The Reluctant Duke (A Seabrook Family Saga)(79)

Contentment like he’d never known seeped into his bones.

As much as he hated to admit it, he needed to rest. Just that little bit of foreplay and talking had him feeling weaker than a newborn babe. Even if Thomas wanted to consummate their marriage, he realized he couldn’t at the moment.

His member might be ready; however, the rest of him was not. Thomas tried to open his eyes and look at his lovely Emma, but even that drained his strength. Strength he did not have. As his eyes closed, he reluctantly let sleep claim him again.

***

“Thomas,” Emma whispered as she looked into her husband’s face. He slept. Good, he needed to rest and regain his strength. He should not have used his energy to do that to her. She smiled. It was nice, and it reminded her of what was to come when they finally enjoyed their wedding night.

A short time later she climbed out of bed, grabbed a robe, and went in search of someone to tell about the exciting development. She stopped by the dowager’s rooms and told her the wonderful news. After that Emma descended the staircase and entered the breakfast room to find everyone else present. “I know it’s a bit premature to think the fever won’t come back later today, but for now it is gone.” She sank into a chair. “The fever is gone.”

Myles jumped up, pulled Bella to her feet, and swung her around in his arms. “He’s fine; your brother’s going to be fine.” He stopped spinning, looked for a confirming nod from Emma, and lowered Bella to her feet. Then he did something Emma never expected.

He kissed Bella, loud and quick. Then he raced from the room with Amesbury fast on his heels.

Amelia gasped. If Bella’s face were any indication, she never expected the kiss either. Emma leaned in close to her.

“Please don’t get your hopes up about Myles,” she whispered to Bella. “He might have just gotten caught up in the moment.”

Bella’s smile disappeared, making Emma regret her comment. Yet how could she not warn her?

“I know…but I can hope, can’t I?” Bella replied.

“Come,” Emma said, hoping to cheer her up. “Go see your brother.”

“Is he awake?” Amelia asked as she pushed her chair back and rose to her feet.

“No. But he was a moment ago.”

One would think the room was on fire by the way the sisters ran from it. Emma took this time to sit at the breakfast table and relax by herself. It was not easy. For days, her muscles had been strung tighter than violin strings. Even with the good news, they still refused to relax. Emma would stay here a few minutes and try to relax before joining everyone upstairs.

“Excuse me, Your Grace.”

Emma heard the soft female voice, but ignored it.

“Your Grace.”

Again the voice came, a little louder this time around. Blinking her eyes open, Emma found herself with her head down on the hard table. Shaking the fog from her mind, she looked up to see her maid, Rosie.

“You fell asleep and I didn’t want to wake you. But I took the liberty of drawing you a bath. Would you like help, Your Grace?”

“No.” Mmmm, a bath would be wonderful right now. Every muscle in Emma’s body protested as she walked up the stairs toward the suit of rooms adjoining Thomas’s. Using the railing, it took all her strength as she took the stairs one at a time. In a daze she entered her rooms, stripped off her nightclothes, and shuffled into the bathing chamber.

She sank gratefully into the hot tub. “Ahhh, this is heaven.”

Never had Emma allowed herself to consider how worn down and tired she really was from taking care of her husband the past six days. As long as he had been deathly sick, her body and mind functioned. But now that the worst was possibly over, she had no reserves left. Bathing herself with jasmine-scented soap and washing her long hair was almost beyond her ability.

After stepping out of the tub and drying off, Emma dressed in her thin chemise. Before she had made up her mind what to do next, her body, of its own accord, crawled under the thick silky coverlet, and she laid her head on the downy soft feather pillow.

Closing her eyes, she sighed and fell into a deep and exhausted sleep.

***

With help from Myles and Amesbury, Thomas managed to sit up in bed where he was propped up by numerous pillows. He even managed, with their help, to use the chamber pot and wash up. He began to feel human again. Standing was difficult, to say the least, because when Thomas stood tall his stitches pulled, and it felt as if his insides were ripping apart. Of course they weren’t, so he sucked in his breath, winced at the pain, and forced himself to stand straight and work the knots out of his tight muscles.

“Seems to me it was only four weeks ago that you and I were doing this same thing with Amesbury,” Myles said as he helped Wentworth back to bed.