Page 53 of An Earl’s Sacrifice (The Clandestine Sapphire Society #3)
L ucius carried his unconscious wife up the stairs, his prayers for her a silent murmur with each step. He hurried through her sitting room into her bedchamber and to the bed—the occupied bed.
Docia rose to sitting. “What—” She threw her legs over the side of the bed nearly leaping up. “Oh, dear.”
Carefully, Lucius laid Meredith in the spot Docia had just vacated and smoothed the tangled burnished strands from her too-white face.
He placed his fingers to her neck, searched, then found the faint pulse.
Her bloodless lips iced his own blood. She couldn’t die.
Not like this. Not ever. “Put some clothes on,” he told Docia without taking his eyes from his wife, as if he could will her to wake and berate him to oblivion.
“The doctor should be here soon. I-I don’t know what to do…
” he finished on a whisper. “Why? Why did she follow us?”
“Her maid—I forget her name—told her she overheard some men talking. The plan was to lure you and Mr. Ashcroft… to kill you. She—” Her voice cracked.
He looked over his shoulder and was stunned to see tears glistening in Docia’s eyes.
“She… she loves you. You belong together. You were never mine.” She went to the door. “I’ll bring the doctor as soon as he arrives.”
He turned back to Meredith. “Thank you,” he whispered.
But the door had already latched. Gently, he intertwined their fingers, urged his warmth into her, and bowed his head over their joined hands.
The profound rush of emotion was too vast for mere words.
Anguish swelled in his chest, threatening to consume him, leaving him gasping for breath. “Please,” he whispered. “ Please .”
The soft crackle of the fire in the hearth was the only sound filling the silence. Her hand vibrated, trembled within his. It was so slight, he was certain he’d imagined it. His eyes raised quickly to her face just as her eyelids fluttered open. “Lucius?”
An illusion, he told himself, but his heart raced, relentless, frantic, loud. “You’re awake.”
“You’re not dead.”
They spoke simultaneously. Both their voices, a tremor of sound.
He brought her hand to his lips. “Thank God… you’re awake.” He closed his eyes against a sudden sting. His voice shook with choked violence.
“What… what happened?” She attempted to rise.
“No. Lie back. The doctor should be here any moment.” He brushed his hand instinctively over her forehead where a bump protruded. “The mine collapsed. You were struck by falling rubble. I thought—” He swallowed hard, unable to finish.
Her forehead creased. “I remember a shot.”
“Thornfield. He thought to have the entire place bury us all.”
“My… my father?”
“Is being dealt with. Harper is… was the only loss.” And not a great one at that , he didn’t say.
“I don’t understand.” Her eyes fluttered shut. “How long have I been out?”
“Not long. That’s a good sign, I think. How does your head feel?”
A small smile curved her lips. “Like I’ve survived the collapse of a mine. You’ve been here the entire time?”
“Where else would I be? I—I couldn’t bear leaving you.”
“That doesn’t sound like the Earl of Pender I know.” Her voice had adopted his previous lightness and swamped him with guilt.
“I deserve that. Worse, I suppose. But… darling, when I thought—” His voice faltered. He dropped his head briefly to compose himself. “Nothing matters more than your life. Not Perlsea, not my pride. Just you. You’re my wife.”
“I-I didn’t think you cared. Not truly. Not after… everything,” she finished on a whisper.
He gently squeezed her hand. “I’ve been a fool—a blind, selfish fool. Docia…”
Meredith’s fingers tensed in his. “Docia?”
“She’s wiser than I’ve ever given her credit for. She said you love me.”
Her lips firmed, her cheeks flushed despite her pallor, her eyes darting away. “Docia talks too much. She had no right to declare my feelings to you.”
Lucius leaned in, his voice soft but insistent. “Is it true, then? Tell me, Meredith. Do you—could you—love me, after everything I’ve done? Leaving you to flounder on your own for three years.”
She met his gaze, her eyes glistening. “It’s true, blast it. Even when I wanted nothing more than to see you to oblivion. I found you to be a hero to the nth degree.”
His hand tightened around hers, his voice thickened with emotion. “I know very well I don’t deserve you. I never did. But if you’re willing to suffer through to give me another chance, I swear, I’ll spend the rest of my life trying to be worthy of your love.”
She blinked and a lone tear escaped from the corner of her eye. He brushed it from her cheek. “Then don’t leave me again, Lucius. That’s all I ask.”
Lucius cupped her face. “I won’t, darling. I swear it.” He pressed a soft kiss to her forehead avoiding the lump, letting his lips linger, closing his eyes. “Never again.”