“You two look guilty.” The duke shook his head. “Well, one does. The other looks angry. Succumbing to the heat, Miss Wilcox? It’s surprisingly warm today.”
Mark helped me inside, then settled in beside me, looking very pleased. More of his keeping up our act, I supposed.
Why was my disappointment growing? Hyde Park had been magical.
Until it wasn’t.
And I couldn’t run from the truth. I was a fool falling for a joke, one I’d created.
The duke gazed at me as he shifted poor Lydia in his arms.
The child had wrinkled his burgundy waistcoat, but he didn’t seem to care.
“Shall we,” he said, smiling at Lydia, “take a final spin about the park?”
I answered no at the same time Mark said yes.
“Again. Please. Again.” Lydia’s voice sounded tired. She yawned and snuggled closer to the humored duke, hugging him about his neck.
Though Katherine rolled her eyes, the duke seemed to love it.
But Lydia’s little brown face seemed redder. Was it too much sunshine? It was a brilliant day.
“Katherine, Lydia doesn’t look so well.”
“She’s . . . fine. Not fine.” My sister stretched and put her wrist to the little one’s brow. “Oh, no. You’re very warm.”
“I said so,” the duke stated. His tone was curt.
My sister ignored him and focused on Lydia. “Are you feeling poorly?”
“Another ride. Again. Then we stop and rest.”
Irritable. She sounded miserable. And when she became extremely ill, it always began with a recurring fever.
“Are you achy, Lydia?” I leaned forward and touched her sweaty hand. “She was good this morning, unless you didn’t tell us. Lydia.”
When she tried to hide her aches, she fidgeted or wanted to be held in your arms, just like the duke did now.
He wrenched off his gloves and put his finger to her temples. “My goodness, you’re very hot, my friend.”
“Just a little. Go again. I’ll be better.”
She winced when Katherine tried to make her sit up.
Then she started to cry.
Mark looked so concerned. “Torrance, let me get her some help. Maybe some water.”
The duke glanced at Katherine. “I don’t know what to do. Lady Hampton—”
“Of course, you wouldn’t.” My sister tried to take Lydia, but the child refused.
She wrapped her arms tighter about the duke and began sobbing. “I want the duke.”
“It’s fine. Your friend’s here.” He knocked off her bonnet and fanned her brow.
“I don’t want to marry you anymore, Your Grace. Marry Georgina or Scarlett or even Katherine. Then you can be my brother. I don’t want to lose you from my life. You care so much. You’ll make me better ’cause you love me.”
