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She needed to tell the duke that, of course, they could not have another rendezvous. They could not actually be lovers. Last night was the only aberration; it could not continue through the house party.
And yet she did not want to.
A knock at the door made her bolt upright in her bed, heart pounding madly, before she realized it must be Jocelyn. A conjecture immediately proven right when the maid opened the door and peeked in before entering.
“Good morning, miss.” Jocelyn was all smiles as she had been before.
“Good morning, Jocelyn,” Mei responded, wincing slightly when the maid threw open the windows. It was another bright, sunny day.
“Are you alright, miss?” Jocelyn asked with a frown as Mei shaded her eyes from the sun.
“I… am not. My head is pounding.” Due to lack of sleep. Also likely from nerves. “Would you be so kind as to close the shades a bit? And bring me a tray here in the room.”
Was it cowardly to take a tray?
Yes. Yes, it was. But Mei was not ready to face the Duke of Bolton. Nor his sister. Nor any of their friends. She had already brazened out so many awkward and uncomfortable situations in her life; surely, she deserved one instance of respite from being brave.
“Of course, miss,” Jocelyn said sympathetically, immediately tugging the curtain closed. “I will see if there is something we can do for your head as well.”
“Thank you.” Mei closed her eyes as the room darkened again and flopped back onto the bed, then moaned as it made the pounding in her head worse.
“Oh, dear,” Jocelyn murmured. Mei did not have the time to reassure her before the maid whisked her way out of the room.
Likely, Jocelyn thought she was far worse off than she was. Mei lifted the back of her hand to her forehead, letting it slide down over her eyes, as she let out a long sigh.
Then again, perhaps Jocelyn’s assessment of the situation was right.
Perhaps Mei was doing more poorly than she wanted to admit.
What other explanation was there for her mad actions last night?
What was I thinking?
23
Mei
It did not take Jocelyn long to return. Unfortunately, when she did so, she was not alone. Fortunately, she was accompanied by Rose rather than Tiffany. If Mei had to choose, she would certainly prefer Rose over the duke’s sister. Or any of their other friends, truthfully.
Rose was the most likely to be able to help with Mei’s headache, which had gotten worse the more she thought about the predicament she’d put herself in. She could blame the moonlight or the garden or the duke himself… but the truth was, she was a thoughtless, selfish creature who wanted to experience desire and passion and had decided to indulge in such with a duke, risking both her and her grandmother’s positions.
And she wanted to do it again.
No wonder her head hurt.
Dressed in a simple dark red morning gown, Rose’s face was full of sympathy as she looked Mei over. Jocelyn had a tray with some food on it, as well as a teapot, from which a thin line of steam rose.
“Jocelyn says you have a megrim?” Rose asked, coming over to the bedside and peering down at Mei. Her slim, cool fingers touched Mei’s temples, and Mei sighed, settling back at the touch. Rose’s gentle massage did help push back some of the throbbing.
“Yes. I did not sleep very well.”
“Mmm. I brought some willow bark tea for you to drink; that should help, though if the problem is lack of sleep, then that will be the best solution.”
“I cannot simply loll about in bed all day,” Mei objected, even though her heart jumped at the idea. Especially since Rose was suggesting it. Somehow, it felt more legitimate to consider such a notion when Rose said it than when Mei thought it. Like someone else was giving her permission, even though she should not need such a thing.
“I do not see why not,” Rose countered, lifting her fingers from Mei’s temples and straightening. She turned to where Jocelyn had set the tray down and began pouring Mei a cup of the tea. “Tiffany has already decided that today is the day to visit the village. Do you have any particular interest in shopping?”
No, but Mei should…
