Ten Ways to Ruin

She assumed he wanted to know how long he’d been ill. “Over a week.”

“Dead?”

“No, you’re not dead, darling.”

“Park.”

Oh. “Yes, Riley shot him.”

“Riley’s a good man.”

“He’s been worried sick about you, Simon.” Emma blinked back the tears. “We all have been.”

She felt his forehead and noticed the fever was all but gone.

“I’ll survive. The devil doesn’t want me yet,” he muttered and then fell back to sleep.

Emma watched him for a few minutes to make sure he was merely sleeping before running down the marble steps and into the salon. Louisa and Charlotte sat with a book they were reading, while Harry was reading a letter. “He woke!”

“He did?” Louisa recovered first and asked, “For how long?

“Just a few minutes, but his fever is almost gone.”

“Oh, thank God!” Louisa exclaimed.

“Yay!” Charlotte jumped off Louisa’s lap and headed for the door. “I want to see Uncle Simon.”

Emma stopped Charlotte. “Not just yet, darling. He fell back to sleep. Hopefully, tomorrow he’ll be awake longer.”

Harry cleared this throat. “Did he say anything important, Emma?”

“He said he loves me.”

Chapter 24

Simon improved every day, and by the fourth day, he finally decided not to wait for the physician’s approval to get out of bed. He winced as Harry helped him up. His chest still felt like it was on fire. Once on two feet, he stood there for a long moment, trying to gain his composure and fight the pain he still felt.

“Do not tell Emma I’m up yet.”

“I understand,” Harry said with a smile. “At least she is finally sleeping again.”

He grabbed the bedpost for support. “Good. Shit, I feel as weak as a baby.”

Harry laughed. “You are.”

Simon laughed and then realized how much that pained him. “Just wait until I am completely healed. We will visit Gentleman Jackson’s saloon again.”

“I have a feeling you fight far dirtier than anyone at Gentleman Jackson’s.”

“I’m quite certain I do.” He took two steps forward and grimaced. “Not sure I’ll make it there anytime soon.”

“As long as you can stand up and marry the girl.”

“I do not want her to know that I am aware of her condition,” Simon commanded. “She told me she loves me. I want that to be enough. The baby will come a little early, but it won’t be the first time.”

Simon would be eternally grateful to his brother for informing him about Emma likely being with child. Hopefully, she would never learn that Harry’s commanding him to get up and face fatherhood was what roused him out of unconsciousness. Her admission of love only increased his desire to gain his strength back.

“Walk already,” Harry ordered.