Chemistry of Magic: Unexpected Magic Book Five (Unexpected Magic #5)(51)

“Blast it, woman! You’ll lose my heir if you’re making yourself sick!” He grabbed her wrists and yanked her down on top of him.

She collapsed without so much as a whimper. It wasn’t like his intrepid wife to be so silent and unmoving. Terrified, Dare lay her back against the mattress. Her eyes were closed, but despite her almost bluish pallor, she breathed.

“Emilia?” He hastily unfastened her gown and corset so she could breathe easier. She didn’t stir. “Emilia!” he almost shouted.

He could shout. Just a little while ago, he hadn’t even been able to drag air into his lungs.

She didn’t move.

“Emilia!” Panicking, he rolled out of the bed, opened the door, and shouted, “Bessie! James! Get in here now.”

The servants came running.

The stinking concoction continued to boil and steam. Bessie used smelling salts to no avail. When neither of the stinking vapors woke Emilia, Dare panicked and sent Ashford’s footman with a message to Bridey.

“Does she faint like this often?” he demanded, while fear added to the pain in his gut.

“Never, m’lord,” Bessie whispered, looking as frightened as he felt. “I’ll fetch cold compresses.”

By the time Bridey arrived, Dare had positioned himself on the bed so Emilia could rest between his legs and lean against his shoulder. He was trying to pry water between her lips but she lifelessly resisted him.

“What did she mean, she goes catatonic!” he yelled the instant Bridey entered the room.

Still as regal as the countess she’d once been, Lady Pascoe raised her eyebrows. “Are you coughing?”

His wife was lying nearly dead in his arms, and she asked about his health? Dare couldn’t bring himself to respond but merely glared.

Bridey rolled her eyes and reached for Emilia’s wrist. “She’s quite alive. This is the reason she does not use her gift as she ought. She puts far too much of herself into it.”

She what? Remembering talk of gifts and healing, Dare glared at the imposing baronetess. How much of this folderol should he believe?

The part where his wife passed out was real enough. “Explain,” he growled with impatience.

“Explain the circumstances in which this happened,” Bridey countered, taking the glass from him and dipping a cloth into it. “And for now, I’d advise releasing her.” She put the cloth to Emilia’s lips and squeezed drops of water into her mouth.

Dare didn’t want to release her. He had this irrational belief that if he held her, she wouldn’t leave him. “She told me to let her work and not to let her go catatonic. What the devil is that supposed to mean? She wasn’t doing anything!” Except pressing her hands against his chest, but that was a little personal to speak aloud.

“Pascoe said you were coughing so badly that he refused to go into Harrogate and took the carriage directly here. He was worried about you. From the smell of asafetida, I gather Emilia started the steaming kettle. Then what did she do?” Bridey poked him. “You’re in my way. Move.”

He gritted his teeth and gently lay Emilia back against the pillows so Bridey could reach her. “What does it matter? Will she stay like this? What can I do?”

In his man’s world, he was competent and efficient and knew how to get things done. He should be able to cope with women and their foolish vulnerabilities. But he needed to know how. And why. That last part was causing him cold shivers as he released Emilia and moved to the edge of the bed. She looked so pale.

“Wait. Keep her lips moist. She’ll come around eventually, I hope.” Even Bridey looked a little worried. “She’s not really used her gift in years, so it’s difficult to say.”

Dare kneaded his brow and tried to sort out this nonsense. “She told me she and the duke share a gift. Explain.” He didn’t know if he was ready to hear this, but he needed to know.

“They’re Malcolm healers. We don’t have many, for rather obvious reasons.” Bridey nodded at Emilia’s prone form. “So we have no one to teach us. Emilia has only told me a little, but I know she brought her little sister back from death’s door and nearly died in the process. But if she was attempting to ease your cough, it’s possible the energy she expended has simply left her exhausted. Let her sleep. Shall I stay to watch over her this evening?”

Remembering Emilia had told him the lady was in a delicate condition, Dare knew he should send her away. But he couldn’t bear to lose Emilia. The realization stunned him. He didn’t need more women in his life to worry about. She was supposed to take care of herself!

But if she’d made herself ill helping him. . . Dare rubbed his head in confusion. “I do not understand. What energy? All she did was help me undress and order servants about. I’ve seen her accomplish far more than that without falling asleep.”

Bridey looked upon him with more patience than he felt. “Healing energy. It comes from inside, not from ordering servants about. You’re not coughing any longer. How do you feel?”

Putting her hands on him had somehow made him better? That was not logical. “Be damned with how I feel! It’s Emilia I’m concerned about! Have I done something to harm her? If she’s with child, have I harmed the child? Tell me what to do!”

But he was feeling much better than he had when he’d arrived home. He’d barely been able to walk, and now he was breathing well enough to shout and rage. . . And he needed to do something.