The Seduction of Sarah Marks by Kathleen Bittner Roth

Author:Kathleen Bittner Roth
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
ISBN: 9781622666997
Publisher: Entangled: Scandalous
Published: 2014-06-08T16:00:00+00:00

The French mantel clock had barely chimed five times when a knock sounded. Lilith rose from where she sat at the table across from Mum and moved to the door, unlocking it once Hemphill had announced himself.

Lilith had to swallow hard to get her throat to work. “How is Eastleigh?”

Doctor Hemphill entered and scrubbed his hand over his eyes. “Hard to say. I stitched up his head wound and filled him with laudanum, so he’s still unconscious. We’ll keep the treatment going for three to five days. From past experience, that is what was required when a megrim this bad set in. The danger is that if the brain swells, we won’t know until it’s too late, but if we withhold medication at this point, he could easily have a setback with the amnesia. The next twelve hours will tell us if there is any engorgement, but if that’s not the case, we won’t know whether he’s had a relapse in memory until he awakens.”

Lilith began to pace, biting her lip and rubbing at the chills running up and down her arms. Tears pricked the backs of her eyes. “Lord in heaven. If we lose him—”

“Get hold of yourself, Lilith. It does no good to consider those kinds of thoughts. I like to remember that we’ve pulled him through worse.”

“Oh, dear,” Mum said. “I’m going to go sit with him.”

Hemphill turned to her. “He’s sleeping, Mum.”

“Well, that didn’t stop me from holding vigil in the past, did it?” She was out the door in a flash.

Oh, how Lilith wanted to be the one rushing to his side, but his family was likely gathered around him. She would be the last person they’d want to see. She pressed her fingers to her lips and sucked in a breath through her nose to keep from weeping. Turning her back to Hemphill, she moved to the tall mantel and pressed her forehead against the marble, cool on her skin despite the fire burning in the hearth below.

“Will you keep me apprised of his condition?” Her words trembled when they left her mouth. She suddenly realized she cared about Eastleigh far more than she wanted to admit to herself.

“Of course. But you’re his wife, you should be—”

She raised a hand. “Please. His family would have my head should I attempt to see him at this point. I ignored the obvious worsening of his condition and selfishly asked him for an annulment. I believe that’s what sent him over the edge.”

Hemphill’s eyebrows shot up. “An annulment? But—”

“Since we three are the only ones aware the marriage was consummated—and I know for certain I am not with child—I asked him to cooperate.”

“You mean you asked him to lie.”

Her stomach did a flip at Hemphill’s words. She took in another breath to try and release the tension in her chest. Little good that did. “And now look at the horrid situation I have created. I should leave the premises as soon as possible. I would not care to have Ridley toss me out on my behind.

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