Betrothed to the earl

chapter 26

After four days of hell and travelling across England and being 2 months pregnant on top it all was not something Rose could ever prepare herself for, it was like walking across earth, but once Mr. Bertram announced they are near Carnarvon she felt a sudden panic

He possibly hates me, and would not want to do anything with me, she did after all vanish from the face of earth only giving him a 2-month-old letter, his fault was nothing compared to hers, she left like a coward and if confessing her feelings would mend them, she would.

''Oh god'' Rose sighed breathlessly when she saw the sign of the town, ''My lady you look pale'' Bertram commented and god if he knew what else she felt.

She was ready, she was ready to see him, she missed him. Who knew that once cold brute would make her come back willingly she knew even if she wasn't pregnant she wanted him, she thought about him all the time.

As the carriage came to halt a few blocks away Rose gratefully thanked Bertram who never interrogated her when she thought,

But she was here, back.

Nothing changed besides the weather, the leaves fell, and September was near. Autumn was here and children were running around playing, she smiled in amusement as she rubbed her stomach wondering what gender her child would be. She would love whatever, but a pain surged through her thinking of his cruel plan, he wanted an heir.

She came to halt when she saw the house, a few men dressed in black coats looking mysterious caught her attention, but than she remembered she barely knows Nicholas, he's an earl but she never asked what he worked with, what if he is in politics and votes down for women's right?

What if he is against her beliefs?

What if---- Rose stopped the thoughts, she doesn't know and jumping into conclusions was not an answer.

Seeing him was an answer

So with determination she strode towards the huge castle looking house and walked up towards the front porch before a sound caught her attention, she snapped her neck to her right seeing Rita dropped her bucket of apples, ''Ms—Lady Rose?'' she gasped.

Damnnation! She made her cry, Rose strided towards her, ''I am sorry for being gone and without informing you---'' She stopped when Rita shook her head, ''You had your reasons, but the earl... he..''

Rose smiled sadly at that, ''Where is he? I want to see him''

''He don't want to be disturbed but I believe he is sick , my lady'' Rita worryingly said and that ignited a reaction from Rose, ''That arrogant stubborn—Where is he?'' she stopped to ask

'' bedchamber, my lady'' was all Rita needed to say as Rose did not bother picking up her baggage's and instead stormed through the halls, how could he close himself when sick? Wasn't he the one lecturing her all about her health when she---- Rose came to halt as she held the door knob, she took a deep breath before pushing it forward.

The room was silent, but she saw his body on the bed without a blanket neither a shirt in this cold, he was asleep. She took of her shoes before walking into the bathroom and bringing a wet tool, she made sure to be quiet as she walked towards him, she ached with pain seeing him like this.

His unshaven beard, his pale face and it wasn't before she touched his forehead that she realized he was burning with fever, she was about to pat the wet tool on his forehead but his hand gripped her wrist like a vase making her startled as his piercing green eyes meet hers, the time seemed to not exist as they stared at each other with unspoken words.

He reached up for her cheek and she followed his movements but when he touched her he drew his finger like she burned him, it was as if he was checking he was not dreaming.

That's when Rose saw the hate in his eyes, It was so hateful and full of despite that her chest tightened. And god if it did not hurt, ''Let me help you—'' she tried but he had none of it, he got up not caring of his health something that Rose quickly reacted to, she bolted up quicker than him and headed straight to the door before grabbing the key and holding it.

The earl narrowed his eyes at her every movement, he did not utter a word, he did not hold her gaze, she thought it was best to get a reaction out of him if he would not speak to her

  ''If that's how it's going to be you leave me no choice''  She sighed before she placed the key in her bodice feeling the cold metal drop in between her breasts, when Nicholas realized what she did he breathed heavily his fists clenching hard and Rose mentally threw a thump in the air when he finally dragged his eyes on hers

she he held her challenging gaze with his blazing cold ones,  ''Do not take a step closer, I don't know what ill do if you dare to come near me'' He talked with such a coldness she felt foreign to, he was more than mad but rose knew

He was merely trying to scare her and leave, well it was not working. Instead she inhaled and sucked in her stomach as the metal traced deeper down, ''We have to find out don't we?'' she commented back with a tone that was new to him,

Nicholas thought he got over it, thought he got over her but when he thought he saw a dream of her face so vivid he wanted to reach for it, only the dream was reality.

And she was here.

Oh god have mercy on him, that wicked woman hides the key in her body as Nicholas helplessly watched, ''I will give you ten seconds, ten to take that key out'' he gritted out with his tone showing no amusement. He was dead serious.

How could she dare to come here after months?

''It is stuck,'' she continued testing his patient and it was running out. He closed his eyes counting to ten, a method that used to calm him down, but failed today.

''What do you want'' he shot out wanting to be in no part of her game.

Rose gulped nervously but suppressed with a confident smile, ''For you to lay down, you're sick.. let me help you''

Nicholas threw his head back and laughed bitterly, and the sound ugly to Rose's ears, ''I can call in which ever bloody maid for that, what makes you think I would want your help'' he felt satisfied catching the hurt in her eyes, but it was for a brief second before she said confidently, ''I'm your wife''

The earl titled his head with a bittersweet look, ''Was, you were my wife once''