Just a word.
Just a mention from the physician that all was well.
Just a peep from Lady Shrewsbury about Jemina’s breathing.
Just a hint from the Duchess of Repington that their friend was still the Jemina they knew, the woman they both loved.
He wasn’t supposed to feel this way again, not about her or anyone. Love meant being vulnerable. Every moment he paced it became clearer. Daniel was about to lose the second woman he ever loved.
It wasn’t fair.
It wasn’t right.
Holding on to the rail, his sanity, he had to keep his wits for Hope. He needed a little more hope. He called out for something bigger and stronger to save him from his doubts, his growing despair.
The duchess slipped from the room and stood by his side. Her frown shook his awakened heart.
“We can’t lose her.” His voice was a strained whisper.
Her grace nodded. “She’s a miracle. To have lived when so many others didn’t. TheMinervatook everyone, her husband, all her family.”
Daniel looked to the window, to the falling rain. Nothing to do but wait, wait for the rest of his world to be destroyed. If he closed his eyes, he’d be at Portsmouth, standing in line, holding fast to his dreams until it was his turn to hear the horrid news.
“Your Grace, I always thought I was good with waiting, you know . . . with my uncle, with trials. Maybe I tolerated it, foolishly believing that good triumphs, that in the end I’d win.”
The duchess blinked her topaz eyes heavily. “All is not lost, Lord Ashbrook. We can’t think that it is.”
Jemina’s sacrifice kept his daughter safe. He owed that woman everything. She needed everything, more than he’d ever prepared to give.
The woman, his friend, had to live so he could make good on the promises burning up his soul.
* * *
Close to midnight, the rain had finally stopped. A purple inky sky framed his windows, and Daniel sat on the landing waiting, feet crossed, arms folded, staring.
Nothing. No news. No awakening. Nothing.
The door to Jemina’s bedchamber opened. Daniel leaped up, holding his breath, prepared to be kicked in the chest.
Patience rushed to him, grasped his arm. “She’s awake. She is awake. She’s going to be well.”
It took a moment to fill his lungs, for her words to register. His posture sagged as steam blew out of his nostrils. Jemina lived. Again, she was a miracle.
Lady Shrewsbury came to them. “Patience, can you come sit with her. I need to leave for a little.”
The duchess nodded and sailed into the room.
The door closed.
The feelings of triumph warred with the fear that the woman he loved might be again that woman on paper who married into a disreputable family.
His aunt took up his hand. “Daniel, she’s improving. And as you can see, she doesn’t need a Widow’s Grace operation to become injured.”
“This is a really bad time to prove a point, Aunt.”
She put a hand to his shoulder. “No points. Just trying to tell you that life is short. When you find what you want, it’s fine to take risks.”
He asked Jemina what she wanted, but he hadn’t asked the question of himself, not for anything longer than a season.
