Chapter Twenty-One
After Chloe departed, Michael went to his bedchamber. For the first time since returning from the war, he felt a bottomless peace and satisfaction. There were no shadows across his heart. Chloe had come to him, had cared for him, and had helped him overcome his greatest fears. She’d put her trust in him and shared her own past, and he was in awe of her bravery.
Then, miraculously, she’d told him she loved him.
He basked in the knowledge. He’d never believed in love. The emotion was foreign to him. Loyalty, honor, and responsibility—these were traits he understood. But he knew he wanted Chloe in his life, and asking her to marry him was something he’d never thought would be possible for a man with his condition.
He had a new purpose. The future no longer seemed a dark, lonely place with visions of bloody battlefields, the acrid scent of gunpowder, or the terrifying cries of dying soldiers. The nightmares may never cease entirely, but with Chloe by his side, he knew the future was no longer to be dreaded and feared.
He needed to speak with Henry and explain everything. He hoped Henry would come to understand, to learn to forgive him for not confessing the truth sooner. He still intended to uphold his promise to Henry’s father and help and guide Henry with the earldom and all its responsibilities. Michael owed a blood debt he’d never fully be able to repay. It would be difficult to honor Chloe’s request to speak with Henry first, but Michael understood her need. Chloe felt guilty, just as he did.
Michael paced his bedchamber. He was restless. If he couldn’t attend to Henry, then he could see another. He opened the door and called for his valet.
…
“Mr. Michael! You came back,” Emily said.
Michael smiled at the child in bed. It was the late afternoon, and the room was empty except for Emily. The sounds of children playing outside carried through the sole window. “I promised I would, and dukes never break a promise.”
Emily leaned up on her elbows and eyed the book under his arm. “Is it another prince and dragon story?”
“It is. I searched my entire home, including the old nursery for the book. Everyone helped.”
“Everyone?”
“My entire household staff. I feared the book was gone, but my housekeeper found it tucked away in one of the spare bedrooms.”
Emily giggled. “How many bedrooms do you have?”
“Too many.”
“Does the book contain a prince and dragon story?”
“It does.” He pulled up a chair, sat by her bedside, and opened the book to the desired page. “But in this one, the dragon sets fire to the forest and the prince has to find his way through the smoldering woods to reach the castle where the princess is kept captive.”
Her eyes widened. “Does he?”
“I won’t spoil it but will have to read it. But I must warn you that it is a long story.”
Animation briefly left her face. “I have nothing but time.”
He hesitated, then looked at her closely. “Has Dr. Graves examined you?”
She nodded. “I was surprised when he told me the orphanage doctor had to leave. I was nervous at first, but Dr. Graves has a kind smile.”
“Listen to Dr. Graves. He will make you feel better. And that will make Miss Chloe happy.”
Emily sat up another inch and caught his gaze. “Do you like Miss Chloe?”
Very much. “We are friends.”
They were, he realized. The physical attraction was still there, of course, and he couldn’t imagine not desiring her. But she meant much more to him now. She was his confidant, someone who had seen him at his darkest moments and stayed by his side—his friend.
His future wife.
He wanted to tell Emily the happy news but kept silent. He knew Chloe would want to tell Emily herself, and he didn’t want to ruin the surprise.
“I was friends with another girl,” Emily said. “Her name was Caroline, but then she left with a handsome couple who wanted a girl, and she went away. I was happy for her, but sad at the same time. I’m old enough to know that a pretty lady and handsome man won’t come and take me to their home. No one wants a sick girl.”
Michael swallowed, and a sudden heaviness centered in his chest. Emily, if she was fortunate enough to overcome her illness, would most likely never be adopted but would live her life in the orphanage. She’d be one of the older girls he’d seen scrubbing the orphanage halls in exchange for their keep. If she did not fully recover, she could be sent to another institution or a hospital, a place with poor medical care where she wouldn’t live long. He clenched his jaw. Dr. Graves would help the little girl. He had to.
Looking into Emily’s intelligent green eyes, he saw what had drawn Chloe to the child. Yes, they shared a background. Both had been abandoned by a parent. Both had been ill—Emily still was. But there was more. They shared a similar spirt—a strength and resolve to survive, to fight. It’s what he admired most about Chloe…and now Emily.
Michael pushed aside the nagging thought of Emily’s illness and what it would do to Chloe if the child perished. He opened the book and began to read, “Once upon a time, there was a prince…”