Chapter 212
“I have bad news. It appears something bad happened to our duchess.”
“What do you mean?”
“It seems she miscarried her baby because of the shock.”
They were all shocked to see the doctor coming out with a bundle soaked in blood.
Soon they were burning in rage for Rubica’s abductor, Stephen. As the news of it had been very shocking to all of them, no one became suspicious about the sudden miscarriage.
historical
“That is why the duke carried her away in such a hurry.”
“Then shouldn’t you go right away to examine her?”
They couldn’t find enough courage to go themselves, so they pushed the doctor toward the building.
The doctor looked at Carl, asking for what he was supposed to do. He didn’t want to knock on their door and disturb their good time together.
“Let us go.”
But sadly, the butler urged him to go as well. He looked like he was about to cry, and he wasn’t acting this time.
“But if they are...”
“He wouldn’t do such a thing.”
The doctor really wanted to say he had done exactly that, despite appearing to be the most ascetic man in the world.
He started to walk, feeling like a sacrificial lamb. However, when he stood in front of the door, he froze in fear. He had gone in there many times, but today, it felt like he was about to enter an underground dungeon.
“Oh, um.”
He cleared his throat, wondering what to say, but then the butler knocked.
That moment, Carl wasn’t just the butler to the doctor. He was the savior. Yes, he wouldn’t let him become the sacrificial lamb. He regretted misunderstanding him.
“Your Grace, I’m sorry to disobey you, but I’ve brought the doctor so that he will be able to examine Her Grace.”
After a short silence, they could hear Edgar’s voice.
“Where’s Ann?”
“She is right here.”
“She... should come in first.”
He said with a sigh. Carl looked back and announced, still looking grave, “Considering our duchess’s situation, it would be better for the housekeeper to go in first than to send in a man.”
The doctor, who was a little relaxed now, wiped the sweat and agreed with him.
“His Grace has made the right choice. Our duchess needs to relax and rest, and she won’t be able to do that if we all stay here.”
They all took a step back at hearing it. They regretted not thinking of how the duke and the duchess must be feeling. They just let their curiosity take control of them.
All of them received Rubica’s help, so a few of the ladies who lived in the annex were already crying.
“I’ll go in first and call for help if needed. Please go downstairs and wait.”
They all nodded to Ann and left. After they were gone, Ann went inside, but then she widened her eyes at seeing what was happening there.
There was a pile of dresses on the floor, and Edgar was sitting on a chair, exhausted. Rubica was on the bed, her body covered with a duvet, and she looked down in embarrassment at seeing Ann.
Did they make out in the room, during that short time?
Ann had quite a few good reasons to think so. However, Edgar stood up and put a basket on her hand.
“Ann, I’ve learned how great your work is.”
“Excuse... me?”
“Please, dress her.”
The basket had pins, straps, and other things needed for a lady to be dressed.
Ann realized what was going on and had to bite her lips to avoid laughing. Edgar’s fingertips were full of needle marks.
He had wrapped Rubica in a duvet and run here, which was good.
However, the problem was that she only had dresses that couldn’t be worn alone. Edgar tried dressing her, but...
-Put that pin over there, and... ouch!
-Did I stab you again? This should go here but not there?
-Ouch!
He had never known such hard work could exist and gritted his teeth.
Why was it so hard, and why had no one thought of solving that problem?
It was the first time he encountered something he couldn’t do, and he was greatly shocked.
“Most of her dresses are hard to handle, as much as they are expensive. I only let the most experienced maids do it as they are quite delicate and fragile.”
Ann talked as she removed the dresses on the floor. Then, she went into the dressing room. Edgar wanted to tell her to just help Rubica get dressed in one of the dresses he had taken out, but she came out just then.
“You must be very nervous. This is the dress she should wear now.”
She was carrying a nightdress.
‘Damn it, it’s the middle of the night.’
For the first time, he really thought that he could be an idiot. The relationship with the woman he loved had taken away his ability to assess the situation properly.
He had been taking out a bunch of outdoor dresses. And to be honest, he wanted to see her in that apricot flower dress as he had been able to watch it only from far away.
“But Ann, many people are waiting out there. Shouldn’t we go out to meet them?”
However, Ann gave her a grave look.
“Everyone thinks you just miscarried your baby. They will be suspicious if they see you are fine.”
“Miscarriage?”
Rubica hadn’t heard about it yet. They had run out of the carriage in a hurry as there wasn’t a dress for her in there and although they had the time to fake a scene in there, he hadn’t done it.
She looked at Edgar, demanding an explanation, but he just looked away and muttered, “I just couldn’t think about it...”
That didn’t sound like him. He was always thorough and perfect. Therefore, Rubica was a little confused, but Ann nodded. Even a genius could sometimes become a fool in front of one’s lover.
“I understand, I understand.”
“I guess it’s good that I have a capable housekeeper and butler.”
He sounded a bit sulky, but he was certainly complimenting them, so Ann smiled broadly. She hadn’t received any compliments for a long time.
She didn’t know why, but Edgar was blushing like a newly-wed bridegroom after the honeymoon.
He had made a mistake, which wasn’t like him, and was embarrassed by himself. It was like he was back to who he had been before he turned cold, and it made Ann glad.
“Anyway, I must go down to finish this.”
“Yes, everyone is waiting.”
“Shouldn’t I go with you?”
However, Edgar waved his hands.
“Of course not. You must be very tired... just rest here.”
‘You must be very tired...’ A lot of husbands say that when they were worried about their wife, but Rubica blushed hard.
“I’m not that tired.”
“Don’t try to argue with me. Just take some rest.”
“He is right. You have been through a lot because of Stephen, and you had to take a journey on the carriage without taking much rest.”
Too late, Rubica realized her mistake. She was also a bit out of her mind because of the honeymoon she had been so looking for.
Everyone had to be thinking she had miscarried her baby and worried, and she was so embarrassed. She put fingers on her cheeks to cool them.
“Do you have a fever?”
“Oh, no.”
However, Edgar looked really worried. He knew his kind wife sometimes lied by saying she was fine even when she was sick in order to not worry others.
So, he ignored what she said and put his forehead on hers.
“But you do have a fever.”
She was so surprised by him doing it that she couldn’t say she was just too embarrassed.
“Bring in the doctor and have him examine her.”
“Of course.”
“And bring her warm water and food.”
“Right away, Your Grace.”
He got up to leave, but she grabbed him. He was clearly worried about her, and she was glad. Edgar then smiled at her.
“You’ve heard what Ann said, right? Now you’re a woman who just miscarried your baby. Don’t make me a man who makes his wife appear in front of people in such a situation.”
She was trying to protect him, and he thanked her for that. Nevertheless, he wanted her to stop suffering.
He wanted to protect her. She saw what he meant and let him go.
Edgar kissed her forehead again.
“Stop it!”
Rubica protested at his never-ending series of kisses. What embarrassed her even more was her husband’s gaze full of love was for her.
“Ann’s watching!”
She whispered so, but Ann heard it and smiled.
“It’s good to feel like I’m back in the old days. But you should restrain yourself in front of the others, she’s embarrassed.”
“Fine...”
Despite saying so, he couldn’t let go of her hand for a long time.
In the end, Ann had to push him out the door, but he kept his eyes on her until the door was closed.