Chapter 40 - Forty
The grand four-poster bed was the most comfortable thing Delia had ever slept in her entire life, with linens as soft as clouds and a mattress that seemed to cradle her perfectly. Yet, sleep refused to come. She tossed and turned, her mind a chaotic blend of the day’s ordeal and the memory of a Duke’s intense gaze. The silence of the magnificent house was a huge difference to the noise inside her head.
With a frustrated sigh, she sat up. The moonlight streamed through the large window, bathing the room in a silvery glow. She reached for the glass of water on the ornate bedside table and drank it all in one go, but the cool liquid did little to soothe her restless spirit. She wanted to pour herself another glass, but when she lifted the heavy crystal jug, it was empty.
She got off the bed, her bare feet silent on the plush rug. Shrugging on the silk robe that had been laid out beside her bed, she quietly walked to the door. She needed more water, and the only place to get it was the kitchen. She opened her door and crept out into the quiet hallway, her only guide the pale moonlight filtering through the manor’s many windows.
On her way to the kitchen, she passed the drawing room. A figure slumped in one of the large armchairs caught her eye. It was Eric. He hadn’t gone to his own bed. He had fallen asleep right there. On the table beside him, she saw two empty bottles of wine.
"How many did he have?" she whispered to herself, a flicker of concern touching her heart.
She set her empty jug down on a table and went to his side. Her first thought was a practical one. She carefully picked up the empty glass bottles, her movements slow and deliberate so as not to make a sound. She tiptoed to the liquor cabinet and disposed of them inside, ensuring they wouldn’t get knocked over and break.
When she was done, she went back to him. She tiptoed to his chair and crouched down beside him. Using a single, hesitant finger, she gently poked his shoulder.
"Your Grace," she whispered. "If you’re going to sleep, you should go inside to your room. It’s cold out here."
There was no response. Instead, he adjusted his sleeping position, shifting in the chair until he was facing her. "Mmmm," he groaned softly in his sleep, a sound of discomfort.