Despised & Desired--The Marquess' Passionate Wife (#3 Love's Second Chance Series) by Bree Wolf

Author:Bree Wolf
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: historical romance, regency romance, second chance, jane austen inspired, regency romance tortured hero
Publisher: Bree Wolf

Chapter Twenty-Five – To Live or Die

Unable to stay away, Ellie slipped into her husband’s bedchamber. The sun had long since disappeared behind the horizon, and the house lay silent. She knew she ought to get some rest. She knew he would ring if he needed anything. And yet, she could not stay away.

Closing the door behind her, Ellie tiptoed her way across the dark floor until her bare feet touched the soft Persian rug leading up to his bed. In the dim light of a single candle burning on the desk in the corner, his features looked almost haggard and pale as though a life-threatening disease was about to claim him. For a short moment, the breath caught in Ellie’s throat, and unable to move, she stared at his chest, willing it to rise and fall.

When it did, she almost fainted with relief.

What are you doing here? An obnoxious voice whispered. There is nothing you can do for him.

Ellie knew that, and yet, she couldn’t leave.

Despite the slight chill in the air that drifted through her nightgown, she stayed. Silently, she lifted up the chair Dr. Madison had used to relocate Frederick’s shoulder and carefully carried it to his bedside. Fortunately, the slight exertion served to warm her chilled muscles.

Sitting down beside him, Ellie’s heart rejoiced.

For the first time, she had the opportunity to look at him openly without the need to avert her eyes as soon as he felt her gaze on him.

In the dim light, his dark hair looked almost black on the white linen pillow while the tone of his skin appeared to have a touch of silver. His eyes were closed, and his breath came in even intervals. He was a handsome man. Ellie had always thought so; however, these days, his rugged features were often contorted by the pain that had claimed his heart.

As he continued to sleep peacefully, Ellie inched forward.

The cut on his forehead had closed, and she reached out a tentative hand, brushing the back of it over his cheek and forehead. Relieved to see that no infection had set in−at least not yet−, she watched him sleep.

For once, the tortured expression his face bore on most days had vanished. The muscles along his forehead and around his mouth seemed relaxed, and the corners of his mouth even curled up into a soft smile every now and then.

Seeing it, Ellie smiled in answer. What was he dreaming about? She wondered. What had made him smile?

Leaning onto the bed, Ellie soon rested her head on her folded arms. As her eyes continued to gaze at her husband, she noticed that her eyelids began to grow heavy. At first, Ellie fought the warming blanket of approaching sleep with all her might. Too much did she enjoy this moment of peaceful silence with her husband. However, before the clock in the hall downstairs struck twelve, Ellie was fast asleep.

Inspired by the rare smile that had played on her husband’s lips, Ellie slept peacefully, her

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.