Page 24 of Claiming His Lost Duchess

“Miss Joan Brooks, Your Grace.”

Graham rose to his feet immediately.

“You’re dismissed. We will pick this up at another time.”

Damien looked as though he wished to refute his dismissal, but Andrew spoke instead. “Certainly, Your Grace. Enjoy your day.”

Graham was already halfway out of his study by then, urging Williams to lead the way.

Why? Why did she change her mind? Did something happen?

When he arrived at the drawing room and found her standing there, something in him crumbled pathetically.

She carried their daughter in her arms, but he could see Joan's hands shaking, and whatever he wanted to say about how glad he was to see her evaporated from his mind.

Slowly, Graham walked towards her, only stopping when he was close enough to touch her, frowning immediately when he felt the heat radiating from Sophia.

“What happened? What’s wrong?”

“I-I am sorry for coming here unannounced. I had nowhere else to go, and Sophia has been sick all day —”

She had barely finished her statement before Graham leaned back and called out,

“Williams!”

The butler appeared immediately! “Yes, Your Grace?”

“Call for a physician at once. Send a carriage to fetch him, quickly.”

“Right away, Your Grace.”

Once the butler was gone, Graham tried to retrieve Sophia from her mother’s arms, worried she might be tired if she had carried her all the way here.

To his surprise, she flinched, protectively tightening her grip on the child. Slowly, he reached out and caressed Joan's cheek.

“Do not worry. She’ll be in safe hands. You both are,” he assured her gently, locking his gaze onto hers.

Joan didn’t speak, but she let him take Sophia the next time he tried, staying close as he cradled the child in his arms.

“Follow me,” he beckoned softly, nodding in the direction of the door.

Joan did as he asked, walking with him as he led her to another room. Gently, he set Sophia down on the bed and pulled the covers over her small, shivering body. He told Joan to sit for a moment, and then he walked out again to speak with a maid.

“Fetch a cup of tea for my guest and have the cook prepare some soup for the child,” he instructed.

The maid bowed before she went to do his bidding, and he returned to Joan’s side, reassuring her.

“She will be just fine. I'll do everything in my power to ensure that.”

Joan kept her eyes on Sophia, looking slightly lost, and the sight of her looking so sad made his heart hurt.

It only just urged him to vow once more to never let this woman leave his side again. He would protect her from anything and everything that was a threat to her happiness.

The hours after that passed by in a blur.

Joan could barely taste the tea she had been given but sipped it dutifully when Graham asked her to, watching as the maids scurried about, making the room more comfortable for Sophia.

They wiped her down and brought a bowl of soup for her to eat, lingering while the physician examined her.