Evil Duke, Please Be Gentle!

"There would be many lower noble ladies or  commoners from good families that would be glad to get the honor. If you want, I can…"

"No! Leave!"

"But, my lord…"

"I said leave!" this time the word came out so low as if it were coming from the depths of hell. The physician knew that he could lose his life if he stayed there anymore. So, he bowed his head and stood up to leave!

"The medicine need to be fed every hour until the lady would wake up and call me if she did not wake up till evening.'' Leo nodded his head with a grim expression on his face as he continued to feed her medicine when the man sighed and left.

Leo stroked the face of the girl once the physician left. He had already finished the medicine for this hour.  His eyes fell on her womb and he hesitated.

He touched her womb with trembling hands as he stroked her belly. More tears started to form on the rim of his eyes. He was looking devastated.

He had thought that he would have a happy family with Evan. but god, could he never bear to see them happy! He held her tightly in his hands as he cried silently.

He did not know how he would face her when she would wake up. How strong she was to handle everything on her own.

While he.. He felt like he was a coward to not even have the courage to look into her eyes. If only mother had been alive, she would have.. He shook his head and continued to stare at her face for a long time.

Evan turned and leaned closer to him as if she was trying to seek warmth from his body when he flinched but after a moment of pause, held her in his arms.

He stroked her hair when she slowly blinked her eyes and opened them. She stared at him who was looking back at her with a smile.

"What happened to me?" she asked in a soft voice while fear was evident in her voice.

"Hmm, i think that i tried you, so you slept while leaving me hanging." he whispered softly with an endearing voice as he held her tightly in his arms.

"Are you feeling better?" he added when she nodded her head as relief washed over her face.

He wanted to confront her, ask her if she was ever going to share the news with her but when he saw how tense she had become and how relieved she was looking, he did not have the heart to do so.

"I was a bit scared, so I called the physician. He gave this medicine and asked me to feed you every hour.`` He stood up and picked up the glass of water from the side table and passed it to her.

Her body became rigid again with the name of a physician. Leo noticed how worried she was but not even once the thought of sharing her fears with him crossed her mind.

"Thank you." she drank the whole glass in a swig and smiled as he sat down beside her and fed her the meds.

She opened her mouth and ate the meds silently. She did not even look into his eyes as he continued to feed. He wiped her mouth and then asked the maids to bring some food for her as he walked back to her.

"Evan! Do you want to tell me anything?" he asked as he could not control his emotions when she raised her head with shock but as she continued to stare at him, the trust was evident.

Closing her eyes, she hid her head between her knees and abdomen and took the position of the fetus again.

"You know the truth, don't you?" That was more of a statement than a question when he hugged her without saying a word.

Silent tears started to fall from eyes which soon turned into muffled sobs and then large wails as she cried to her heart's content. She never realized she had been feeling so suffocating until he hugged her.

A large rock that was on her chest had finally been lifted. She wiped the tear off her eyes and raised her head.

"I am sorry!" That apology was like a cold slap on his cheeks.

"What are you saying sorry for! I should be the one to apologize that I was not able to gain enough trust of yours, so that you could come and tell me the truth.

I should apologize for being so indifferent to you and your needs that you never thought you could come to me and share your burdens. I am sorry Evangeline for not being a good husband and now I am not able to share the responsibilities of a father too!" he sighed but the smile on his face never left, neither he stopped rubbing her back as if he was trying to give her all her energy and strength.

She shook her head and opened her mouth to refuse but no word came out. Her mouth felt dry and a sense of pain filled it.

How much time had passed, when she finally looked better. They continued to lay there silently until a maid came with their food.

He stood up and took the food from the maids and then asked them to leave. He brought the food on the bed and fed her slowly. He did not give her the spoon to eat as he waited calmly to finish the food in her mouth and then fed her again as if she was a small baby.

Just when she finished eating, he took the plate in his hands while holding it tightly in his palms, he whispered,

"Evan, we can not keep the kid. I know that it is difficult for you but we have to get rid of it as soon as possible because your life could be at risk!"