Lily and the Duke (Sex and the Season #1)(84)

Lily’s eyes fluttered again. “Daniel?”

Daniel’s heart thumped. “Lily, Lily. I’m here.”

“Where am I?”

“You’re in my chamber. You fell down the stairs. Do you remember?”

“I-I think…”

“Don’t try to talk, love. I’ll take care of you. I’m going to get you some broth.”

“Don’t want…”

”Shh.” Daniel brought the broth and helped her lift her head. “Come on, love.” He spooned some into her mouth. “That’s a good girl.” Lily took two more spoonfuls before she fell back into unconsciousness.

“Damn it, Lily, don’t leave me again!” He laid her head down on the pillow as she started shivering. Daniel wrapped her in blankets and held her close.





Chapter 18





Lily awoke in darkness, drenched in sweat, her body wrapped in a dank chemise. Cold and clammy bed linens clung to her bare skin. As her eyes slowly adjusted to the darkness, she attempted to move her body, but dull aches overwhelmed her. She groaned softly and tried to sit up, bracing her hands beside her, startled to feel another body next to hers. Daniel was on top of the covers, dressed in a shirt and trousers.

“Daniel?” she whispered. When there was no response, she gathered all the strength she could muster and nudged his arm gently. “Daniel?”

His eyes flashed open. “Lily? My God, Lily!” He sat up quickly. “My love, how are you feeling?”

“I hurt.”

“I know. I’m so sorry. Don’t try to move.”

“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.”

She clung to him, the warm hardness of his body an anchor in a sea of haziness and uncertainty. “Don’t leave me.”

“Never, I promise. He’s just down the hall. I’ll be back in an instant.”

Blake was happy with Lily’s progress and ordered a small meal for her, with orders to eat every bite. He also suggested a warm bath once she felt up to it, to help assuage the discomfort from the surgery and to ease the pain from the bruising.