Page 10
After serving Ailis her broth, he ladled a hearty stew into his bowl, and then tore each of them a chunk of bread that was warm because it was fresh out of the oven.
He studied Ailis as she sipped her broth and tried to avoid wetting her sleeve every time she dipped her spoon in the bowl.
She looked up and smiled at him. “This is delicious.”
He could say the same about her. She looked good enough to eat.
Or kiss, if he managed a stolen moment alone with her later.
But no. He dared not kiss her today. She had suffered a bump to her head in addition to a dislocated shoulder.
The newly formed bruising was hardly visible, only a slight purplish discoloration at her brow.
However, she exhibited all the signs of a mild concussion, and he was not going to take this lightly.
Nausea and a slight case of vertigo were symptoms of her falling and striking her head. She had suffered a little from both overnight, Martha had reported to him this morning.
Despite being a bit wobbly as he led her to the table for their repast, Ailis now seemed in fairly good spirits while they ate and chatted. No sign of dizziness or stomach discomfort.
And she was a talkative little thing, but not overly so. He spoke almost as much as she did, and they did not seem to lack for interesting conversation. Jonas was surprised how easily they shared each other’s company, neither one minding if they fell into a silent stretch.
“I have an extensive library,” he mentioned, swallowing a bite of his stew and glancing out the window to check on the snowfall that had yet to abate since starting yesterday afternoon. “I could have Mrs. Fitch bring up a few books for you to read if you are bored.”
“That would be lovely. I suppose they are mostly books on history or the sciences. Art, perhaps? Philosophy? Poetry? Military tactics and ancient battles? My brothers particularly loved those.”
He nodded. “Yes, all of those.”
“So, nothing improper or too scandalous?”
His lips twitched at the corners in the hint of a smile. “Nothing that I would ever dare show you. I do have some adventure stories that might interest you. What exactly are you looking for?”
“Oh, nothing in particular.”
“Ailis,” he said softly, “I can see by the glint in your eyes that you would like something more lurid than the history of cattle farming. Something along the lines of an Ann Radcliffe novel, perhaps? I have the complete volumes of The Mysteries of Udolpho . Heroine in peril. Ominous castle. Dark and stormy night. Handsome and valorous hero to rescue the fair damsel and declare his undying love for her? Although the fair damsel might have rescued herself in that story.”
She smiled with genuine mirth. “And what is wrong with that?”
He shrugged. “Nothing. Did I say there was?”
“Yes, you spoke with your laughing eyes.”
He grinned. “I’m sure I did not.”
Perhaps he did find the notion of such a dramatic love quite amusing.
But he was not trying to condescend. He liked this quietly passionate side to Ailis.
Well, he always knew she had passion. But it was all directed toward helping the poor and nothing to do with her own pleasures. She would be quite something if he ever took her into his bed.
Of course, she was there already.
But he wasn’t in it with her.
Nor could he ever think of sharing a night with her, of stripping off those ugly layers of mismatched clothes and kissing every inch of her soft skin, inhaling the scent of her warm body, and—
Dear heaven.
He would enjoy tasting Ailis. She made him think of apples and autumn spices whenever he was around her.
Had he gone demented?
“You wouldn’t happen to have some gossip rags, would you?” she asked, unaware of the path his thoughts had taken him.
He arched an eyebrow. “In fact, I do. Not that I believe most of that drivel, but one must keep up on what is happening in Society.”
“Oh, must one?” She cast him an impish grin. “You surprise me. I thought you had removed yourself from all the fuss and scandal.”
“I have,” he replied, “but I still want to know what others are doing around me. And what about you, Miss Temple of Virtue? Seems you are not above gobbling up the gossip. Not quite as pious as you let on, are you?”
“Piety and curiosity are not mutually exclusive.” She tipped her chin up and cast him another impertinent smile that made him want to wrap her in his arms and kiss her endlessly.
In truth, he was almost of a mind to give her the next eight kisses tonight, because he found her remarkably enticing.
However, he did not want this bargain to end so quickly. Ailis’s lips were to be savored.
For this reason, he was in no rush to end their arrangement.
This troubled him, of course. But he dismissed the danger of prolonging the game.
He listened as she continued to speak about the importance of reading gossip rags. “You must own that there is a lurid fascination in the horrendous choices some of your peers make. Your Grace, I do not mean to judge anyone. I am merely taking note of their mistakes in the hope of avoiding my own.”
“I hardly think you are one to make mistakes of that sort, Temple.”
“Oh, I think we are all at risk. Even you, Your Grace. It just takes the one person, the one forbidden fruit, and—”
“And we succumb to temptation?”
“Yes, think of Adam and Eve in the garden.” She nodded to emphasize her point.
“I saw it happen with the blacksmith’s daughter and my former betrothed.
It was shocking, but also wonderful in the way they found each other and could not be without each other.
Well, I think she felt it more than he did.
Even so, it is a lesson for us all. Anyone can be tossed into circumstances they are helpless to avoid. ”
She glanced around, taking note of their surroundings. “Take us, for example. Did you ever think I would be taking up lodgings in your bedchamber?”
“No, I hadn’t.” Although now that she had, he could think of little else.
It should not feel so right.
“I am glad we are outside of London and the scrutiny of your peers,” Ailis continued.
“Our situation, as innocent as it is, would destroy my reputation if word ever got out. Thankfully, I am not important enough for anyone to take actual note of my name. The scandal sheets would report it something like this: The Duke of R. is rumored to have a secret bedmate sequestered at his country estate. Is this why the dashing Silver Duke has not returned to London? ”
Jonas grunted.
She set down her spoon and studied him. “I jest, of course. But am I so far off the mark? This is why I need to return to the vicarage as soon as the roads are passable. I cannot be found here, nor should there be any trace I was ever here. I would be so embarrassed if your family ever found out.”
“I doubt they will arrive before the end of the week at the earliest, probably longer in this inclement weather. There is nothing for you to worry about. The roads will be impassable for several more days after a snowfall as large as this one. It is quite possible they will give up and return to London.”
“They won’t,” she responded with a confidence woven out of thin air.
“How do you know?”
“Seriously? You are a Silver Duke, like it or not. No one is going to give up the chance to spend Christmas in your company.”
“Hopefully, my mother will show some sense. Would it not be reckless to keep horses out in such foul, icy weather? Why risk having them break a leg and need to be put down? No, anyone with a brain between their ears would wait until the snow melts and the sun burns away the icy patches.”
“This has to do with hearts, not brains.”
“No, Temple. This has to do with status, alliances, and power. As I’ve mentioned, no one would give a fig about me were I not a duke.
And to now label me a Silver Duke? This only happened out of a desperation for gossip now that my three friends, the real Silver Dukes, are married and the ton was frantic for a replacement. ”
“And there you were, just ripe for the picking.”
“Utter nonsense.”
She cast him an impish smirk. “True or not, it is still fun to read.”
He set down his spoon and leaned back in his seat. “I’ll have Mrs. Fitch bring up some of those gossip rags for you, if you insist on lowering your intelligence.”
“Says the man who reads them too.”
He chuckled. “All right, I concede this round, Temple. Unfortunately, I do not have any of those romantic adventures you seem eager to consume, other than the Ann Radcliffe volumes that it appears you have read.”
“They were very good.”
“Mrs. Fitch can bring them up, too. But I’ll get on it and add a few of your favorite books to my library once the snow clears and I can get to the bookshop to place my orders.”
The notion obviously surprised her. “Surely you would not do this for my sake.”
He shrugged. “I’m sure my mother’s tastes run similar to yours.”
One of the maids entered his bedchamber, her presence putting an end to their conversation. Since Jonas had finished his meal, he remained only long enough to assist Ailis back into bed, and then retired to his study.
There was always work to be done.
He could work in peace if he was of a mind to do so. No one would be foolish enough to ride out in this dangerously foul weather to call upon him today.
But his mind insisted on wandering back to Ailis.
What was it about her that tugged at his heart?
He truly was sorry she had lost her family, and even sorrier that her parents had failed to appreciate how good and kind she was. She had so much love to give.
Did he dare take some for himself?
He snorted and dismissed the possibility immediately.
How could he ever shame Ailis by professing interest in her?
What could he offer her but ruination? He had no intention of ever marrying.
It was not merely a question of his scarred body.
He did not think Ailis would ever feel revulsion for that.
Many of those scars had faded over time, anyway.
Table of Contents
- Page 1
- Page 2
- Page 3
- Page 4
- Page 5
- Page 6
- Page 7
- Page 8
- Page 9
- Page 10 (Reading here)
- Page 11
- Page 12
- Page 13
- Page 14
- Page 15
- Page 16
- Page 17
- Page 18
- Page 19
- Page 20
- Page 21
- Page 22
- Page 23
- Page 24
- Page 25
- Page 26
- Page 27
- Page 28
- Page 29
- Page 30
- Page 31
- Page 32
- Page 33
- Page 34
- Page 35
- Page 36
- Page 37
- Page 38
- Page 39