Chapter 322: Chapter Three Hundred And Twenty Two
The rapid breathing in the master bedroom slowly began to calm. The quiet sounds of the night returned. The logs in the stone fireplace continued to crackle softly, sending a warm, golden glow across the messy white bedsheets.
Delaney lay perfectly still on Rowan’s broad chest. She listened closely to the steady beating of his heart beneath her cheek. She felt completely weightless. Her entire body was relaxed and filled with a deep peace.
After a few long, quiet minutes, their breathing completely steadied. Delaney realized she was resting her entire weight on him. She did not want to crush him while he rested.
Slowly, she moved. Delaney slid gently off his warm body. She rolled onto her side, resting her head on the soft pillows beside him. The cool night air brushed against her bare shoulders, a sharp change from the intense heat of his skin.
Rowan felt the sudden loss of her warmth immediately. He did not let her stay away from him for more than a single second.
He shifted his body across the mattress. He moved close behind her. He reached his arms out and wrapped them securely around her narrow waist. He pulled her gently but firmly backward until her back was pressed flush against his chest.
Rowan buried his face directly into the back of her neck. He breathed in the sweet, clean scent of her dark hair. He cuddled her closely, wrapping his long legs around hers under the thick duvet.
"Were you satisfied, Your Grace?" Rowan asked.
His deep voice was raspy and low. It was thick with exhaustion, but it also held a highly pleased masculine pride. He whispered the words directly against her skin.
He leaned his head forward just an inch. He pressed a very soft, warm kiss to the back of her neck. Then, he moved his mouth slightly lower.
On Delaney’s back, there was a scar. It was an old, ugly mark left behind by the carriage accident many years ago.
Rowan found the slash in the dim light. He pressed his lips gently exactly over the scar. He kissed the mark with tenderness. It was a silent, beautiful promise. He was telling her that he would never let her to be hurt ever again.
Delaney felt the soft press of his lips against her old scar. A fresh wave of love washed over her heart.
She nodded her head gently against the soft pillows. She felt a small happy smile touch her lips.
"Yes," Delaney whispered softly. She was completely, entirely satisfied.
Delaney slowly turned her body within his strong hold. She shifted onto her other side so she could face him directly.
Rowan loosened his arms just enough to let her turn, but he did not let her go. He kept his hands resting warmly on her waist. He looked at her face in the golden firelight. His brown eyes were soft and full of love.
Delaney looked back at him. Her smile slowly faded into a more thoughtful, quiet expression.
"I have been having this thought in my mind for a while," Delaney said softly. Her voice was quiet in the still room. "And I forgot to ask you earlier, because so many things were happening today."
Rowan’s peaceful expression changed. A very slight, faint frown appeared between his eyebrows. He noticed the serious tone in her sweet voice.
"What is the matter?" Rowan asked gently. He moved his hand up from her waist. He reached out and gently brushed a dark curl away from her eyes, waiting for her to speak.
Delaney looked at his face. She remembered the busy morning. She remembered the way Aunt Margery’s carriage left .
"Aunt Margery left in a hurry today," Delaney replied. "She did not even come to say goodbye to me before she got into her carriage. Did something happen? Is she alright?"
Rowan let out a very slow, quiet breath. The peaceful, happy mood of the bedroom shifted slightly. He had hoped to keep the sad news away from her for just a little bit longer, but he would never lie to his wife when she asked him a direct question.
He moved his hand. He gently caressed her soft cheek with his thumb. His touch was comforting and protective.
"I am sorry, Delaney," Rowan spoke softly, his voice filled with genuine regret. "I forgot to tell you. With the activities of the day and... everything else, the time slipped completely away from me."
He paused for a brief second, looking directly into her eyes so she could see his absolute honesty.
"Her husband is terribly sick," Rowan explained quietly.
Delaney frowned slightly. She searched her memory.
"Yes, I know," Delaney replied, her voice soft. "She told me about him once when we were on the swing in the garden. She said she had to leave him for a while to come to London because of you. Did something happen to him?"
Rowan stopped caressing her cheek. He let his hand rest gently against the side of her face. His eyes were serious and filled with sympathy.
"He’s dying," Rowan replied simply.
He did not use soft, confusing words. He told her the plain, sad truth.
Delaney’s breath hitched sharply in her throat. Her eyes widened in complete shock. The sudden, terrible news hit her very hard. Aunt Margery was so full of life, so loud and cheerful. It was incredibly difficult to imagine her facing such a dark, terrible tragedy.
"He... he is... dy... dying?" Delaney stammered. Her sweet voice shook completely. She could hardly form the terrible word.
Rowan nodded his head slowly. His face was very grave.
"Yes," Rowan confirmed softly.
He moved his arm and pulled her slightly closer, wanting to comfort her through the shock.
"She received a letter this morning," Rowan explained quietly, his voice a low, steady rumble in the dark room. "It was from his head physician, informing her of the terrible situation. His lungs have completely failed him. The doctor said he does not have much time left."
