Page 80 of Wedded to the Cruel Duke

She clasped his hand in between hers and pressed a kiss to his knuckles in relief. At least the worst had now passed. Hopefully, he would recover fully in a few more days.

“Phoebe?”

She opened her eyes and saw him looking at her with a frown. “What time is it?” he asked her. “Why are you not dressed yet? You should already be going…”

“Darling, you are sick,” Phoebe smiled tearfully at him. “Where else should I be but by your side?”

He shook his head weakly. “But we have already told your sister that you will be accompanying her to the tea party—”

“Shh…” Phoebe pressed a gentle finger to his warm lips. “Daphne will understand once she learns you are ill.”

But Charles only shook his head. “No. You must not tell them—anybody—that I have fallen ill. It is only a passing cold, besides. I will be fine once I have rested enough.”

Men can be such stubborn, prideful creatures,Phoebe sighed inwardly. Charles, however, seemed to take it a notch higher by refusing to show any outward signs of weakness.

“If it makes you worry, you can have Huxley and O’Malley attend to me,” he told her. “They will be more than enough.”

“I still do not think that is a good idea at all,” she insisted. “Besides, you were the one who told me that I am not to set a foot out of this estate without a valid enough reason.”

He smiled up at her. “Well, you have my express permission this time. And take at least four footmen with you, as well as Amelia. It will make me feel better knowing that you will be protected, at least.”

She frowned when he mentioned protection, recalling how frantic he had been that night in the basement when he showed her the letters he had been receiving. How he had been so worried for her…

Would he be able to rest with her out at a tea party? She did not think so.

“Go, Phoebe,” he urged her again. “It will make me feel infinitely better.”

She scrunched up her nose. “You should have told me you wanted to get rid of me that badly.”

He laughed hoarsely. “Of course not, dearest. But promises must be kept and we did promise Daphne you would be there.”

She knew her sister would be incensed if she were to back out at the last moment. Daphne would most likely sulk and refuse to talk to her for a few days, but then she would turn around and forgive her and everything would be fine once again.

Charles was different. He was sick. What kind of wife would she be if she left him to languish on his own?

She sighed and held his hand in hers. “Are you absolutely sure you will be alright without me?”

“I will be heartbroken in your absence, of course,” he managed a smile. “But I shall await your return. For now, you had best prepare or else you will be late.”

Phoebe closed her eyes and pinched the bridge of her nose in frustration. Once O’Malley and Huxley had both returned, Charles had all but pushed her out his door. It really made one feel unwanted.

She sighed as she pushed the door towards her room. She just hoped that this party would have good scones, at the very least. Otherwise, she would have left her sick husband for a feast of barely passable fare.

It was enough to make a grown woman weep.

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

“Iam so glad the Marquess allowed you to accompany me today!”

Phoebe smiled wanly as Daphne chattered on in the carriage all the way to Wickham Hall. While it was true that she missed her sisters, she was also worried about Charles, who was still sick back at Wentworth.

I do hope he is getting better, she thought to herself as they entered the manor.That thing that O’Malley gave him seemed to work. I only pray that he recovers soon…

“Phoebe?”

Phoebe startled and shot her sister an apologetic smile. “I am sorry. My mind wandered for a bit.”

“I do hope you did not get in trouble with Lord Wentworth because—”