Chapter 25

"Still nothing?"

Leah was sitting in the chair staring into space. Praying… thinking… wishing, she couldn't say which. All she knew was that she was starting to fear the worst when she told herself she wasn't going to allow her mind to give up hope. Unfortunately, the more time that passed and Harlan's fever didn't break meant that death was creeping closer. She despised it, fought against it, but there was also nothing she could do—nothing any of them could do—but wait.

She was just grateful that the queen was feeling charitable and allowing them to remain at Harlan's bedside. Leah had been able to stay in her previous chamber, but it was seldom used. She spent most of her time dozing in the chair by Harlan's bed, except when Hugh ordered her out of the room to get some decent rest. Of course, he wasn't much better. He was likely to wear a path in the palace carpets.

"No." Leah hated to say the word, hated the feeling of dread it caused within her chest. To think that Harlan might die before she'd had a chance to tell him that she loved him, that he wasn't going to be a father yet, but perhaps he might want to keep trying, was as bad as the uncertainty of her future when she had watched her aunt succumb to her illness and wondered what she was going to do next.

Hugh sank down on the edge of the bed and stared hard at Harlan's still form. She hated the pale color of Harlan's face, and although she had opened the curtains to offer some light in an otherwise, dreary atmosphere, it didn't help to lift either her or Hugh's spirits.

"I feel like he's just being an ass at this point."

Leah offered him a censorious look. "You know this isn't his fault."

He lifted a brow and crossed his arms in a petulant fashion. "I'm starting to wonder if it isn't just a way to gain attention."

She sighed. "Just because you're angry at him for making us worry doesn't mean you get to be uncharitable. You would feel terrible if this was the last thing you said to him."

Hugh relented with a hand shoved through his disheveled hair. She recognized the tired lines bracketing his mouth, the dark circles beneath his eyes, because they mirrored her own. "I just hate this," he croaked, his voice starting to crack with emotion.

Leah wasn't sure whether to comfort him or remain where she was, but before she could decide, a hoarse whisper came from the bed, "Now who's begging for attention?"

Both Leah and Hugh looked at each other and stood simultaneously. Moving closer to Harlan, they watched with bated breath for him to prove they weren't just hearing things borne of desperation. "Harlan?" Leah whispered in return.

A miracle occurred. He cracked open an eye and instantly closed it with a slight grimace. "I didn't think light could be this painful."

Hugh immediately moved to the windows and started to close the drapes, while Leah sat on the bed and reached out to touch Harlan's forehead. It was warm, but not dangerously so any longer. Her heart started to beat with renewed vigor and when she clasped his hand, it was warm and no longer cold. She closed her eyes and felt a single tear slide down her cheek. "You're alive."

In reply, he gave her hand a slight squeeze. It was the best feeling ever.

"Water."

Leah gasped. "I'm so sorry!" She wiped her face with the back of her hand and immediately poured a glass and returned to hold it to his lips. She watched him swallow, and it seemed as though his color had already improved slightly. Before now, she'd only managed to get a few sips of herbal tea down his throat. "Do you think you could manage some soup?" she asked.

"Don't rush his recovery," Hugh admonished gently as he returned, leaving the gas lamp as their only light left in the room. "He has to take it slow or he could suffer a setback."

"I'm in the room," Harlan said, his voice a bit rusty from disuse. "You don't have to talk about me like I'm not here."

Hugh snorted. "I can tell you're feeling better."

With an answering huff, Harlan said, "I would actually like some soup. I feel as though I've been at death's door and I would like to get back to normal as soon as possible."

Leah nodded and walked over to the bell pull in the corner of the room to ring one of the servants. When a footman arrived, she offered her request to the kitchen.

Before she could return to Harlan's side, Hugh intercepted her. With a quiet tone, he suggested, "Why don't you get some real rest now? We know that Harlan is through the worst. I can take it from here."

Leah wasn't about to agree to that. "If you think I'm going to leave him—"

"And I would like the chance to speak to him in private."

Her tirade instantly faltered. She was a bit deflated at being sent out of the room, but as soon as he mentioned rest, she realized how exhausted she truly was. She hadn't done more than doze for almost three days. "Very well," she returned grudgingly. "But only because you asked nicely."

He inclined his head and she walked over to talk to Harlan. "I will see you later. Eat well." She hesitated, wanting to say more, but she didn't want to overwhelm him the moment he'd awoken.

After another glance at Hugh, she slipped out of the room.

Harlan wasn't pleasedthat Leah left. He wanted to keep hearing her voice, to look upon her adoring face. "What did you say to her?" he asked Hugh when he sat down in the chair next to the bed. He detested the hoarse way he sounded, but he knew his current status had been much worse.

"I told her to get some rest," Hugh said evenly. "She's exhausted, Harlan. If she doesn't start taking care of herself, it's going to affect her health."

Although he wanted to be selfish, Harlan couldn't abide the thought of switching places with Leah while she fought for her life in this bed. Instead, he said the words that he hadn't wanted to claim before. "I think I almost died."

"I think so too," Hugh returned softly. "But for whatever reason, your life was spared. You have been given a second chance. The question is, what do you plan to do with it?"

Harlan frowned. "What do you mean? I plan to marry Leah if she will have me."

"Will you?" Hugh asked. "That is another reason that I sent her away. I wanted to make sure you understood how much she has been praying over your bedside, and that if you dared to say anything other than you loved her, then I was going to take one of those pillows and put you out of your misery right here and now."

In all the years that Harlan had known Hugh, he'd never known him to get so defensive. Leah must have made quite an impression on him. "I can see she's charmed you."

Hugh crossed his arms. "And I am starting to wonder if you truly deserve her."

That, Harlan did take offense with. "I just said I wanted to marry her!"

"But you never mentioned love," Hugh pointed out. "I find it to be a rather important emotion. I could think of nothing else but Marie when we wed. I knew it was the best thing I ever did and that I was afraid I wouldn't seal our vows with a kiss quickly enough before she slipped through my fingers."

"Trust me," Harlan breathed out slowly. "I wouldn't have made the suggestion if I wasn't convinced of my feelings for her."

"Indeed." Hugh's eyes narrowed. "I would still take offense to you seducing your way into her bed, putting her through all of this chaos, without using the proper precautions."

Harlan's mouth tightened. He could feel a headache starting to pound between his brows, but he knew he deserved nothing less. He resisted the urge to pinch the bridge of his nose and said slowly, "I allowed myself to get carried away. I know I made a mistake, but if you think I would have left Leah to defend herself on her own, you are wrong on that score."

Making a point to glance at the bed, Hugh said, "You nearly did just that."

"It won't happen again," Harlan said emphatically. "I am giving my notice to Wellington as soon as I'm strong enough to leave this blasted bed."

"Why wait?" Hugh lifted a brow. "I will send for Wellington this very instant and you can tell him that you will be leaving the Home Office effective immediately."

Harlan clenched his jaw. "Do it."

His cohort grinned broadly. "That's the spirit." He started to go, but he paused and said, "You know, I think you might actually care enough for Miss Lindquist to make an honest woman out of her."

Harlan rolled his eyes in frustration. "Isn't that what I've been saying all this time?"

"Yes, but I didn't really believe you." Hugh shrugged. "I thought when I mentioned actually following through with terminating your tenure with the Home Office, you might halt the idea."

Harlan's forehead creased slightly. "I'm not going to say that I won't miss the pride I feel when I complete a mission. It was a way I could feel close to my father, to honor his memory, but Leah means more to me than any glory I might have gained by following in my sire's footsteps."

Hugh gave a slight nod. "I understand. But you have to remember that you don't need to search for all of that. She already thinks of you as her own romantic hero."

Harlan quite liked the sound of that. And it also gave him an idea. "Before you go, might you consider one last mission?"

Hugh looked skeptical, but since he was a good friend, he was willing to listen. "Go on."

Leah was startingto get perturbed. It had been two days since she'd spoken to Harlan. The day before when he'd awoken and Hugh had asked to speak to him alone, she decided it was a courtesy. She didn't know that she would be banned from his room from that point forward.

When she thought to check on him later in the day, she was told that the duke was sequestered in his chamber and they were discussing matters of state. Annoyed, but deciding that she could let that go, she tried again that evening. She hoped she might take her evening meal with him, but again, her way was barred from entrance. This time, it was one of the palace guards telling her that Harlan was resting.

Dismayed, Leah had returned to her chamber and flopped on her bed. It didn't seem fair that she had waited all this time, sitting at Harlan's bedside praying for his recovery, and when it finally took place, she was forced to the side.

The following morning, she was determined to push her way through the door if she had to, but before she had the opportunity, Hugh entered her chamber with a missive in his grasp. "Your sister-in-law has written."

While Leah fully intended to check to see how Agnes was faring, a scorned woman on her own now that her husband and brother were in gaol awaiting their respective fates, she wanted to ensure herself that Harlan truly was well and there was no threat that he would gain that frightening pallor again. But it appeared her wishes were not to be granted.

As she read the short, but pleading appeal from Agnes, she sighed heavily. "She has requested my presence in Dudley as soon as I can manage it. I suppose I will make my things ready and depart immediately." She glanced at Hugh. "Might it be possible to see Harlan before I go?"

He'd laid a gentle hand on her arm and said softly, "He will be here when you return. It is my promise to you."

She could feel the tears welling up in her gaze. "I can't have just a few moments with him? To ease my mind?"

He hesitated, and then said, "Very well, but it can't be long. He is still regaining his strength."

She nodded her head, eagerly dogging his heels as he headed down the hallway. She was so grateful to be granted this boon that she didn't care if she had to peek inside, so long as she could see him.

Hugh paused at the door and said, "Wait here."

Anxiety flowed through her veins as she waited for him to return. When he did, he opened the door and put a finger to his lips, letting her know that Harlan was resting. She had hoped that they might have been able to have a conversation, however brief, but considering everything that Harlan had endured until that point, it would likely take some time before he was conversing normally again.

She moved to the side of the bed and sat down. She took his hand in hers and was grateful to feel the calming warmth of his palm in hers. A glance at his face told her that his color had all but returned and his breathing was deep and even, no more restlessness.

Relief poured through her and she decided that she had the strength to make the journey to see Agnes knowing that Harlan was, indeed, recovering quite heartily.

After a short time, Hugh walked over to her. It was the unspoken request that it was time for her to depart. Once they were back in the hallway, he said, "I sent for the carriage and Matthew is ready whenever you are."

"Matthew?" she asked with a tilt of her head.

Hugh rolled his eyes dramatically. "He has remained in London for Harlan, but when I told him you needed to go to Dudley, he wouldn't allow anyone else to escort you."

"I see." With a lingering glance at Harlan's bedchamber door, she returned to her rooms where she gathered her things. They were soon loaded into the coach. Before she left, there was one more person that she needed to speak with.

Leah made her way to the queen's chamber. Following a brief wait, she was bid entry into the private quarters. She walked over to Victoria and took her hand with a slight curtsy. It was the first time they had conversed since the incident. "I'm glad to see you doing so well," Leah noted. "I would have come to pay my respects earlier, but I understood you were a bit… distressed."

"Indeed," Victoria agreed. "But I am not detained from my duties for long. It was a frightening experience that I should not wish to duplicate again, but my fortitude is stronger than my fear."

Something told Leah that was true. It was in the stubborn set of the lady's chin and the determined set of her shoulders. "I'm glad to hear it."

"I understand you are leaving us?"

"I am," Leah confirmed. "In just a few moments, in fact. I do appreciate your kind hospitality. I'm not sure what I might have done otherwise."

"You saved my life, Miss Lindquist," the queen noted firmly. "I commend your loyalty and your service to securing the Crown's legacy. I am the one who is indebted to you."

Warmth surged through her and she nearly gave in to the impulse to reach out and give the queen a hug, but she refrained, because although this woman was human like her, she was also the sovereign of a great nation. Nevertheless, she thought she spied a sparkle of respect in the queen's eyes as Leah departed, and that was enough to satisfy her.