Lily and the Duke (Sex and the Season 1)

“I’m all wet. The linens are soaked. I don’t know why.”

“Your fever must have broken.” He touched his lips to her forehead. “Thank God!”

Daniel tumbled out of bed, fumbled for a lamp, and lit it. He looked out his window. “Dawn will break soon.” He brought her a glass of water. “You need to drink. Come on.”

“Daniel…”

“You’re probably dehydrated, especially after all that sweating. Please, love, for me.”

Lily nodded and downed the entire glass. The cool liquid tasted like ambrosia.

“What am I doing here?” she asked.

“You fell down the stairs. Don’t you remember?”

Confused, Lily willed her jumbled thoughts to clear. “Yes, yes. I ache all over.”

“I know. I’ll get you some morphine.

“Morphine? No, I don’t want that.”

“You’ve been taking it for nearly two days.”

“Two days? What?”

“Closer to a day and a half, actually. It won’t hurt you.”

“I don’t want any. Please, Daniel. I don’t. It will make me groggy.” Her mind was already muddled. She couldn’t bear the idea of a drug creating further cloudiness.

“All right, love. Whatever you want. Thank God you’re all right.”

“I hurt between my legs, and my head aches, and my arms and legs, they’re all… Ow!”

“Take it easy, love. I’ll tell you everything. First I need to change your bed linens. The perspiration will irritate your beautiful skin. Then, if you’re feeling up to it, we’ll talk.”

He moved her gently from one side of the bed to the other as he discarded the soiled linens and replaced them with new ones. “There you are. I’m going to get you a nightdress.” He fumbled in the wicker basket until he found one. “Here, let me help you.”

Daniel discarded the soaked chemise and helped Lily ease into the gown. “Now, do you need to rest, or do you want to talk?”

“I want to talk.” Her tone was edgy, but she couldn’t help it. “What am I doing here?”

“I brought you here after you fell. Your head aches from a concussion, and the pain you’re feeling between your legs is from a surgical procedure. You were bleeding from the womb. Dr. Blake had to stop it.”

Chills coursed through Lily’s veins. “My God, he didn’t…”

“No, he saved your womb.”

“Thank God.” Lily breathed heavily, until a wave of panic struck her. “Our child?”

Daniel stroked her cheek. “Not this time, love.”

Lily’s eyes filled with tears, and her heart lurched. “No! Oh Daniel, I’m so sorry.”

“Hush now.” Daniel brushed her tears away. “We don’t even know if there was a child. It was too early to tell.”

She reached for him. “I didn’t know how much I wanted it. Oh, this is too horrible for words. I feel so…empty.”

“Lily, don’t upset yourself. It’s not good for you in your condition. You’re still very weak.” He gently held her. “I want you to rest. I need to fetch the doctor and let him know your fever has broken and that you’re awake.”