The Marquess Returns: The Rockliffe Dynasty Book 3 by Maguire Jane

Author:Maguire, Jane
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2024-10-03T00:00:00+00:00

16

Neither Phoebe nor Emily spoke a word until they were safely back in Emily’s rooms and the girl climbed into bed, shuffling her legs around Marigold’s dozing, sprawled-out form. Phoebe had taken the few minutes of silence to try to regain some order in the chaos that pounded through her head. While half-numbed by the initial shock of what—who—awaited her in Lord Rockliffe’s bedchamber, she’d at least possessed the wherewithal to extricate Emily from the ugly, acrimonious scene. But beyond that, she found herself at a loss.

She should think of some reassurance, something to make everything better. Except how was she to do that when, once again, her life was crumbling to pieces?

You have only yourself to blame. The admonition rang in her thoughts, voiced in unison by Aunt Harriet and Uncle Martin. Then by Ambrose. Even by departed Eugenia. They all jeered at her, the feckless girl who never learned her lesson. Who couldn’t stop dragging disaster down on her own head.

She rummaged through the books on Emily’s bedside table, a choking lump forming in her throat. Read. That’s what she’d offered, and if she could manage nothing else, she needed to do at least that much. If she could only keep her voice from breaking.

“Miss Windham?” Emily pushed herself back up on her elbows, and Phoebe paused, turning to the wide amber eyes that peered at her in the candlelight. “You don’t need to read aloud. But I wonder if … if you’d sit with me a few moments.”

“I’d be happy to.” Phoebe lowered herself onto the edge of the bed, and only when seated did she realize just how weary she’d become. Like she could lie down herself and not get up for a very long time. Yet she managed a thin smile as she reached for the candle snuffer to extinguish the bedside light. “Try to sleep now, all right?”

Emily gave a tiny nod, the faint flutter of her dark lashes against pale skin the last thing Phoebe saw before the room became dim. For some reason, the sight caused a pang in her chest. She’d known Emily only a short time but already felt an undeniable attachment to the girl. Wanted so much to give her reasons to smile again. The thought of not seeing her anymore … of Emily sitting in her bedchamber alone each night … Phoebe couldn’t let her mind keep traveling that way or her shaky facade of calmness would dissolve in a shower of tears.

“Miss Windham?” Emily whispered her name again, her shadowed outline remaining upright, her eyes two huge, glimmering pools in the dark. “You’re not leaving Beaumont, are you?”

Phoebe’s aching chest constricted, causing another painful jolt. “Not until you and your papa wish it.” She tried to sound light. Tried to ignore everything she’d sent crashing down around her and the regret that seeped to her core.

Emily hesitated, and while it was impossible to make out her exact expression, Phoebe could tell that she hadn’t stopped looking. Assessing.

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