Page 45 of Her Daring Earl
“Of course,” Henrietta said, patting the bed beside her before she and Sloane left the room.
Eliza must have slept for a few hours, for when she woke to a knock sounding on the door, the sunlight was no longer shining through the window. Remnants of tears sat upon her eyelashes. She assumed her mother was at the door, and she had to blink a few times for her figure to come into focus.
“Oh, I am so sorry, I didn’t mean to wake you,” came the soft, familiar, and oh, so incredibly welcome voice.
“Siena!” Eliza cried out, practically flinging herself out of bed toward her friend, pausing to assess how she felt, relieved to find that her symptoms seemed to have abated. She patted Siena up and down her arms to convince herself that she was actually present. “What are you doing here?”
“I received your letter and could read what you were not telling me – that you needed someone to speak to. I can imagine it would be rather difficult to explain all of this to Henrietta and Sloane, even now that they have returned.”
“Yes, it most certainly would be,” Eliza said, taking Siena’s hand and leading her over to the bed. “Is the duke here as well?”
“He is,” Siena said, a soft smile gracing her lips, and Eliza’s heart jumped in happiness that her friend had found such a love. “He would never want me to travel this far alone. Besides, I think he misses Fitz, even if he won’t admit it.”
Eliza leaned in. “How much did you tell him about my letter?” she asked in a whisper.
“Not much,” Siena said, shaking her head. “Just that you and Fitz had become close. He was surprised, for the two of you barely spoke when you were at Greystone.”
“That was by design, apparently,” Eliza said, biting her lip before telling Siena what Fitz had said about being attracted to her and forcing himself to avoid her.
“Well, that is interesting,” Siena said, looking around as though she had a secret even though they were alone in the bedroom before dropping her voice down low. “How were your… relations? Were they everything you had imagined?”
“Oh, Siena,” Eliza said with a large sigh and a chuckle. “They were so much more.”
They giggled for a moment before Eliza sobered, holding Siena’s hands in hers. “There is, however, a problem. A great problem.”
Siena waited patiently for Eliza to continue.
“I believe I might be with child,” Eliza said, her voice so low that Siena had to lean in to hear her. Goodness, why could she not speak louder when discussing this? It was almost as though she believed that if she kept it quiet enough, it wouldn’t be true, but of course, her belief wouldn’t cause any change.
Siena’s eyes widened, her mouth forming a round O.
“Oh, Eliza,” she said, gripping her hands within hers even tighter. “Oh, dear.”
She sat like that for so long that Eliza tilted her head to study her. “Siena?”
“I’m so sorry,” she said, shaking her head. “I am just shocked, is all. I suppose I shouldn’t be. It is a natural result.”
She bit her lip, looking up at Eliza. “Does it help that I am as well?”
“Siena!” Eliza said, bouncing her bottom up and down on the bed excitedly. “Congratulations.” Siena’s greatest wish had always been to be a mother, so it truly was the most wonderful news.
“Thank you,” Siena said, squeezing Eliza’s hands. “But I do not want to overshadow – nor ignore – your situation.”
“My situation,” Eliza said with a sigh, shaking her head. “Yes. I do hope that my cycle is simply late, however I am always so regularly on time that it seems far too great a coincidence that it would be late the one time that I have been with a man.”
“Have you told Fitz?”
“Yes,” Eliza said, her tone harsher than she intended before she recounted their conversation – if one could call it that – from the night before.
“He truly said that?” Siena said, aghast.
“Yes.”
“I can hardly believe it,” Siena said, crossing her arms over her chest. “I can understand his shock, but he is just as much a part of this as you are. Besides, what would be so terrible as the two of you being married?”
“I wish I knew,” Eliza returned. “But it seems that it is not something he wishes to even consider. I could understand his reluctance, but his accusations were another insult entirely. I believe he thinks that I am trying to trap him into marriage, but I can assure you that I would have no desire to marry a man who had no wish to be with me nor thinks so ill of me.”
“Of course,” Siena murmured before shaking her head. “He will come around. I am sure of it. Men can be rather obstinate sometimes.”
