Page 75 of Duke of Seduction

“She is safe now,” Morgan said quietly. Unable to help himself, he stepped away from the door frame and gently stroked the back of his knuckles across her warm cheek, smoothing a lock of hair back behind her ear. As he did so, Ambrose looked up at him and a quiet, thoughtful expression filled his face.

“We will keep her safe,” Ambrose promised.

Morgan nodded and watched in silence as Ambrose carried her away. He turned to walk back to his bed and go back to sleep when a memory of their last night together slammed into him. The exquisite ecstasy they had created had turned into a frenzy of panic and tears after the way in which he had chosen to end things between them.

Helena had begged him,beggedhim to stay and speak with her, but he had not. He had crushed her then, just as much as Ambrose had when he took away her choice of husband. Would she want him? She seemed willing to speak with him, and she had been happy to see him at the dinner party, but did that mean anything? Her life had been put at risk, so she would have been grateful to see anyone step in to save her.

A twisted fear ran through his veins until it reached his heart, and the pain he had briefly ignored suddenly came back with a vengeance. Forgoing the bed, Morgan walked to the chair where his shirt and jacket had been draped and got dressed. With painful effort, he made his way down the stairs and left.

CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

“We should wake her. I am worried for her,” a soft voice whispered.

Through the layers of deep sleep, Helena stirred slightly at the sound. For a moment she felt drawn to it, but the warmth of her bed dragged her back down.

“The doctor said she would be fine, and that such deep sleep was normal,” another voice said just as Helena was about to drop off again.

“How will we keep her hydrated if she is asleep?”

“It has only been a day. Let her rest!”

Now drawn completely from her slumber, Helena fluttered her eyes open and was greeted by the sight of Ambrose and Barbara at the side of her bed, glaring at one another as they each stood with their fists on their hips. They both looked angry and worried, and memories of the previous night’s events came flooding back to her.

The last thing she remembered was waiting to speak with Morgan. How had she gotten into her bed? Worried over how much she had missed, Helena attempted to clear her dry throat and sat up among her pillows. Ambrose and Barbara immediately turned to her with smiles of relief.

“What time is it?” she croaked, rubbing her eyes.

“Just past ten in the morning,” Barbara answered quickly.

“Are you thirsty?” Ambrose asked, going to pour her a glass of water. “It has been quite a while since you have had something to drink.”

Helena’s brows furrowed as she accepted the glass.

“What are you talking about?” she asked, “It has barely been seven hours.”

She tilted the glass to her lips and began to drink.

“Actually, dearest, it has been seven hours and a day,” Barbara said gently.

Helena choked on her water as she looked at her brother and sister-in-law in surprise.

“What?” she croaked.

“She is concerned,” Ambrose noted, sounding worried. “See, I told you it was too long. We should have woken her yesterday evening.”

“The doctor said not to, and that all would be well,” Barbara sighed in agitation. “And look! Now she is awake and will certainly be well.”

“Iamwell,” Helena insisted, her thoughts not of herself. “And what of Morgan? Ishewell?”

A tense glance between the two was the only response she received, and she immediately moved to get out of bed. She was stopped by Barbara’s gentle but insistent hands while Ambrose fetched a tray from the nearby table. Helena looked at them both dubiously as fear began to rise through her body. “One of you answer me! Is he well?”

“That we know of,” Ambrose answered, his tone soothing as he braced the tray over her lap, keeping her still.

“What do you mean that you know of,” she hissed, still fighting him, “Let me up this instant!”

“Helena, please,” Barbara urged. “He is well. I promise that he is well. Drink. Eat your breakfast, and we will talk.”

Helena had half a notion to start throwing the items on the tray at them until they started speaking more plainly, but knowing it would get her nowhere, she settled for picking up the silver spoon on the tray and dipping it into the bowl of porridge and sweet cream.

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