Lily and the Duke (Sex and the Season #1)(76)

“What were you doing in his chamber?” Lily demanded.

“I’m sure you can guess.” Amelia straightened her wrinkled gown and smoothed her hair.

“I don’t believe you.”

But Lily wrung her hands nervously, fumbling with a handkerchief. No, she wasn’t nearly as confident as she wanted Amelia to believe.

“You don’t? Surely you’re not such an innocent that you thought Daniel would stop his affairs just because he’s getting married.”

“What?”

“I must thank you,” Amelia said. “You’ve obviously been a marvelous influence on him. Daniel has never been quite so, shall we say, prurient, in his lovemaking.”

“Daniel would never…”

“He told me that it’s only a matter of time before he gets his heir on you, and then he’ll ship you off to Scotland and make me his live-in mistress.” She spied the green engagement ring on Lily’s hand. “You may as well give that to me now. Daniel said I could have it.”

Tears glistened in Lily’s eyes. “No, he wouldn’t do that.”

“Are you going to cry, my dear? How dreadful.” Amelia grabbed Lily’s hand. “Now, give me that ring!”

“Daniel chose it for me. He went to London, he… You can’t have it!” Lily backed toward the stairwell.

“It’s mine!” Amelia screamed, yanking the ring from Lily’s finger.

Lily toppled a bit, losing her balance.

“And Daniel’s mine! He’ll never be yours! Never!”

Amelia shoved Lily hard, closing her ears to the screaming sobs as Lily rolled down the stairs and fell with a thud on the landing below. Quickly Amelia looked around. No servants appeared to have witnessed the exchange. Breathing a sigh of relief, she strode to the front stairwell, descended smoothly, and made her way to her chamber.



* * *



Daniel understood only about every third word the flustered servant said. All that mattered was that something had happened to Lily. Buttoning his trousers, he ran to the stairwell. Dear Lord, she was on the landing, Crawford and a few others attending her. He leaped down the stairs taking them three at a time.

“What the hell happened?” He knelt beside Lily, her body crumpled, her face streaked from tears, her eyes locked in unconsciousness. His heart pounded and anguish enveloped him. “Lily, my God, Lily. Don’t leave me. Please don’t leave me.” He gathered her in his arms.

“You shouldn’t move her, Your Grace,” Crawford said. “She could be bleeding inside, and she probably has broken bones. I’ve sent for your physician.”

“I can’t leave her here, damn it! She’s everything to me.” He lifted her gently.

“Please, Your Grace, it’s best—”

“Send the physician to my chamber, Crawford. Oh dear God. Just send him to my chamber.”

Daniel carried Lily up the stairwell, as gently as if she were a babe, took her into his chamber, and laid her on his bed. He kissed her forehead, her cheeks, her lips, as tears streamed from his eyes.

“Lily, Lily, please wake up. It’s Daniel, Lily. I love you. I love you. Oh, why didn’t I tell you?”

He knelt down beside her, begging God to bring her back, and then sat down next to her and gently touched her face. Her eyes fluttered for an instant.

“Daniel?” Her voice was hoarse and raspy.

“Lily, yes, I’m here, my love. Tell me what happened.”

“It was…Amelia.” Her eyes closed into unawareness again.

Amelia? Had she pushed Lily down the stairs? He would send that bitch to hell! He got up to ring for a servant when Lord and Lady Ashford burst in.

“Your Grace, what happened?” The countess turned to see Lily on the bed. She crossed herself. “Crispin, she’s—”

“What happened, Lybrook?” the earl asked calmly, taking his wife’s hand.

“I-I don’t know,” Daniel stammered. “Crawford found her at the bottom of the back stairwell. She—” He swallowed. “I believe she was pushed.”

“By whom?” the countess asked. “Why would anyone want to harm her?”

“She…she said it was…”

Daniel turned toward the sound of a clearing throat. Dr. Michael Blake stood in the doorway.

“Blake, thank God. She fell down the stairs. You’ve got to help her. Please.”

“Stand back. Let me to her.” The doctor sat down on the bed next to her and began palpating her arms and legs.

Thomas strode into the room. “What happened? I heard that Lily was hurt.”

“She’s unconscious, Thomas,” Lord Ashford said. “The doctor is looking at her now.”

“I don’t think any bones are broken,” Blake said. “That’s good news, and surprising, considering her fall.” He opened his bag, pulled out an instrument, and slit Lily’s gown down the front. He eased her arms out of the sleeves, loosened her corset, and listened to her heart with a stethoscope. “Her heartbeat is strong, and she seems to be breathing normally. She most likely has a concussion.” He moved his hands down her body, gently kneading her stomach and abdomen, and then lifted her petticoat and gasped.