Slowly he breathed. In and out. In and out. Then he did something he hadn’t done in over two decades.
He cried in his mother’s arms.
* * *
Thomas walked around the estate looking for Rose, his heart pounding. If only he had kept a better eye on Lily, kept her out of Lybrook’s bed. But he had failed her. How in the world had Lily managed to fall down the stairs? He spied Rose at the stables, walking with Lord Evan. He ran toward them.
“Rose!” he shouted. “Rose, you need to come quickly!” Thomas caught his breath. “It’s Lily. She’s had an accident.”
Rose gasped. “What happened?”
“She fell down a flight of stairs. She’s…she’s bleeding from her womb. Lybrook’s physician is with her now.”
Rose nearly lost her balance.
Evan steadied her. “Easy, Rose,” he said. “It’s all right.”
“I must go to her at once,” Rose said. “I’m sorry, my lord.”
“Don’t be,” Evan said. “I’ll come as well. Jameson, what is the prognosis?”
“The doctor says he has to stop the bleeding. If he cannot, he’ll remove her womb.”
“No!” Rose cried. “What about the duke’s heir?”
“There won’t be one,” Thomas said. “At least not by Lily.”
Tears formed in Rose’s eyes. “No, no. That’s too horrible to contemplate. Oh, Thomas. What are we going to do?”
“Pray,” Thomas said. “Come on. We’ll go to the manor and wait for word.”
They walked quickly toward the mansion. A constable’s carriage stood out front. Two constables from Bath escorted Lady Gregory out of the house.
“What is going on here?” Thomas demanded.
“We have a warrant for this woman’s arrest,” one of the constables said. “We have reason to believe that she pushed the duke’s betrothed down a flight of stairs.”
“You!” Thomas bellowed at Amelia. “I should have known you were behind this, you conniving little bitch.”
“Thomas!” Rose admonished.
“She pushed Lily, Rose,” Thomas said. Then, to Amelia, “My sister could be dead because of you. She may never be able to bear children!”
“Good riddance, my lord,” Amelia said. “The little fool isn’t fit to be a duchess, much less to bear the next duke.”
“You take that back,” Rose said.
Evan tried to calm her. “It’s all right, Rose.”
“No, it’s not all right.” Rose cocked her head. “Why, that’s Lily’s ring!”
“It’s mine,” Amelia said.
“Thomas, it’s Lily’s,” Rose said. “She showed it to me earlier. The duke gave it to her for their betrothal.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes, I swear it. I’d recognize it anywhere. It’s a sapphire, not an emerald. It’s a very unique shade of green.”