Page 64 of His Godsent Duchess
Finally, with great reluctance, she nodded. "Very well. But send for me if anything changes."
"Of course, Your Grace," Mrs. Brimsey said, her voice full of reassurance.
Christina rose from the bed, smoothing the covers over Amelia one last time. She paused at the door, her hand resting on the handle as she looked back at her daughter, her heart heavy with worry.
"One more thing, Mrs. Brimsey," Christina added, her voice soft but determined. "Send word to London. Inform the Duke that Amelia is unwell. He should know."
Mrs. Brimsey nodded. "I will see to it immediately."
With that, Christina finally stepped out of the room, leaving Amelia in Mrs. Brimsey's capable hands. But as she walked down the corridor toward her own bedchamber, her heart ached with the knowledge that she was still alone in this. Victor had chosen to leave, and now, when she needed him most, he was not there.
She didn't allow herself to cry. Instead, she straightened her shoulders, knowing that for her children's sake, she had to remain strong—even when everything inside her felt like it was falling apart.
Twenty-Eight
Victor broke the seal on the note, his fingers trembling slightly as he unfolded the paper. His London butler stood by, the man's expression tense, indicating the urgency of its contents.
Your Grace, Lady Amelia has taken ill. The child's condition is serious. Your attention is required at Kilton Castle at once.
Victor's heart lurched in his chest, a cold dread settling deep within him. He could almost feel the weight of the words pressing down on him, and for a moment, he couldn't breathe. Amelia… ill. The words repeated over and over, a horrifying echo in his mind.
"Prepare a horse," he barked, his voice tight with urgency. "Immediately."
The butler nodded swiftly and rushed away. Victor stood motionless for a moment, the letter still clutched in his hand. Amelia... How had he allowed himself to be so far away when his daughter needed him? When his family needed him?
The horse was ready within minutes, and Victor mounted it without hesitation. He rode hard, the hours passing in a blur as the landscape flew by, each mile bringing him closer to Kilton. His thoughts raced faster than the horse's hooves, guilt gnawing at him with every second. He should have been there. He had made a mistake in leaving.
It was long after nightfall when he finally arrived at Kilton Castle. He barely paused to hand the reins to a waiting stable hand before rushing through the front doors.
"Smith!" Victor called, his voice sharp as it echoed through the grand foyer.
The butler appeared at once, his face somber. "Your Grace."
"What happened?" Victor demanded, his voice strained. "Tell me everything."
Smith stood at attention, speaking with calm efficiency. "The Duchess took the children for a walk in the gardens. During the outing, Lady Amelia became separated from the group. When they found her, she had been drenched by the rain. She developed a fever shortly after."
Victor's breath hitched in his throat. Without another word, he turned and took the stairs two at a time, the weight of what Smith had said pressing heavily on him.Amelia drenched in the rain... sick. His heart pounded, the fear clawing at him as he raced up to the third floor.
When he reached Amelia's bedchamber, he paused at the door, his hand resting on the doorknob for just a moment before he pushed it open. The room was dimly lit by the flicker of a fire, the warmth of it doing little to dispel the chill in his chest.
Christina was asleep, slumped in a chair beside Amelia's bed. Her head rested against the mattress, her hand still clutching Amelia's small fingers, as though she had refused to leave her side for even a moment.
Victor's heart tightened at the sight. She looked exhausted, her face pale, her hair falling loose around her shoulders. She hadn't left their daughter's side, not once. Of course she hadn't.
Mrs. Brimsey appeared quietly in the hallway, her voice soft as she approached. "The Duchess has hardly left the young lady's side, Your Grace. Only for an hour earlier to rest. But the fever... it's finally breaking."
Relief flooded through Victor, though it was tempered by the weight of guilt that settled deeper in his chest. He nodded at Mrs. Brimsey, his voice thick with gratitude. "Thank you."
With quiet steps, he approached Christina and gently scooped her into his arms, cradling her against his chest. She stirred slightly as he lifted her, but didn't wake. Her body felt light in his arms, her exhaustion evident in the way she leaned against him.
He carried her to her bedchamber, pushing the door open softly with his foot before laying her gently on the bed. For a moment, he stood there, looking down at her, the peaceful rise and fall of her chest a stark contrast to the turmoil inside him.
Then she stirred, her eyes fluttering open. It took her a moment to recognize him, and when she did, her expression crumpled.
"It's all my fault," she whispered, her voice breaking with emotion. "You were right... I don't know what's best for them. I never should have let Amelia out of my sight."
Victor knelt beside the bed, taking her hand in his. "Christina, no," he said gently, his voice softer than it had been in days. "We'll talk in the morning. Right now, you need to rest."
