quite new. A good friend that has traveled to America taught me. It is a gentleman’s wagering game, and I intend to teach it to the both of you.”
“You wish me to learn unladylike hobbies?” Willow asked, pretending to be scandalized.
“As your future brother-in-law, it is my duty to make sure you are prepared for all aspects of society.”
Willow laughed.
Cy looked at Ivy and said, “If I recall, you are a fan of wagering, are you not?”
Willow looked quizzically at Ivy, whose flushed cheeks bloomed even more.
Ivy has not divulged the story of my proposal , he realized.
Two hours later, the cards were put away. “It is time for you to rest,” Cy commanded.
Ivy’s eyes were closing of their own free will as she placed her head on the pillow. “All right,” she murmured.
“Sleep well, Ivy,” Willow said softly.
Cy leaned over and pressed a kiss to Ivy’s forehead. It was warm and he thought she might be feverish.
“I shall keep her here until she is well,” he stated as he escorted Willow to the carriage.
Willow raised an eyebrow. “You are most solicitous, sir. I am glad my sister has someone who cares for her well being.”
The doctor still had not arrived by dinnertime and Cy’s concern grew even as he tried to keep his attention on his investment papers. He dozed off in his study, but at two in the morning his valet roused him awake. Ivy was having a fitful night of sleep; she had a fever and was thrashing around in bed and mumbling.
He went to her immediately, dismissing the attentive chambermaid and thanking her for sitting with Ivy and sponging her forehead to keep her cool. It was a chore Cy intended to take over himself.
Just before dawn the doctor arrived and entered the room. “I am sorry I could not come sooner,” Dr. Cannon, a portly man with bushy eyebrows said. “A woman decided to give birth in the early hours of the morning, and I left only when I could be assured she and the child were safe.”
Cy nodded his head. “Thank you for coming.” He rubbed a hand over his tired and unshaved face. “Ivy got caught in a rainstorm. I made her stay here to make sure she was well, and now I am glad I was so overprotective. She caught a fever last night.”
“Let me take a look,” Dr. Cannon said as he pressed his head against her chest to listen to her lungs. When the doctor was finished examining Ivy and was finally satisfied, he nodded and said, “Nothing to be alarmed about. Just a mild chest cold. I doubt any fluid will fill her lungs. Keep her warm, and when she wakes feed her hot broth. She will be right as rain in a few days.”
“Thank you,” Cy said, and then escorted the doctor downstairs. “I will have some refreshment sent to the drawing room for you to enjoy before you leave. If you will excuse me, I will go back and sit with her.” If the doctor thought Cy’s concern was anything out of the ordinary, he wisely did not comment on it.
When Cy reentered Ivy’s bedroom, he was relieved to find her sleeping soundly. He settled down in the chair next to the bed and fell asleep.
***
Ivy woke to late morning sun filtering through the blue drapes. Her head felt heavy, but she managed to sit up. She inhaled sharply when she saw Cy asleep in the chair next to the bed. She examined him for a moment; his shirtsleeves were rolled up, and his chin was dark with stubble. He was relaxed in sleep; in a way he never looked when he was awake. He was always so assured and in control then, and she liked that about him, but this was different. It was as if she had a glimpse of him at his most vulnerable.
She wanted a glass of water, but when she attempted to get up she became dizzy, and had to grip the bed to keep from falling.
“What are you doing?” a sleepy male voice admonished.
Ivy’s vision cleared as Cy came to her, helping settle her back into bed. His dark hair was mussed and she wished she had the energy to stroke it away from his face.
“Water,
“You wish me to learn unladylike hobbies?” Willow asked, pretending to be scandalized.
“As your future brother-in-law, it is my duty to make sure you are prepared for all aspects of society.”
Willow laughed.
Cy looked at Ivy and said, “If I recall, you are a fan of wagering, are you not?”
Willow looked quizzically at Ivy, whose flushed cheeks bloomed even more.
Ivy has not divulged the story of my proposal , he realized.
Two hours later, the cards were put away. “It is time for you to rest,” Cy commanded.
Ivy’s eyes were closing of their own free will as she placed her head on the pillow. “All right,” she murmured.
“Sleep well, Ivy,” Willow said softly.
Cy leaned over and pressed a kiss to Ivy’s forehead. It was warm and he thought she might be feverish.
“I shall keep her here until she is well,” he stated as he escorted Willow to the carriage.
Willow raised an eyebrow. “You are most solicitous, sir. I am glad my sister has someone who cares for her well being.”
The doctor still had not arrived by dinnertime and Cy’s concern grew even as he tried to keep his attention on his investment papers. He dozed off in his study, but at two in the morning his valet roused him awake. Ivy was having a fitful night of sleep; she had a fever and was thrashing around in bed and mumbling.
He went to her immediately, dismissing the attentive chambermaid and thanking her for sitting with Ivy and sponging her forehead to keep her cool. It was a chore Cy intended to take over himself.
Just before dawn the doctor arrived and entered the room. “I am sorry I could not come sooner,” Dr. Cannon, a portly man with bushy eyebrows said. “A woman decided to give birth in the early hours of the morning, and I left only when I could be assured she and the child were safe.”
Cy nodded his head. “Thank you for coming.” He rubbed a hand over his tired and unshaved face. “Ivy got caught in a rainstorm. I made her stay here to make sure she was well, and now I am glad I was so overprotective. She caught a fever last night.”
“Let me take a look,” Dr. Cannon said as he pressed his head against her chest to listen to her lungs. When the doctor was finished examining Ivy and was finally satisfied, he nodded and said, “Nothing to be alarmed about. Just a mild chest cold. I doubt any fluid will fill her lungs. Keep her warm, and when she wakes feed her hot broth. She will be right as rain in a few days.”
“Thank you,” Cy said, and then escorted the doctor downstairs. “I will have some refreshment sent to the drawing room for you to enjoy before you leave. If you will excuse me, I will go back and sit with her.” If the doctor thought Cy’s concern was anything out of the ordinary, he wisely did not comment on it.
When Cy reentered Ivy’s bedroom, he was relieved to find her sleeping soundly. He settled down in the chair next to the bed and fell asleep.
***
Ivy woke to late morning sun filtering through the blue drapes. Her head felt heavy, but she managed to sit up. She inhaled sharply when she saw Cy asleep in the chair next to the bed. She examined him for a moment; his shirtsleeves were rolled up, and his chin was dark with stubble. He was relaxed in sleep; in a way he never looked when he was awake. He was always so assured and in control then, and she liked that about him, but this was different. It was as if she had a glimpse of him at his most vulnerable.
She wanted a glass of water, but when she attempted to get up she became dizzy, and had to grip the bed to keep from falling.
“What are you doing?” a sleepy male voice admonished.
Ivy’s vision cleared as Cy came to her, helping settle her back into bed. His dark hair was mussed and she wished she had the energy to stroke it away from his face.
“Water,
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