still taste her natural sweetness on the tip of his tongue.
He had kissed and touched women before. He had taken many women to bed as well. But none of it had ever left him restless, burning, and unable to think of anyone else.
So, he pushed the thoughts of her away as well. Alexander looked out of the window and was surprised to find the sun rising over the horizon already.
He sighed.
“Another restless night for the Scarlet Duke,” he muttered and pulled the duvet off his legs.
He had not slept a single minute and that was going to ruin his day, but Alexander had grown accustomed to not sleeping. Guilt kept him up at night and made him who he was. He dragged himself out of bed. A bath was drawn for him already and a suit was prepared. His servants knew the time he rose and slept. They too had grown accustomed to his restless habits. Once Alex was dressed, he forced himself down the corridor. He had no appetite, but he needed to see Rosalind before she began her day.
He walked past her chambers and found her not there. Panic surged through him.
“Where is my sister?” he asked the maid who was cleaning her chamber.
“She left for breakfast, Your Grace.”
Alexander frowned. Rosalind usually skipped breakfast or ate on her own. He rushed to the breakfast room, and there she was, seated at the table with a cup of tea in her hands. She looked up and he froze.
She looked… well rested.
Her eyes were clearer and her posture was straighter. She wore a soft expression which he had not seen for a while, and she looked more alive than she had in weeks.
“Good morning,” she said quietly, and there was a slight lightness in her voice he had not heard in far too long.
“Good morning, Rosie. You are awake early,” he said, taking the seat beside her.
“Yes, I slept well,” she said simply.
He felt a pinch of jealousy. “You slept?”
She nodded. “I was so tired after the walk yesterday that I fell asleep immediately. I didn’t even hear the storm.”
“There was a storm?” he asked, startled.
His own mind was so occupied that he must have missed it.
“A small one,” she said. “But I slept through the entire storm. Mrs. Weller told me all about it.”
He could not believe it as he stared at his sister.
Theodora had been here for one afternoon.
One.
