Page 18 of The Duke’s Spinster Bride (A Duke’s Game #2)

Chapter Eighteen

“U tterly infuriating woman, would it kill her to just listen for once?” Frederick exclaimed for the thousandth time as he paced around his room.

He had spent most of the night pacing, eventually giving up on sleep after several hours of attempting it. All night, fury and fear had warred within him.

“I am just trying to keep her safe. But no, she is too stubborn to see that.” He let out a frustrated growl and aimed a kick at a sofa.

Pain throbbed in his foot as his toe collided with it. Cursing, he hopped, clutching it to him and scowling. Limping, he crossed to the window, leaning against the glass and frowning.

As the pain grew, his anger abated. The vice that had formed around his chest as soon as Andrea had suggested riding to Cecily’s eased. The sound of a man’s blood curdling scream filled his mind and he pushed it away.

“This is different.” Frederick murmured, his breath fogging up the glass. “She will not ride out. She will not take the carriage.”

The hurt and confusion on Andrea’s face played in his mind and guilt washed over him. “I should not have reacted the way I did. She was only asking to see Cecily.”

He thunked his head against the cool glass. “I should have explained it better. Should have told her that the carriage was not safe to use, it is in need of repairs and after a storm like last night it is unlikely to hold up on the roads.”

Yet in the moment, all he could hear was the sound of his father’s screaming. He had barely been able to string a coherent thought together in his panic, let alone anything else.

“I should apologise to her. Perhaps suggest that we ride out together.”

He was about to turn away and leave the room to go find Andrea, when he caught sight of movement on the driveway.

“What the-” with a startled cry he realised that he was seeing the carriage tearing down the road. “She is going to get herself killed!”

Frederick pulled on his coat, and hurtled out of his room. He was barely aware of anything as he reached the stables. I cannot believe she did this.

“I am going to sack the driver who agreed to take her.” He muttered as he sprinted into the stable yard.

To his immense relief, he saw one of the horses already saddled and being run around one of the paddocks. He ran towards the horse and its rider.

“I need the horse. I trust it is not spent.” Frederick opened the paddock gate.

The stable boy leapt down and led the horse towards him. “No, Your Grace. She still has a few hours’ hard riding in her.”

“Excellent.” Frederick pulled himself into the saddle, whirled the horse around and galloped after Andrea.

He urged his horse onwards as fast as he dared. The sound of thunder and screaming filled his mind, fueling his panic further. Fool. Absolute fool.

“Andrea!” He yelled as soon as he spotted the carriage. “Andrea! You have to stop! It is dangerous.”

She gave no sign that she had heard him and he cursed, digging his heels into the horse to increase its speed. Thankfully, the carriage was not moving at more than a trot.

“Andrea! Andrea, listen to me!” He roared above the wind rushing against his face. “Damn it, pull over the carriage!”

His mind filled with images of falling, of crumpled and broken bodies, with rain flooding the road, but he pushed it away. He opened his mouth to call out again, he was so nearly level with her.

The wheel of the carriage snapped, wood splinters narrowly missing him. Andrea screamed as she was flung from the carriage onto the road.

Frederick let out a howl and leapt from his horse, uncaring of the danger. He landed, stumbled and fell, pain lancing through his hands and knees, but he ignored it. He pulled himself to his feet and sprinted towards Andrea. She was clutching her ankle, caked in mud.

His heart seemed determined to beat itself out of his chest as he drew level with her. He knelt beside her, his eyes searching her for any signs of injury. She is awake. That is a good start.

“Are you hurt? Did you hit your head?” He gently touched her head, feeling for lumps or for any sign of bleeding.

He let out a sigh of relief when he felt neither, but continued to search her body for other injuries.

“I-I-I do not think so.” Andrea’s voice was small and shaky, and it broke his heart. Rain beat down on both their heads, tugging her hair into damp locks against her cheeks.

Frederick nodded. “I need a better look at you, there does not seem to be any bleeding anywhere, though it is hard to tell with all this mud.”

“I suspect it broke my fall.” She gave him a weak smile. “It is lucky the carriage was not moving any faster.”

The thought of what might have happened if the horses had been moving at any great speed sent ice through Frederick’s veins. He paused, tensing as he tried to dismiss the image from his mind.

“I should have listened to you. I cannot believe I have been such an idiot.” Andrea bit her lip. “I just thought you were trying to control me. I did not stop to think… to think that there might be a sensible reason you were telling me no.”

Tears filled her eyes. “I am sorry I did not listen to you. And now the carriage is ruined.”

He wiped the tears from her face with the pad of his thumb. “You do not need to apologise for that. I should have realised how it would sound. If anyone is to blame it is me.”

“But – ”He cut her off.

“Please do not beat yourself up for this. It is my fault. I should have explained myself, made you understand my objections and that the carriage was broken.” He gave her a firm look. “Now hold still, I need to check for any other injuries.”

His hands skated across her skin, as he watched her face for any sign of pain. She stiffened slightly at his touch, her breath catching.

“Does this hurt?” his heart sped up, his eyes widening.

She shook her head. “Just… I am not used to…”

Two faint spots of colour appeared on her cheek and Frederick hastily looked away. He gently moved her limbs, pushing and checking for any injuries, noting various scrapes and cuts as he did. When he reached her right ankle, she let out a pained hiss and clutched it tightly.

He chewed on his lip. “I do not think it is broken, but I will ask someone to contact the physician just to be sure. You have a few cuts and scrapes, but nothing too serious. Do you think you can stand on that leg?”

“I am not sure.” Andrea’s voice was oddly breathless.

Frederick glanced around and saw his horse not too far from them. He swept Andrea into his arms, making her yelp, and walked towards the horse. He placed her onto it before climbing on behind her.

His heart seemed to be settling. The warmth of her pressed against him was a reminder that she was real, that she was safe. He felt his shoulders relax as the smell of jasmine washed over him.

“If I move into a canter, will you be able to balance?” His breath moved her hair and he felt her tense against him.

“I think so.” Her muscles eased.

He nodded and urged the horse from a trot to a canter, holding her tightly as they sped back towards the castle. As they approached, he waved to one of the servants who was walking along the driveway.

“Send for the physician, the Duchess is hurt.” Frederick slowed the horse and gestured to the man.

The servant’s eyes widened and he nodded, before sprinting away. Frederick slipped from the horse, helping Andrea down. Other servants came towards them.

“Your Grace?” Mr. Jenkins appeared, wringing his hands. “What is going on?”

“Mr. Jenkins, there was an incident with the carriage.” He felt Andrea stiffen against him. “Please have some of the grooms fetch it and the horses, they are not too far from here – on the main road heading North.”

“Of course, Your Grace.” Mr. Jenkins waved several servants over and barked instructions. “Is there anything else you will require?”

“Have some boiled rags, clean water and some of the healing salves the cook makes to the drawing room. I have sent someone for the physician, when he arrives, kindly show him to the drawing room as well.” Frederick put an arm around Andrea, letting her lean on him for support as they made their way up the stairs.

Mr. Jenkins nodded and turned from them, moving in the direction of the kitchens as Frederick and Andrea made their way towards the drawing room.

“I can carry you again if walking is too painful.” He studied her face; it was so pale.

“If I say yes, will that count as my asking for help this week?” Andrea’s eyes sparkled, and she gave him a small smile.

He chuckled softly. “We shall see, Duchess.”

He lifted her gently into his arms. At first, she stiffened against him, but as he moved forwards, her body softened, her head resting against his chest. He could not tell if it was her heart that was beating so loudly or his own.

Swallowing, he placed her on the sofa, arranging the pillows so that she could sit up more easily, her legs outstretched. She fidgeted while he arranged the pillows, trying to do it herself and then yelping whenever she strained her foot.

“Just let me help you.” He arched an eyebrow at her. “You cannot do everything yourself.”

She bit her lip. “But I have already caused you so much trouble and I do not want to cause you anymore. Really, I am sure I will be fine. You do not need to stay with me, I can manage.”

“You will cause more trouble if you keep resisting. The servants no doubt have duties to attend to, and I have some knowledge of medicine.” He attempted to give her a confident grin, but it felt more like a grimace. “You have to when your cousins are Dorson and Elington.”

Andrea laughed softly and the sound eased a knot in his chest. She looked at him with wide eyes, and a trembling bottom lip. “I suppose you are rather furious with me.”

He leaned backwards, his brow creasing. “I am more furious with myself.”

Servants appeared with steaming bowls of water, white cloths and a pungent salve that made both of them wrinkle their noses.

“It smells awful, and it will sting like- well, it will sting when I put it on you. But it is very effective.” Frederick took a cloth in his hand, dipping it in water and wringing it out as he dabbed at Andrea’s skin. “You will tell me if it is too much. If you need me to be gentler.”

She rolled her eyes and he found the gesture oddly comforting. There is definitely something wrong with me. “I may have taken a fall, but I am not made of porcelain. You do not have to treat me as though I might break at the slightest touch.”

“You are hurt, and I have no wish to add to your discomfort.” He shrugged.

The memory of her falling from the carriage filled his mind. His chest constricted as though an invisible hand had clamped down hard on him, squeezing impossibly tight. She is safe. She is home.

The smell of rain threatened to overwhelm him, but he pushed it away, focusing on the task at hand. At first, Andrea fidgeted beneath his touch, but as he continued, she stilled. He wiped away the mud and dirt, cleaning the cloth between swipes. His heart twisted as he saw the cuts and grazes on her skin.

“You could have been killed.” His voice caught on the lump in his throat.

The image of a lifeless body, sprawled in the mud, threatened to dominate his mind.

“I know.” Andrea’s voice trembled, and she reached out a hand to touch his arm.

Her touch sent a prickle of energy through him, calming his racing heart. “You are bleeding.”

The shock in her voice caught his attention.

“Am I?” he glanced down and saw a thin line of blood on his right forearm.

Andrea leaned forwards and he saw her grit her teeth as the movement jostled her hurt ankle. “Pass me that cloth.”

“If you are going to insist on tending to yourself again-”

“- I am not. But you are bleeding, and if you can look after me, then I can look after you.” She jutted her chin towards him, eyes glittering with defiance.

Sighing, he handed her a cloth. She dipped it into the water and pressed it against his arm. He let out a hiss of pain at the firmness of her movement.

Her eyes widened. “Sorry! I am no good at this sort of thing.”

Frederick swallowed. “I was just surprised, that’s all. The cut was deeper than I expected.”

She looked at him, chewing her bottom lip before she resumed wiping away the dirt from his hands and arms. At first, her movements felt tentative and unsure. Nervous?

With deliberate slowness, Frederick continued his own work, and felt her imitate him. “You are white as a sheet.”

Frederick murmured as he finished with the cloth and grabbed some of the salve.

“You are a fine one to talk, I do not think I have ever seen someone as pale as you were when you found me on the road.” Her voice was gentle, but she let out a hiss of pain when he touched the salve to one of her cuts.

“Sorry. This will sting a little, but it will aid your healing.” Frederick gave her a small smile.

Andrea nodded and he saw her grip the edge of the sofa more tightly as he applied the salve to her cuts. He noticed a bruise forming on her arm and swallowed around a lump in his throat

“I am sorry for frightening you so badly.” Andrea dabbed some salve on a few of Frederick’s cuts, her fingers brushing against his skin as she did.

“I know you did not mean to. And… If I had not overreacted as I had, perhaps you would not have felt the need to take the carriage and leave as you did.” The invisible hand clamped down hard on his chest.

Shame filled him as he remembered the way he had lost his temper. This is why you are not supposed to let people see you like that. But Andrea was shaking her head. “I should have known you were not trying to control me… But… Well, why did you react the way you did?”

Frederick tensed, his hand hovering above Andrea’s legs. The sound of screaming filled his mind, the memory of a crumpled body held in his father’s arms. He shook, stomach roiling.

The softness of her fingers against his skin spread through his body, pulling him back into the present. “You do not have to tell me if you do not want to.”

He let his fingers clasp around hers, closing his eyes and breathing in the smell of her jasmine perfume. “I want to tell you. It is… It is just difficult.”

“Take your time.” He felt her squeeze his arm.

“My mother…” He licked his lips, mouth dry. “When I was ten, she died. She went out with the hunt and fell from her horse.”

He heard Andrea’s intake of breath, it mingled with the sound of thunder that rolled through his mind. “We are not entirely sure what happened. She became separated from the other riders when she fell, but in the chaos no one realised. They thought she had simply returned home.”

His heart began to beat faster, his muscles tensing as memories flooded his mind. “Then a storm rolled in ,and they called off the hunt.”

He felt Andrea’s grip tighten on his arm ever so slightly and continued, “It was only when they returned that they realised she was missing. The rain was coming down in sheets, bits of the estate were flooding. We went out to look for her. My father took me on his horse.

“We searched for hours. I do not think I have ever been so cold in my life. It was… It was my father who found her.” He clenched his fist as his mind filled with the sound of his father’s anguished cries. “I do not think I have ever heard a sound like that before, nor since. She was… face down, motionless in water barely above our ankles.”

Please, wake up. Wake up my love. Come back to me. His father’s sobs filled him as the memory of standing in the rain watching him fall to pieces played over and over. His father clutching his mother’s body to him. The way he had wept and screamed and raged.

The remembered smell of mud and blood and rain mingled with the comforting scent of Andrea’s perfume. He felt something warm touch his face as Andrea wiped away tears he had not realised were there.

“When you suggested riding out to Cecily’s… That was all I could think of. It filled me with such a deep panic, I could scarcely breathe,” he went on. “But I… I should not have lost control like that. I should have calmed myself and explained and-”

Andrea cut him off. “No. This is not your fault.”