him. Reid noted the man’s rapid breathing and the cough that began and continued for some minutes. He helped Edward raise Mr. Pickens and lightly pounded him on the back.
Handing the farmer a handkerchief, Reid watched him cough into it—and along with the mucus saw the blood left behind.
“Papa, this is Thomas. He is my best friend.”
Pickens nodded. “I’m happy to meet you, Thomas. My boy will need a friend.”
Another fit of coughing seized him, so loud and long that it frightened both boys. Reid asked them to go and bring in additional firewood and add it to the fire. They left.
The gaunt farmer’s gaze bored into Reid. “I’m dying, Your Grace. What’ll happen to my boy?”
“Rest assured, Mr. Pickens. Her Grace and I will make sure Edward is cared for.”
Chapter Three
For three days, Reid took both Edward and Thomas to the Pickens’ cottage, along with baskets of food for the two servants caring for the ill farmer and the boys to eat during the day. He stayed for an hour each time, making sure all was well, before returning to Gillingham and an anxious Ashlyn, who fretted about Edward and Thomas and the fact she could not go to visit Mr. Pickens because of her delicate condition.
He arrived home and went straight to her office. She sat in a chair by the window, staring out. He lifted her from the seat and sat himself, cradling her in his lap. She placed her head on his shoulder.
“Is the news any better today?” she asked.
“I see no progress in Mr. Pickens’ condition,” he reported. “At the same time, I see no further decline. I believe the visits from his son and Thomas have lifted the man’s spirits. Edward reads to his father or the boys sit silently, one on each side of his bed, holding his hands.”
“He won’t survive,” she said dejectedly.
“No, I am afraid not. Dr. Bradford was there when I left just now. We spoke outside the cottage. He agreed that Pickens has rallied somewhat, thanks to visits from Edward and Thomas, but Bradford believes it is only a matter of time and that we should prepare Edward for his father’s eventual end.”
She lifted her head, her beautiful amethyst eyes filled with tears. “We must take him in, Reid.”
“I agree.”
Ashlyn lowered her head again, burrowing into him. “I love you,” she said.
He stroked her hair. “I know. I love you, too, sweetheart.”
She toyed with the buttons on his waistcoat as she said, “My love grows for you each day, just as this child within me thrives. But what I truly love is the fact that you didn’t even question me when I stated we must take Edward in. You agreed—with no discussion.”
“The boy needs us,” Reid said. “It will be difficult for him to lose his only living parent. Edward will be an orphan. Of course, he’ll have a home with us. Always.”
She lifted her face and pressed a gentle kiss upon his lips. “Very few titled men would take in such a boy, Reid. Especially a duke.”
“Edward is kind and loveable. There is no question in my mind that he will need us. We should be there for him. It is because I am a duke that we have the necessary resources and can make a difference in this boy’s life.”
“You know I have hopes that he will win a scholarship to university and return someday to teach at Dunwood Academy.”
Reid kissed her. “Let’s leave scholarships to other deserving boys in need. We will pay for Edward’s education. If he decides to return here, that will be a gift to us and the school, as well.”
“I don’t want him to feel indebted to us for providing him with an education,” she worried.
He chuckled. “All of that is far in his future. Let us get through this crisis in his young life. The rest will come in time.”
The next morning, Reid and Ashlyn breakfasted with all the pupils of Dunwood Academy as usual. Afterward, a flurry of activity began as parents of their students began arriving to take their sons home for the Christmas holidays. Reid had the ducal carriage readied to bring Edward and Thomas to the Pickens’ cottage and just before they left, Dalinda and Rhys arrived. When he spotted their carriage pulling into the yard, he told his driver to ferry the boys to their destination and return to Gillingham.
“I will ride over on Thunder in a little while,” he assured Edward and Thomas. “Will you