Page 59 of The Earl's Christmas Deal
Adam’s expression brooked no argument, and with a brief nod to Lord Sternwood, he carried her from the room with Charlotte and his cousin in his wake.
They left the duke standing uselessly in the great hall, a grimace on his face as he watched Lord Bellebrook’s retreating back. He made no attempt to help his future wife, glaring after them all as though they had orchestrated the whole affair.
Adam carried Emilia’s limp body up the stairs, his heart pounding, his lungs straining at the panic that threatened to consume him. He was grateful for Lionel, who was asteady force at his side, striding up the stairs and opening a door ahead of him.
Adam only registered it must be Emilia’s bedroom when Miss Fairfax followed him inside as he laid Emilia gently down upon the bed. She was still deathly pale, but he could see her chest rising and falling gently.
A heavy hand on his shoulder made him jump, but as he turned, he saw Lionel’s concerned face as his cousin nodded toward the door.
“We should leave the ladies to it. A physician has been summoned,” Lionel said gently, and Adam allowed himself to be led from the room. He knew he could not linger, yet his mind and body screamed at him never to leave her side.
He looked back at her prone form and felt the same all-encompassing fear as he had felt by his mother’s side and then by Anastasia’s. He would not sit idly by while another woman he loved was ripped away from him.
As the door closed behind the two men, Charlotte pushed some hair from Emilia’s forehead, squeezing her hand and stroking her cheek.
“Emilia?” she whispered. “Emilia, darling? It is Charlotte. I am here.”
She took hold of Emilia’s hand, but it was cold and clammy. Charlotte looked at the clock on the wall. It was late in the evening, and she only hoped that the doctor would be able to reach them soon. It was Christmas Eve, yet all of the season's joy had been snuffed out. She sat utterly still, watching Emilia’s face as the snow fell past the window, wondering what would become of them all now their world had fallen apart around them.
***
As Lionel and Adam reached the bottom of the stairs, Adam could hear the hubbub of many voices from the great hall and was grateful when Lionel swiftly led him into the quiet of the library. He did not have the strength to answer any questions just now.
The door snapped shut behind him as Lionel took some of Adam’s weight and pushed his cousin into a chair, walking toa small drinks cabinet in the corner of the room and pouring them both a large glass of brandy.
He returned to Adam, handing him the glass, which the other man took, staring at the amber liquid inside it as though he had never seen such a thing before. His eyes were glazed and unseeing. It was so horribly reminiscent of when Anastasia had died that Lionel felt a jolt of fear in his heart.
Could Adam take this kind of pain again? Could he come back from another loss?He simply did not know.
“She will be alright,” Lionel said decisively, wishing too that he could have stayed with Charlotte to comfort her. She had looked pale and frightened, and he had hated to see it.
All he wanted to do was take her into his arms and tell hereverything would be alright. Lionel was more determined than ever to express his intentions now. If he had not had to support his cousin, he would have marched straight up to Lord Fairfax and asked for her hand right at the moment.
“What can it mean?” Adam’s voice was a whisper. “She told me she hated him. She told me she did not wish to marry him. She accepted myhand! What is happening?”
Lionel sat opposite him as they both took a long swallow from their glasses.
“It must be a mistake,” Lionel stated quickly, voicing what he had felt in his heart as soon as the duke had made the announcement. “Emilia’s reaction is not one of a woman who is excited at the prospect of marriage. You said her parents approved the match? Perhaps this is their doing, and she has had little or no say in it. It would not be the first time.”
“She is betrothed to me,” said Adam, not hearing him. “She told me she would accept me; she danced with me… I felt… I cannot…”
Lionel leaned forward squeezing Adam’s hand none too gently.
“Listen to me,” he said firmly. “We will get to the bottom of this.”
Adam stared at him, swallowing around the evident emotion he was trying to conceal.
“I do not deserve happiness. Perhaps this is what I get for—”
“No!” Lionel said, almost shouted it and Adam jolted in his chair. “We will not speak of such superstitions. There must be an explanation, and I will find the cause.”
The two men sat together, nursing their drinks, Adam not speaking at all. Lionel watched his cousin with a heavy heart, wondering what on earth could have led to this disaster.
In the great hall, the guests were still murmuring about Emilia’s health. The duke had retreated to a large window, waiting to hear news from Lord and Lady Sternwood, and was being largely ignored and allowed to be alone following the collapse of his betrothed.
Lord and Lady Fairfax were muttering together in a corner while the Marchioness and Countess spoke urgently to their daughter across the room.
Frederick stood beside the yule log, watching the merry flames dance over its surface with joy in his heart and a discreet smile on his lips. He glanced at his mother, who was asleep in a chair on the other side of the room, and then returned his gaze to the flames.
