Chapter 40

CHAPTER 40

Emma

E mma’s eyelids fluttered, and a dull, insistent ache pounded in her temples. Her surroundings swam into focus, blurry shapes resolving into familiar lines and shadows. For a moment, she wasn’t sure where she was, the throbbing in her head making thought elusive. But as her vision cleared, recognition struck her—her old bedchamber in Alexander’s home. The warmth of the thick quilt and the faint scent of lavender from the linens brought a fleeting sense of comfort, quickly replaced by confusion.

She shifted, trying to sit up, but pain lanced through her skull, making her gasp. Before she could rise, a firm but gentle hand pressed her back against the pillows.

“Lie still,” a voice commanded softly. She blinked and looked up, her heart stuttering when she saw Evan’s face hovering above her. The concern etched into his features only fueled her anger. Her memories rushed back—the letters, the accusations, the frantic ride, the fall. And here he was, the cause of it all, now daring to feign concern.

“I want him to leave,” she demanded and then, from the corner of her eye, she saw him do just that.

“Emma,” Hanna began, her tone gentle but firm, “please, hear him out.”

Emma shook her head, her anger simmering just beneath the surface. “No! He has lied to me all along. How can I trust him? Why should I listen to anything he has to say?”

Arabella knelt beside the bed, her hand brushing Emma’s. “Emma, not everything is as it appears. Hanna made a mistake in telling you about the woman.”

Emma’s head throbbed anew, and she glared at them both, her voice trembling. “How can you stand there and defend him? He’s made a fool of me—of all of us!”

Arabella’s gaze softened, but her voice was firm. “You’ve been through an ordeal, Emma. You’ve suffered a head injury, and you were lying on the cold ground for hours. You need rest. We all do.”

Evan, who had been silent until now, took a step back. His voice was quiet but steady. “If you wish it, I’ll leave. But know this—I will not stop trying to make this right. Not until you’ve heard the truth.”

Emma glared at him, her voice sharp as a blade. “I never want to see you again.”

Arabella’s voice rose, cutting through the tension. “Emma?—”

But Evan turned on his heel and left the room, his boots echoing faintly on the floorboards. Arabella and Hanna exchanged a glance before turning back to Emma.

“What happened?” Hanna asked, her voice laced with both curiosity and concern. “Why did you leave like that?”

Emma took a shaky breath, wincing as her head throbbed again. “I heard Evan speaking with Alexander. I couldn’t bear to face him, not after... not after everything. So I took a horse and rode away.” Her voice broke as she continued. “But the horse was wilder than I thought. I couldn’t control it. I... I was thrown, and after that, I don’t remember anything.”

A knock at the door interrupted them. Alexander stepped inside, his expression a mixture of relief and worry. Emma’s heart sank at the sight of her brother.

“Leave us,” he said gently to Arabella and Hanna. They hesitated but complied, casting lingering glances at Emma before closing the door behind them.

Alexander pulled a chair beside the bed and sat down, taking her hand in his. “How are you feeling?” he asked softly.

Emma looked away, tears pricking her eyes. “Confused,” she admitted. “Why is Evan here? He should be happy I’m gone. Now he can be with his beloved.”

Alexander sighed, shaking his head. “Emma, that’s not true. Evan has spent every moment since you left searching for you. He organized the search party—he brought together everyone he could to find you. Arabella, Hanna, Harry, Edwin, his friend Lord Weston—he brought them all here because he couldn’t bear the thought of losing you.”

Emma frowned, her brow furrowing. “Why would he do that? He lied to me. He betrayed me.”

Alexander’s tone grew firm. “No, Emma. He hasn’t. He sat down with all of us—me, Arabella, Hanna, Edwin, Henry—and told us the truth. It’s a truth you need to hear before you throw something precious away.”

Emma’s voice wavered. “What truth?”

Alexander hesitated, his hand tightening around hers. “I’ll let him tell you himself. But before you decide, think about this: sometimes the things we do for what we believe is right end up causing unintended harm. That doesn’t make them unworthy of forgiveness.”

Emma’s heart twisted. “Alexander...”

He gave her hand a reassuring squeeze. “I know I hurt you when we were younger. I thought I was doing what was best, but I see now that I only left you feeling abandoned. Evan’s actions may seem similar, but I truly believe he meant no harm. I think he loves you, Emma.”

Emma’s defenses wavered. She looked at her brother, searching his face for doubt but finding only sincerity. Finally, she nodded, though reluctance clung to her every movement. “Very well. You can send him in.”

Alexander rose, brushing her hair back with a tenderness she hadn’t felt from him in years. “I’ll bring him to you. Give him a chance, Emma. That’s all I ask.”

As he left the room, Emma leaned back against the pillows, her heart pounding.

What truth could possibly justify everything he’d done? And yet, a small, quiet voice in her heart whispered that maybe—just maybe—Evan’s intentions weren’t what she’d feared.