Page 27 of Her Honorable Viscount (Noble Pursuits #3)

CHAPTER 27

D ot was so beautiful when she slept that Edward didn’t want to wake her.

Although he had to say, she was even more beautiful awake and animated, staring at him with those brilliant, bright eyes.

He knew she likely needed her sleep. He sat at the sofa’s edge, lifted her head into his lap, and stroked her face.

“Edward?” Her eyes fluttered open, and he inwardly cursed.

“I’m so sorry,” he said. “I never meant to wake you.”

“It’s fine,” she said, lifting herself up, and leaning back on her elbows. “I was waiting for you.” She rubbed her eyes. “What time is it?”

“Half-past five.”

“In the afternoon?”

“Yes.”

“My goodness. I have slept the day away.”

“Well, you were rather busy last night,” he said with a chuckle.

“You are happy,” she stated, her eyes widening.

“Why wouldn’t I be?” he furrowed his brow.

“I was worried that after you witnessed the birth, you would be upset that it happened in your home. That I was involved. That this was the work I did.”

“Dot,” he stopped her by cupping her cheeks, staring down at her. “I was upset, yes. But not with you. I was upset with myself.”

“Why?” Her brow furrowed, and her nose scrunched most adorably.

“Because I made you give up this work you love, this passion you have. It was wrong of me.”

“Oh, Edward, do not think so,” she said, shaking her head. “It was my choice.”

“I know, but you made that decision for me because you knew I would not support you. I am sorry for that.”

“Thank you,” she said, her lashes fluttering down, hiding those soulful blue eyes from him. “But it is done.”

“Is it, though?”

“Well, I did promise Eliza and Siena that I would help them through their births. But besides that, yes.”

“What if it didn’t have to be that way?”

She turned her eyes upon him. “How so?”

“What if… what if we could find a way that you could still do the work you enjoy but without the risk?”

“What do you mean?” she asked, her pulse quickening under his hand.

“We have this establishment for women where they can go after their babies are born. But what if… what if we turned one of the rooms into a place where you could see patients? Where they could give birth when the time came? Then I would know you are safe and protected, but you could still do what you love. You could see any women you’d like, of course, but if you saw to the women who could not pay for their own care, then we could support them as well.”

“Are you serious?” She stared at him, her mouth wide open.

“I believe that is the first time I have ever been asked that,” he said, with a low, throaty chuckle. “Usually, my seriousness is unquestioned.”

“I do not know what to say.”

“Say yes,” he practically begged. “Say you will do this, so that you will be happy, doing the work you love while married to me. I cannot stand to think of you not following your heart.”

“I followed my heart to you,” she said, blinking back tears.

“For which I will be forever grateful,” he said. “But I do not feel that it has been whole since you have given up your other love.”

“Perhaps there is some truth to that,” she admitted, looking down.

“Then do this for me? Please?”

“Oh, Edward, how could I say no? Thank you. Thank you ever so much.”

She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him so firmly he could feel the love flowing from her into him through their kiss. He wished he could take this moment and keep it forever, to see her joy, knowing that he had been the one to cause it instead of taking it away.

When she leaned back, she held his face between her hands, soft against the hard stubble of his chin.

“Where were you all day?”

“I had to see if this was possible.”

“How ever did you do that?”

“I paid a visit to Magda. She is not my greatest champion, but she came around when she heard my plans. Hopefully, she will understand in time.”

She laughed, picturing Edward showing up on Magda’s doorstep.

“I can only imagine.”

“It might take some time to get started, and perhaps you will have to hire another midwife to help you, but you can still be there, doing your work, in a place that is safe with staff that we know can look after you.”

“Oh, Edward, I would love that.”

He kissed her again, content holding her in his arms – for now.

“I love you, Dot. More than you could ever imagine.”

“I love you, too,” she said, resting her forehead against his. “Thank you again, Edward. For making all of my dreams come true.”

The next two weeks passed in a flurry of activity.

When Dot wasn’t making arrangements at the shelter house, she was spending time with Adelaide and the baby or planning for the charity event.

Fortunately, her mother and sisters had taken over most of that, for Dot had no interest in deciding on food menus or musicians or decorations. They had agreed that they would keep the charity vague – for now – saying only that they were raising money for a women’s shelter.

As for Adelaide, she was slowly recovering, both physically and spiritually. She and Lucy had formed a close bond, which Dot was happy to see, and she seemed to be bonding with her baby as well.

“Oh, look little Mabel, it’s your Aunt Dot,” Adelaide said when Dot entered the room. Adelaide passed the baby over to her. Dot snuggled the little bundle close to her chest.

“How are you today?” she asked Adelaide.

“I am feeling much better, actually,” Adelaide said, leaning her head back on her hand watching the two of them with a smile. “When I look back to how I was feeling while pregnant, it is like looking at the life of another person.”

“That is understandable,” Dot said.

Adelaide looked down, picking at the threads in the blanket on her lap. “I feel badly for how I treated Michael.”

Dot leaned over, placing a hand on Adelaide’s leg. “It is not your fault. We cannot help these things sometimes, just as we cannot help when an illness strikes us. All we can do is move forward.”

“You are right,” Adelaide said with a sigh. “He hasn’t said anything about marriage since the baby arrived.”

Dot blinked. “My guess is that he is worried he might scare you away, since it was his question about it that caused you to want to leave before you went into labor. Do you want to be married to him?”

“I…” A red flush stole up Adelaide’s cheeks. “I want to. I do. But?—”

“Give him time, and maybe drop a few hints,” Dot said. “He will come around; I am sure of it. I know he wants that. He was so frightened when he thought you would leave him.”

“Truly?” Adelaide raised a brow.

“Truly,” Dot said with a bit of a laugh. “Now, tell me, are you coming to the charity event tonight?”

“I think for a little while,” Adelaide said. “If that is all right?”

“Of course!” Dot said, before tempering her voice so as not to scare the baby. “Come for as long as you would like. You will be a vision in your new gown.”

After passing back the baby and returning to her own room to prepare for the night to come, Dot’s heart began thumping rather erratically. Tonight could be the end of everything Edward had worked for, if Lady Carroway had her way. Dot shivered at the evilness of the woman’s stare, which was, at this point, imprinted in her mind. What had Dot ever done that would cause the woman to hate her so?

It was beyond understanding.

But she supposed there was a reason behind everything – and the chance for change.

Just look at Edward.

Dot’s heart still glowed when she thought of what he had done for her – what he was still doing every day. She had always known he was a good man, but he continued to prove himself over and again, and she wondered how she had ever become so lucky to have such a husband.

She vowed to always be worthy of his love.

Whatever it took.