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“Hello there” he said weakly. “Fancy seeing you here.”

Her face scrunched into a ball as she tried to keep herself from crying. She half stood as if to throw herself over him, only to keep herself from doing so… for obvious reasons.

“I thought… I thought… I did not know…”

“If I would live or die?” he chuckled which made his stomach hurt enough that he groaned.

“Careful,” she chastised.

“Sorry for laughing.”

“Sorry for making me worry, you mean?”

“What was I thinking?” he laughed, bringing about more pain.

She smiled, her hand stroking his head as she gazed upon him with a look in her eyes that could only be described as love. “In this, I think for once I might be willing to forgive you.”

“All right, who are you, and what have you done with Miss Dowding?”

She laughed softly… only to grow quiet, her expression changing. “You mean, Miss Dunn…”

“I suppose I do.”

“Your Grace?—”

“Please.” He reached up and rested a hand under her face, an effort to be sure but a worthy one. Her skin was soft and warm, and the feeling of it beneath his hands had him feeling stronger than he had even a second ago. “You do not need to explain.”

“But I do.”

“Perhaps one day,” he agreed. “But for now…” A smile grew on his lips, one he knew to reach his eyes. “Let us not talk about it. Truthfully, I just want to look at you for a while.”

“Oh…?” She raised an eyebrow. “Is that all you wish to do.”

Funny that even with how weak Frederick was feeling, the implication of her words was enough that it didn’t seem to matter. The look she gave him, that sparkle behind her eyes, was one that he knew well. Holding her by the face, she took his hand and kissed the back of it—this sent a pulse through his body, radiating down his legs so that they began to shake. He had no idea how long he had been unconscious, and all Frederick could think was how they needed to make up for lost time.

“I can think of a few other things,” he growled as he forced himself to sit—able to ignore the pain quite easily. His stomach was wrapped in bandages, he saw, but he did not care. Nothing in this world could stop him.

“But… your wound.” Even as she spoke, she stood up and then sat on the bed beside him.

“Will heal.”

“You have not eaten.” Her hand moved beneath the blankets, gripping his naked thigh.

“I have time for that later.” He stiffened as her hand moved down his thigh, wrapping around his member that was already engorged.

“And the door is open…” she purred as she began to stroke him beneath the covers.

“Then… you best… you best close it…” He moaned, eyes closing as he relished the feel of her hand around him.

“Are you sure about that?” she giggled, leaning in and kissing him on the neck as she continued to stroke him. “I will have to stop if I do.”

“It… it is… for the… for the best,” he stammered, gasping as she bit into his neck and?—

“Daddy!” Isabella appeared in the doorway suddenly. “You’re awake!”

Miss Dunn was quick to let him go and pull her hand free and just as quick to take her seat beside the bed again. Done in a matter of seconds, not seen by Isabella as she was too busy running across the room and throwing herself at him.

“Urgh!” he groaned as she fell on him.