Chapter
22

Nolan paced the hallway outside his suite and raked a hand through his already mussed hair. Tension banded every muscle in his body, aggravating the headache that throbbed behind his eyes. What was taking the doctor so long?

He stopped in front of a narrow window and laid his forehead against the cool glass. For a brief moment, the chill soothed his head as well as his battered soul.

Lord, I know I don’t deserve your favor, but Hannah’s done nothing to deserve this violence. Please protect her and the child she may be carrying.

Nolan smashed his fist against the wall, welcoming the searing jolt of pain that radiated through him. How had this happened? He was her husband. He should have been there to protect her.

Nolan moved away from the window, rubbing his raw knuckles from the blows he’d given Bellows. One thing was certain. Timothy Bellows would never bother her or any other innocent girl again. The authorities had arrived to take him away in shackles to the Derby jail. If Bellows did get out, he’d find himself without a job and without references to find another. For the first time since learning of his paternity, Nolan found it advantageous to wield the power of an earl’s son.

Down the hall, a door opened. Nolan strode over just as Dr. Hutton exited the room.

“How is my wife? Will she be all right?”

The doctor closed the door with a soft click and raised worried eyes to Nolan. “I hope so.”

“What does that mean?”

“Your wife has sustained a rather serious head injury. I’ve stitched the gash, but she will have a severe headache for several days as a result of the concussion. Of course she’ll have bruising, as well as aches and pains from the impact of the fall.” He shifted his black leather bag from one hand to the other.

“There’s another issue to consider,” Nolan said in a low voice. “It’s possible my wife is with child.”

The doctor cleared his throat. “Yes, the duchess informed of this likelihood, and I concur. I believe your wife is in the very early stages. That’s why it’s too soon to tell what effect this incident has had. Mrs. Price is still unconscious. She should remain in bed for at least a week until we see if the pregnancy remains viable.” He shook his head. “Only time will tell, I’m afraid.”

The way the man’s shoulders slumped, it didn’t seem he held much hope.

An image of Hannah holding their child flashed through Nolan’s mind, followed by a brief pang of sorrow, which he pushed away. There could always be more children. They had the rest of their lives for that. “As long as Hannah recovers, that’s all that matters.”

“Yes, well, keep a watch on her overnight. Unless her condition worsens, I’ll be back tomorrow to check on her. Good day, sir.”

“Good day and thank you, Doctor.” He shook the man’s hand and waited until he had started to descend the stairs before turning back to his suite.

“Nolan.” Edward moved out of the shadows. “I’d like a word with you, please.”

Tension stiffened Nolan’s shoulders. He did not need his father’s interference right now. “I don’t believe we have anything to say to each other.”

“On the contrary. We have a great deal to say, especially if I heard the doctor correctly. Did he say that Hannah is expecting a child?”

Nolan clenched his teeth together. The earl was the last person he wanted privy to this news. “That is a private matter between Hannah and myself.”

Edward’s eyes hardened. “That child is my flesh and blood as well as yours. If it’s a boy, he’ll be the second heir of Stainsby. Will you deny your son the heritage he deserves?”

“We don’t even know if the child will survive.” Nolan fought for composure. “Because of Hannah’s injuries, we must stay here until she recovers. After that, I’m not promising anything. And I’m still waiting for those papers rescinding the annulment.”

Edward relaxed his stance and stepped back, an unreadable expression on his face. “Give Hannah my best. I am truly sorry about this unfortunate occurrence. Be assured I will see Bellows gets the justice he deserves.”

Nolan inclined his head stiffly, then left the earl standing in the hall alone.

Hannah fought to open her eyes, but her lids felt as though they were weighed down with stones. Every movement sent stabbing pains shooting through her skull. She groaned and reached for her head.

“Hannah, sweetheart, lie still. You’ve had a fall.” Nolan’s gentle voice met her ears through the haze of pain.

Her whole body ached as though she’d been kicked repeatedly by a horse. Warm fingers removed her hands from her head and laid them atop the coverlet. A moment later, a cooling sensation met her hot forehead. Someone was bathing her face with a wet cloth. She managed to open one eye. Her husband’s anxious face hovered over her.

“Nolan. What happened?” she whispered.

“You fell and hit your head. The doctor says you’ll have a headache for a few days, but you should make a full recovery.”

She struggled to make sense of the flashes of memory that swirled through her mind. There was something important she needed to remember. Her muscles tensed as it came flooding back. Timothy Bellows with her sister in the dining room.

“How is Molly?” She shifted and tried to sit up, only to fall back on the pillow with a cry of pain.

“Hannah, you must lie still. Molly is fine, other than being worried about you.”

“Thank goodness.” She closed her eyes and exhaled slowly.

Nolan placed the cool cloth on her forehead. Stillness fell over the room. Hannah concentrated on keeping her breathing shallow so as not to aggravate the pain.

“Why did you not tell me?” Nolan’s quiet voice broke the silence at last.

For a moment, she thought she’d dreamt the question. But when she opened her eyes, the wounded look on Nolan’s haggard face speared her with guilt. How could she have forgotten the pregnancy?

“Is the baby all right?”

When he didn’t answer right away, panic filled her lungs. She hadn’t even had time to get used to the idea of becoming a mother, yet a wave of grief hit her hard.

“For now everything seems fine. But the doctor wants you to remain in bed for at least a week, so as not to jeopardize the child further.”

Thank you, Lord. She bit her bottom lip to contain the threat of tears.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” Nolan asked again.

Hannah’s heart ached at the hurt in his tone. She’d ruined what should have been a beautiful moment between them. Her gaze slid past his face to the dark blue drapery surrounding the bed. “I wanted to be sure before I said anything.”

“Is that the only reason?”

As hard as it was to admit, he deserved her honesty. She licked her dry lips. “I needed to be certain you wanted me for me . . . not just to give your father another heir.”

Nolan jerked back as though she’d struck him. “Why would you think that?”

Did he not realize how it seemed to her? That he’d been doing everything he could to please his father? So much so that she no longer trusted her place in his life. Yet his injured expression tore strips off her heart.

“I-I’m sorry,” she said. “Everything has been changing so fast. I’m so confused.” Her excuse sounded lame even to her own ears. But now that everything was out in the open, there was no room for secrets between them. “I promise to make it up to you. To be a better wife once I’m recovered.”

He raised her fingers to his lips with a sad smile. “And I promise to be a better husband.” With a gentle touch, he smoothed back her hair. “You need to rest now. I’ll have your aunt come and sit with you.”

Why did it feel as though she were losing him, inch by inch? “When will you be back?”

“Later. Don’t worry. You won’t be alone.” His eyes appeared haunted as he bent to kiss her cheek.

When the sound of his retreating boots met her ears, a sick sense of foreboding rose inside her, along with a wave of sorrow and loss that would not leave.

Would she ever feel secure in their marriage, or was their union doomed to fail?