Page 75 of The Duke's Stubborn Wallflower
“Nigel! Nigel!” Olivia’s voice was full of panic as she hurtled through the rooms of Glassley Castle, hurling open doors and trying to find her husband.
Her heart thundered in her chest. She needed to find him; time was running out. “Nigel!”Where is he?
She pushed past panicked looking servants. She cursed the vastness of the Glassley Castle. Behind her, a soft whimper stopped her short. She turned to see Dandelion and her heart sank.
Olivia’s screams pierced Nigel’s soul, and in his haste to leave his study, he tripped and slammed his knee into his desk. Cursing, he stumbled his way out of the room.
“Olivia!” he yelled. “Where are you?”
Her yells had stopped, and Nigel’s heart sank.Oh God, Oh God. What has happened?He ran down the stairs, taking them three at a time, ignoring the protests of his bruised knee.
He spotted a passing servant and grabbed him, his eyes wild with terror. “Where is she?”
“In the drawing room.” The servant nodded his head towards the door down the hallway.
Nigel was hurtling towards the drawing room before the man had even finished his sentence. “Hold on, Olivia. I’m coming.”
In the drawing room, Olivia gently stroked Dandelion’s head as the corgi whimpered sadly. The dogs breathing was laboured, and Olivia’s heart broke. Servants brought in blankets and water.
“It’s okay girl. All will be well.” Olivia whispered even as her heart hammered in fright.
Dandelion gave a long howl. Olivia felt her heart break. “Where is Nigel?”
As soon as he heard Dandelion’s howl, he lost all self-control. He flung open the door to the drawing room and saw his beloved Corgi panting, her head in Olivia’s lap.
“Has someone sent for Mr. Bridges?” Nigel asked, hastily removing his coat and moving to be closer to Dandelion.
“I had the steward send him a message, but I do not think he will get here in time.” Olivia’s voice was soft, clearly trying to keep Dandelion from panicking.
“All will be well; do not worry old girl.” Nigel stroked the dog’s head. “We have done this before, have we not?”
Dandelion whimpered. Olivia turned to Nigel, and in each other’s eyes, they could see the panic the other felt reflected.
“How long has she been like this?” Nigel asked.
“A few hours. Where have you been?”
“I was in the study. I was reading this morning’s paper, and well, I got caught up in the news.”
“It must have been a very interesting story to distract you so.” Olivia canted her head. “I thought perhaps… with tomorrow being what it was…”
Nigel shook his head.I will turn twenty-seven tomorrow.“Lord Briston and his father have both been arrested and convicted. The judge sentenced them today.”
Olivia’s fingers reached towards Nigel. “Then it is over?”
“They have been stripped of their title and their lands.” Nigel felt a cold anger settle over him. “The death of my cousin’s grandfather spared the man their fate.”
“May his soul look up and see what ruin his family now faces.” Olivia scowled and would have spat in disgust if she had not been indoors.
“I can see a head!” one of the maids pointed, her words bringing Nigel and Olivia back to the task at hand.
Nigel glanced down, and a moment later, a tiny, wet corgi puppy had been born. His heart twisted, and he looked at Dandelion.
“You’re doing so well, old girl. Good girl,” he whispered. “I know you do not have your whelping box, but we will make you as comfortable as we are able.”
Nigel kept up a steady stream of comforting words to Dandelion over the next few hours. While Nigel comforted his dog, Olivia inspected each puppy as it was born, careful not to get too close or to handle them directly.
“I think we have another on the way,” Olivia murmured as Dandelion finished licking her fourth puppy. “God, I hope this is the last.”
