Page 43 of The Earl Takes All
Crossing the threshold, he came up short at the sight of her sitting on the floor, the lid of a trunk raised, her head bent, a leather journal in her lap.
“I said I would see to his things,” he snapped, immediately regretting the tartness of his tone.
She looked up. “Edward’s, yes. But this is yours.” She lifted the book. “All your journal entries begin ‘My Dearest Darling.’ You wrote to me every day while you were away. Why didn’t you share this with me?”
Because I didn’t know it bloody well existed.“I was saving it to give to you for Christmas.” Liar. God, he wanted to bite off his tongue at her crestfallen expression.
“I’ve ruined your surprise.”
“Doesn’t matter.” He crossed over to her, crouched, placed his elbows on his thighs. “You shouldn’t be messing with this. I’ll get to it eventually.”
“I know, but you’ve been so busy, and I knew you hadn’t gotten to your things, so I thought to help out.” She placed her hand on his wrist. “I’m in the strangest mood. I feel as though I need to do something, and I’m not sure what. Do you know I actually made my own bed this morning? The poor maid didn’t know what to make of me. I tidied the nursery when there was nothing to tidy. I just wanted to do something a bit more productive. And I’ve only managed to upset you.”
“I’m not upset. I simply don’t want you putting yourself out. I suppose we could go through it together.” Although he truly wanted to do it alone. He had no idea what he might find in his brother’s trunk. Nothing that would reveal the truth, that was for certain, but still he would be reliving the memories. Best to do those on his own.
Shaking her head, placing her hands to her lower back, she arched. “I’m losing interest. My back has been aching all morning. I must have slept on it wrong.”
“You should be abed, then.”
“I don’t feel like lying down. Perhaps I should walk.”
“You are aware there is a storm outside?”
She smiled. “I can walk through the residence. We have an abundance of corridors here that would suffice.”
Reaching around her, he pressed his hands against the small of her back, rubbing gently. She moaned softly. “Oh, that feels good.”
“Let’s go to your bedchamber. You can lie on your side and I’ll massage your back for a bit.”
“Thought you had business to see to.”
“None of my business is more important than your comfort.”
“You’ve convinced me.” She nibbled on her lower lip. “May I keep the journal?”
Where was the harm? Obviously, Albert had intended for her to have it, since it was a series of letters to her. “Of course. Now let’s get you up.”
As gradually as possible, providing her with all the support he could, he helped her get to her feet. She took a step, released a small cry, bent and slapped a hand on her stomach. “Oh my God.”
“What is it?” he asked, circling an arm around her shoulders, fighting off his alarm that something might be terribly wrong.
“A pain shot through me.” She looked at him, horror in her eyes. “There’s... something wet trickling down the inside of my legs. Oh, my word—”
He swept her into his arms. “It’s all right. Everything is going to be all right.”
“It’s too soon.” Her voice was thick with tears, laced with panic.
“It might not be what we think.” He hoped with everything within him that it wasn’t. With long strides, he carried her out of the room, down the hallway, and into her bedchamber. Tenderly, he placed her on the bed. “I’m going to have a look, all right?”
She nodded, but the fear reflected in her eyes was tearing him apart. He didn’t have to push her skirts up far before he saw the dampness tinged with blood. Before he could say anything, she cried out, her hands balling around the covers as she squeezed her eyes shut.
He felt helpless and powerless, able to do little more than watch as she struggled through the pain.
When she opened her eyes, tears were welling and she was gasping. “He’s coming. The baby’s coming. It’s too soon. It’s far too soon.”
Dropping her head back down onto the pillow, she began to cry in earnest, the tears leaking onto her cheeks.
“Look at me, Julia, look at me.”
