“Good to see you again, young lord!”

“You as well!” Wade called from the window, “Tell the Countess that I’ve arrived.”

“What happened to you, Lord Everleigh?”

“It is quite a story. I’ll be sure to tell it later tonight. Send healers to my room, right away,” He laughed, “Have another bed made up in the adjoining chambers.”

The bright light broke through slotted blinds and shined directly into her eyes. Charlie grumbled and pulled the blanket over her head. The door of the carriage closed again. She felt someone crawl beside her. The slight pull of a hand rolled her over to face him. He sat on the floor of the carriage to let her lay completely on the bench.

“My lady, we’ve arrived in Vlaminer. We’re at my estate.”

“Five more minutes,” She mumbled.

“We can lay in the carriage as long as you’d like, but you are burning to a crisp,” He wiped the sweat from her brow, “I need to get you to the healers quickly.”

“Roman, don’t be so silly. We can do that later,” Charlie didn’t open her eyes as her hands ran through his hair, “Just five more minutes of snuggling.”

He didn’t know what a Roman was, but Wade blushed, “Five more minutes, then.”

“You smell nice,” She yawned and crawled into his lap, “You never smell this nice.”

“I’ll make sure to smell this nice every day. We can bathe together again, if you’d like.”

“It’s not even my birthday,” Charlie mumbled, “Would you scratch my back?”

He hands shook as he scratched her.

“No, under,” She mumbled, “It’s fine.”

“If you’re certain.”

Wade hesitantly reached under her shirt and lightly traced his fingernails against her skin. He could feel the goosebumps form under his touch. The heat radiated off of her enough to bake the sweat into her clothes. She shivered but moved closer. The cute noises she made caused him to smile, despite his worry.

A bump in the road caused the carriage to shake and her to press herself firmly against him. Wade brushed the back of his hand against her forehead to feel her fever again. When Charlie laced her fingers between his and held his hand against her face, he felt his heart slam against his ribs.

“Lady Charlotte…”

“You’ve been so nice to me,” She mumbled under her breath, “What’s gotten into you lately?”

“You’re a stunning woman. You saved my life,” He moved his hand up move the sweat soaked hair from her face, “Why wouldn’t I be kind to you?”

“Silly,” Her eyes barely opened as she smiled sweetly, “You’re never this nice.”

Her fever addled brain thought she was back at home in the comfort of someone else’s arms. In her half-awake state, she played with the buttons of his shirt. Wade’s face burned hot, but he didn’t want to stop her. In the past day, she hadn’t fully awoken for more than a moment. Each time he checked on her, she only became increasingly delirious and incredibly more affectionate. He put her in the carriage after the first time she tried to take her own clothes off.

“Will you kiss me again, like before?”

“We haven’t—”

“Please?” The pathetic whisper felt childish, “It’d make me feel better.”

“Because you’ve asked nicely.”

Wade tilted her chin towards him. He kissed her gently at first before she hungrily pressed her lips against his. He didn’t expect her tongue to slide between his lips but didn’t hesitate to give into her. Charlie was the first woman he ever kissed. Now she basically devoured him, and he enjoyed it. His hands traveled to her hips before she guided them to her breasts.

“My lady—”

She slid her top off her shoulders, “Don’t you want me, baby?”

“Gods, yes.”

She vibrated in his arms when he squeezed her softly. She turned to mount him completely and he held her in place. Her lips never left his for more than a moment to breath. His mind raced at the stark difference in her actions and if she would actually do this when she was completely herself. She slowly grinded against his lap as she kissed him harder.

“My lady, what are you—”

“If I take care of you,” She unbuckled his belt as she whispered in his ear, “Will you take care of me?”

He stuttered, “Ch—Charlie?”

As her hand suggestively slipped under his clothes to grasp him, he sputtered incoherently at her forwardness.

Then, the door to the carriage opened.

“Welco—” A woman squeaked, “Lord Everleigh!”

“Close the door, Cynthia!” He shouted.

The door slammed shut and Charlie’s eyes fluttered closed. She drowsily mumbled something before she completely collapsed on top of him. He cursed under his breath and wiped her saliva from his lips. Wade slowly laid her on the floor before readjusted himself back into his trousers. He threw open the door to a group of surprised housemaids with grey and green uniforms.

“Wel—welcome home, young lord,” The oldest one stuttered, “Terribly sorry to intrude on your—”

“That is my bride,” He announced as loudly and pompously as he could, “Is her room made up?”

“Not yet, my lord,” She curtsied and did not meet his gaze, “Should we—?”

“Lady Charlotte does not feel well. I will take her to my room for now. Bring the healers immediately,” He turned back towards them, “I expect that Cynthia, and anyone else that thought they saw something a moment ago, keep that to themselves.”

He knew that would ensure that all the maids gossiped about what they saw.

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“Yes, my lord,” The older woman lowered her voice, “Though, if I may?”

“What?”

“Perhaps, if she is ill, may it be best to let the lady rest?”

Wade laughed and ran his hand through the back of his hair, “I did not initiate anything. I did my best to fend her off, even.”

The group of maids squeaked behind him as he opened the carriage door. Charlie’s shirt was thrown onto the bench, and she curled up under the blanket with her bare shoulders visible.

“My lady,” He lowered his voice, “You need to wear—”

“Too hot,” She groaned.

“I must insist you come inside fully clothed.”

The maids behind him squealed as her shirt flew from the carriage and hit him in the face. He sighed as he knew this wasn’t the first and wouldn’t be the last time they did this.

“Make me,” She whispered in a flirtatious voice.

He wrestled her arms back into the top and over her head. He wrapped Charlie in the blanket in case she tried to strip herself again. As he scooped her up in his arms, she whined and pressed her face against his chest. He enjoyed how all of her small actions would give his claims more credibility than they deserved, but he knew how furious she would be.

First, though, she had to live.

“Five more minutes.”

“My lady, you’ve said that a few times now. You’ve got to come inside,” He chuckled at the staff’s reactions, “Perhaps we can continue later.”

“Okay,” She mumbled, “I’m hungry.”

“You’ve worked up quite the appetite,” He carried her towards the manor, “Let’s get you to my room first. I’ll feed you in bed.”

The Everleigh Estate contained three main buildings, a stable, and a small cabin further in the woods at the main property. Wade carried a cocooned Charlie to the largest building on the property. At four stories tall, the manor towered over the courtyard with an imposing presence with at least a dozen rooms on each side. He knew the route to his bed chambers by heart and tried to avoid the any paths that his siblings may take to find him. At a back stairwell, he unfortunately found one.

“Little brother!” The jaunty man laughed, “It’s good you came back so quickly. Who might this be?”

His oldest brother, fifteen years his senior, had more conventionally handsome looks with his stronger features. Wade grew up incredibly jealous of him. Even now, the older had a perfectly manicured beard where he barely had stubble.

“Hello, Wayne,” He bowed his head, “This is Lady Charlotte.”

“Is there a reason you’ve brought an unconscious woman in this part of the house?”

“I am bringing her to my bedchambers.”

“Oh really?” He grinned, “You devil, you. Finally giving in to some of those big boy urges we’ve talked about?”

“Brother!”

“Come on,” The older brother chuckled, “She’s barely conscious. What else would you be doing?”

“This is my wife!”

“I’m sorry?” He blinked.

“Lady Charlotte,” Wade sat her feet on the ground and held her against him, “My wife.”

He pulled her hand from the blankets to show the large emerald ring. Wade breathed a sigh of relief when her fingers laced between his in that moment. She mumbled something he couldn’t understand before she nuzzled her face into his neck.

“Mother’s ring? Where did you—” Wayne stuttered, “You were gone for a week. How the hells did you marry a woman in that amount of time?”

“We aren’t married yet, but I just met the love of my life,” He whisked Charlie back off her feet, “And if you wouldn’t mind getting out of the way—”

“Carry me to bed?” She mumbled and placed a hand on his chest, “I don’t feel good.”

“Of course,” Wade tenderly pressed his forehead to hers, “Now if you’ll excuse me, my lady is unwell. She needs healers and to rest without all of my siblings interrogating her in this state.”

“I’ll send Tasha right away,” He cleared his throat, “I’m sorry to take up your time.”

“Once she feels up to it, I will introduce her to you properly.”

“Sister will want to see you as soon as possible,” The baron held the door open for him, “I will save you both a spot for dinner.”

Wade dipped his head as they passed him. He walked down the red wing of the manor into the farthest room. He opened the door to his bed chambers and laid Charlie on the nearest couch. The sickly woman had already sweat through most of her clothes.

“Gods, she’s burning alive,” He pressed the back of his hand to her forehead, “What do I do?”

Wade looked around to see a thin blanket across the back of one of the chairs, a basin of water in an armoire, and his dresser. He searched for a small washcloth and let it soak in the water as he undressed her. He prayed she wouldn’t wake up halfway through and berate him. She playfully swatted his hands away.

He whispered as she played with the buttons of his shirt, “Charlie, I’m trying to help you.”

A dark, inciting chuckle left her lips as he touched her.

“By the gods, woman. Are you always this… insatiable when you’re sick?”

“Why are you stripping me?” She teased, “It’s easier to do this.”

Her fingers danced over the bow before she pressed it. Swirls of light condensed to a gemstone that bounced off of her laughing stomach. He gasped at the quick magic. She wiggled her fingers with a giggle. Then, she laid completely naked in front of him.

His face instantly turned red, and he tried to look away. She laughed until she winced and grabbed her stomach.

“My lady,” Wade looked into the absentness in her eyes, “Are you with me? You’re worrying me.”

“Shit, my stomach hurts.”

Charlie pulled her hand away and saw the yellow ooze. Her other hand quickly covered her mouth as she rolled over to vomit. Wade grabbed her arms so she didn’t bump her head against anything in her fall. Her delirium continued as she tried to grab onto anything around her.

“I’ve got you,” He helped her to her feet, “Come on, let’s get you to the bath.”

“I don’t feel so good.”

He held her hair as she lost the little bit of food from her stomach on the floor of his room. The rancid smell made him gag and he held his breath as he walked her towards the bathroom. When he was sick, a bath typically helped him feel better.

“Where—” She looked around with sleepy eyes, “Where am I?”

Charlie fell limp in his arms again. He cursed and quickly carried her over to his bed. As he laid her down, the door swung open without a knock. The countess, his eldest brother, dozens of house servants, and three healers casually stepped into the room. He tried to cover her as they stepped closer to his bed. The thin sheet did basically nothing to hide her modesty, but he attempted. Wade rushed towards the door as more people entered his chambers.

“Brother, Dame Bryza told me—”

“Ah, the healers are here!” He tried to stop his sister from walking to his bed, “About time! Lady Charlotte is—”

“Brother! Your face!” She gasped.

The middle-aged woman only strands of grey hairs in her curly chocolate locks. Her dark green robes with golden threads and sparkling jewels jingled as she flew towards him. They shared the same soft features of their mother. She grabbed his face and moved it to look him over.

“I have had a long few days, Sister. Now, if you could just—"

“Even if you are injured, you can’t just make any demands!” She scoffed, “You ran away from home. Then, I hear that a woman—”

“Stop!” He winced as she looked towards the bed.

“Why is there… a naked woman in here?”

“Countess Everleigh,” He cleared his throat, “This is Lady Charlotte.”

The woman held her hand up to stop the others from stepping further into the chambers.

“I intend to marry her.”

“Absolutely n—” She leaned down, “What is wrong with her stomach?”

Her eyes traveled to the pile of vomit on the bed and the floor before she snapped at the healers to approach.

“I didn’t expect anyone to just barge into my room, dear sister, but I was in the middle of changing her,” He pulled a shirt from his wardrobe and walked to his bed, “Now, unless you plan on parading my wife’s body around for the entire manor to see, shall we take this elsewhere while she’s being healed?”

“How many attunements does she have?” His older brother stretched to look, “That one on her hip looks astonishing next to her well-groomed—”

“Keep your eyes off my woman!” Wade barked.

“Dear brother,” The woman sighed, “You can’t just bring a woman in here and say she’s your wife.”

“Lady Charlotte saved my life,” He sat on the bed next to her, “She didn’t even know who I was. I’m sure your dame has told you more.”

“The lady said she doesn’t want to marry you,” Bryza pushed through the crowd to stand by the countess’s side, “And continuously said so.”

“She’s obviously sick,” Wade scoffed and looked down to her, “It’s clear she fancies me. Ask any of the servants in the courtyard moments ago.”

Charlie winced and rolled onto the side opposite of her wound. She groaned and reached towards him. Her hands found his and she brought it to her face. His thumb brushed over the emerald ring, and he smiled softly. She nuzzled against his hand as she groaned. Tears threatened to break from the corners of her eyes.

“Don’t go,” She whimpered, “Don’t leave me. Not again.”

“My lady,” He whispered, “Only a moment more and you’ll be alright.”

“Brother, I— is that mother’s ring?”

“You can ask her yourself,” He sneered at her, “But it will be hard to do that if she’s dead.”

The countess looked between her brother and the woman, “Wade—”

“Wanda, I will never forgive you if she dies,” He said coldly, “I promise you that.”

“Fine,” She sighed and turned to the stunned healers, “Take care of Lady Charlotte. Brother, we will discuss this proposal later.”

“Thank you,” He squeezed Charlie’s hands, “All I need you to do, my lady, is wake up.”