第10章 麻木腿事件
慈善晚宴的第二天,埃德蒙发现自己很难集中精力处理遗产事宜.前一天晚上艾米丽紧紧依偎在他身边的记忆,犹如实体的回音般萦绕在他的心头——她的温暖,她的依赖,她的脆弱...这一切都让他感到困惑.
"陛下,"加雷斯走进书房,观察着主人心不在焉的样子,"您看上去有些烦恼."
"没什么,"埃德蒙放下羽毛笔."只是...思考."
"我猜是关于史密斯夫人的吧?"加雷斯小心翼翼地问道.
埃德蒙没有否认,这证实了加雷斯的怀疑.
"加雷斯,"埃德蒙突然问道,"你对这种'考拉病'有什么看法?"
"...考拉病?"加雷斯眨了眨眼."据威廉勋爵说,这是一种迫使人拥抱高个子以获得温暖和安全感的疾病."
"你真的相信这样的事情存在吗?"
加雷斯犹豫了一下,然后说道:"或许,不是身体上的疾病.听起来更像是...一种情感上的需求."
"情感上的需求?"埃德蒙扬起眉毛.
"是的.也许史密斯夫人只是缺乏安全感...所以才会在她信任的人身上寻找安全感."
埃德蒙沉默了,思绪翻腾.如果真是这样,那是不是意味着她潜意识里已经信任他了?
与此同时,在史密斯家族的庄园里,艾米丽正在花园里享受午后的阳光.她的脸庞容光焕发,丝毫没有昨晚酒后泛红的痕迹.她看起来神清气爽,宁静祥和.
"夫人,您今天看上去心情不错,"女仆安妮一边说着,一边端着一盘茶和糕点过来.
"我觉得事情终于朝着正确的方向发展了,"艾米丽平静地笑着回答道.
[系统提示:宿主,你的乐观值得称赞!不过男主目前还在迷茫期,需要更多互动才能推进!]
我知道,艾米丽心想.但我不能太明显.他现在把我当病人了——我得保持这个角色.
[系统提示:太棒了!保持平衡距离,让他过来!]
那天下午,威廉气喘吁吁地冲进花园.
"姐姐,蒙福特公爵来了!"
"什么?"艾米丽震惊地站了起来."他为什么会来这里?"
"他说他想问问你的情况,"威廉说."父亲正在客厅里招待他."
艾米丽心头一跳.看来昨晚的事确实给他留下了深刻的印象.
"我该怎么办?"她紧张地低声问道.
"就表现得自然点,"威廉建议道."别忘了——你有考拉综合症."
艾米丽深吸一口气,抚平了自己的衣服——一件简单的淡蓝色礼服,让她看起来纯洁而优雅.
客厅里,埃德蒙正在和理查德爵士交谈.
"公爵大人,"理查德热情地说道,"您来访我们深感荣幸.您对艾米丽的关心对我们来说意义重大."
"史密斯爵士,"埃德蒙回答道,"我只是担心昨晚的...事件会让她感到难过."
"您太客气了,"理查德真诚地说,"艾米丽的病让我们大家都很担心."
就在这时,艾米丽和威廉走了进来,向埃德蒙优雅地行了一个屈膝礼.
"陛下,"她轻声说道,"很高兴见到您."
Edmund looked at her—she seemed perfectly fine today. No sign of last night's intoxicated state.
"Lady Smith," he replied, "I came to check on your condition. About last night…"
"Did it trouble you?" Emily asked with concern. "If so, I'm terribly sorry."
"No, not trouble," Edmund quickly said. "I just wanted to ensure you're not unwell."
"I'm quite alright," Emily smiled. "In fact, I had the most peaceful sleep I've had in weeks."
"Peaceful?" Edmund was surprised.
"Yes," she nodded. "Perhaps your presence made me feel safe."
That answer made something stir in Edmund's chest. Her dependence wasn't a burden—it was a kind of trust.
"So… does your condition require any special treatment?"
"I'm not sure," Emily said honestly. "It was the first time it happened, but…"
"But?"
"The physician said if I feel unsafe again, the symptoms may return," she said, a little embarrassed. "I hope I won't inconvenience you again."
After a pause, Edmund said, "If it does happen again, I wouldn't mind."
Everyone in the room was surprised by his words.
"Truly?" Emily's eyes lit up.
"Yes," Edmund nodded. "Helping those in need is a gentleman's duty."
[System Notification: Host, he's begun to take responsibility—excellent progress!]
"You're incredibly kind," Emily said gratefully. "I'll try not to trouble you too often."
"There's no need to restrain yourself," Edmund replied. "Sometimes, following one's instincts is the best medicine."
William watched his sister's performance in awe. She had managed to disguise a modern woman as a vulnerable noble lady—and now, the proud duke was willingly becoming her protector.
"My lord Duke," Richard offered, "would you do us the honor of staying for supper?"
"I'd be delighted," Edmund accepted.
During dinner, Emily was composed and graceful. She asked thoughtful questions about land management, revealing her intellect.
"Lady Smith," Edmund said, "you seem quite informed on state affairs."
"I'm simply curious," she replied modestly. "I believe knowledge is beneficial for any noblewoman."
"An admirable mindset," Edmund said. "Most women shy away from such topics."
"Perhaps I'm just… unusual," Emily said with a playful smile. "After all, I do have koala illness."
Her self-deprecating humor made Edmund chuckle. She was not only clever, but also charmingly witty.
After dinner, they walked through the garden. The moon bathed the flowers in silver light, and the night air was crisp and refreshing.
"It's lovely here," Edmund said. "Do you stroll here often?"
"Yes," Emily replied. "I love the peace and quiet."
"Do you still feel unsafe at times?"
"Sometimes," Emily admitted. "Especially in crowds. I often feel like I don't quite belong."
Edmund stopped and looked at her. Bathed in moonlight, she looked so fragile, so honest—it softened him.
"You don't have to feel out of place," he said. "You're simply… different."
"Is that a good thing?" she asked.
"Of course," he answered. "The world needs different voices."
She yawned suddenly.
"Pardon me," she said shyly. "I'm getting sleepy."
"那你就休息吧,"埃德蒙说."我该走了."
"等等,"她伸手去拉他的袖子,"我...我又开始感到不安全了."
埃德蒙看着她的眼睛,看到了真正的焦虑.
"怎么了?"
"我不知道,"她低声说."夜晚让我感到不安."
他犹豫了一下,然后说道:"如果你需要我,我可以待一会儿."
"真的吗?"她满怀希望地说道.
"是的,"他点点头."直到你感到安全为止."
回到客厅,艾米丽坐在沙发上.埃德蒙在她旁边找了张椅子坐下.
"你现在感觉怎么样?"他问道.
"好多了,"她回答."有你在,我感到很平静."
时间过得很慢.她的眼皮越来越沉重.她努力保持清醒,但却做不到.
"您可以休息了,史密斯夫人,"他温和地说道.
"我不想让你久等..."
"我不介意."
最终,她睡着了.但即使在睡梦中,她也蜷缩着身子,仿佛在寻求安慰.
埃德蒙被突如其来的温柔所感动,静静地坐在沙发上她身边,让她靠在自己身上.
她把头靠在他的肩膀上,一只手轻轻抓住他的袖子.他的身体绷紧了——但他没有躲开.奇怪的是,他很享受这种感觉.
她的呼吸轻柔,面容安详.他听着她在睡梦中低声呢喃——"安全","温暖".
一个小时过去了.她没有醒来的迹象.埃德蒙的腿开始麻木了.
"她睡得像个孩子,"他想,"睡得真沉..."
又过了三十分钟,他终于轻声唤她.
"史密斯夫人...您醒了吗?"
艾米丽动了动,慢慢睁开眼睛,发现自己又蜷缩在他身边.
"对不起,"她连忙说道,"我...我肯定又复发了."
"没事了,"埃德蒙伸了伸麻木的腿,"你睡得挺香的."
"我又麻烦你了,"她愧疚地说,"你的腿...?"
"是有点麻木,"他承认道,"但看到你睡得这么安稳...一切都值得."
这句话温暖了她的心.他现在真的关心她了.
"你太客气了,"她说,"我真不知道该怎么报答你."
"无需回报,"埃德蒙回答."帮助别人本身就是一种回报."
"那...如果以后再有这样的事,你还会...?"
"我愿意,"他坚定地说,"任何时候你需要我."
这个承诺让艾米丽满心欢喜.她知道他开始接受她了.
"很晚了,"埃德蒙站起身说道,"我该告辞了."
"一路平安,"艾米丽说."谢谢你今晚的陪伴."
"不用客气,"他回答道,"有什么需要尽管吩咐."
看着他离去,艾米丽心中充满了希望.今晚,他们的关系更加亲密了.
"系统提示:宿主,你太棒了!男主现在从被动接受变成了主动承担!"
我能感觉到,艾米丽心想.他现在真的在乎我了.
[系统提示:保持这份温柔的依赖,让他习惯守护你——然后再提升感情亲密度!]
艾米丽点点头,充满自信.
与此同时,在返回城堡的路上,埃德蒙回想起了那天晚上发生的事情.
"她没疯,"他低声说道,"她只是需要保护而已."
意识到这一点,他的内心充满了矛盾.他已经开始期待再次见到她了.
或许...这是更多事情的开始.