Page 18 of Adoringly, Edward
Edward had been living a silly dream. What did he think would happen once he found the woman in the mask? That they would marry and live happily ever after? The sick man was never the hero in fairy tales. He was usually the sibling that ended up dying while his brother or sister lived happily ever after.
To hide his emotions, he forced himself to adopt a stone mask, to make it seem like he wasn’t heartbroken in the slightest. But even then, he hugged Vivienne’s scarf a little closer, breathing in her scent wafting from the soft fabric. She smelled like flowery perfume, and it brought him back to the night everything had changed between them. Back to laughter and happiness and carefree love.
The horses halted too quickly, causing him to hit the side of the carriage. Vivienne stumbled into him, latching onto him for balance. When she turned her head toward him, she ensnared him with her beautiful brown eyes.
All of his surroundings faded away. The sounds melted until he only heard his own heartbeat pulsing through his ears and her short breaths escaping pretty pink lips. Every place they touched set him ablaze, and he found himself craving her company more than he’d wanted anything in the world.
“Apologies!” the driver called out, effectively breaking the spell between them.
Before his sister had a chance to catch them in that position, Edward pulled her scarf from around his neck and draped it over hers.
“Save a book for me,” she whispered. “Perhaps you might allow me to read quietly in the corner while you work.”
He didn’t get the chance to reply when Clara turned toward them, and he quickly placed distance between Vivienne and himself.
Without a word, he bowed to them and hurried into the estate, trying to escape Clara before she intercepted him. She wouldn’t dare harm him with guests in the house. Would she?
Still, he increased his pace across the estate, up the flight of stairs leading to his room, and closed the door behind him. He could not hide from her. He knew that. But he could certainly try.
After several minutes, he relaxed when he thought she might not follow him to his room. He released a melancholy sigh as he took off his coat and shoes before sitting on the edge of his bed. There was no use lamenting over his fate. He was no hero in a storybook. No matter how much he wished to be.
The door opened suddenly, and he lifted his head, expecting to find Cedric. But then his throat constricted with fear when his sister entered instead. “Clara.”
But she simply smiled rather than charging at him with a raised hand. “I noticed you’ve been a bit sluggish lately, and I wanted to check on you myself.” She placed a vial of his medicine in his hand. “I so desperately want you to get better, Eddie. I planned an outing with the queen after the storm abates, and I do hope you might be able to join us.”
“The queen?”
Clara had always aspired to fit in with such a crowd, but she’d never once tried to include him.
She nodded, and when he didn’t drink his medicine, she unstopped the vial for him and handed it back. “Little James is so excited to visit the palace. Imagine that! The king’s sister invited us herself. She’s still feeling ill, but when she recovers, she would love to have us.”
Edward fingered the vial, staring at the yellowish contents within. Perhaps if he felt well enough to go… Would Vivienne be there?
The thought of her gave him enough motivation to place the vial to his lips and drink. If he continued to take his medicine, could he possibly get better? Could he become strong enough to reenter society and somehow woo Vivienne?
If he made a connection with her, it would be advantageous for his sister as well, considering she aspired to belong to the queen’s close-knit group.
His sister took the vial back from him, the smile lingering on her face. He blinked heavily when a sudden fatigue pressed down on his shoulders. He hadn’t gotten enough sleep the night before, as thoughts of Vivienne had plagued his mind.
Unable to hold his head upright, he curled up on his bed, but the fatigue only seemed to grow when his mind spun dizzily, and his eyelids felt as if they were weighted with bricks.
Clara tucked blankets around him before opening the door, turning back to him one last time with a smile on her face. “Oh, you poor thing. Sweet dreams.”
Finally, the fatigue dragged him into cool waters, and his entire world turned dark.
“FORGIVE MY TARDINESS,” Clara said as she entered the room in a swoosh of skirts, a bright smile on her face. “I was seeing to my brother. The poor thing must have contracted something at the party last night, as he’s feeling under the weather.”
A frown pulled on Vivienne’s lips as her gaze darted toward the door as if she might find Edward entering the room at any moment. But he didn’t. Instead, a servant entered with tea and light refreshments.
“He seemed fine during the carriage ride,” she replied distractedly, rising from her chair and wandering across the room until she stared out into the hallway. Edward was nowhere within sight.
“He’s asleep.” Clara lifted a teapot and poured two cups of tea. “Out like a light when I went to check on him.” Shesmiled reassuringly. “I’m sure he’ll feel well enough to join us tomorrow.”
Are you avoiding me?she wondered silently. Of course, she’d taken him off guard by staying the night in his home. But…
She forced herself to keep her hand by her side rather than stray to her belly. The outside of her lower stomach felt harder now. She could feel the baby growing inside her, not to mention the constant nausea plaguing her relentlessly.
Panic nipped at her pulse, causing it to thrum faster in her veins. Charming Edward was proving more difficult than she thought. She liked him. By the kingdom’s waters, she liked him a lot. And her feelings terrified her. Because she might have to marry the duke instead.
