“Ambrosia, wait!”
But the voice was already behind her and becoming fainter as she ran down the hall. She had not a moment to lose. She had waited too long already. She ran to the stairs and up the next two flights, chest tight from the mix of exertion and anxiety. She took only a moment to compose herself, before bursting into the sickroom.
The Duke looked up at her entrance with a benign smile. He was sitting up in bed and morning papers were spread about him on the bed clothes. The thought flitted through her mind that she should scold him for over exerting himself, but then she remembered that she had no right to do so, especially not after the discussion they had only a few moments ago. If she was no longer welcome in her room, her advice would be even less so. Unsure how to begin
