Page 71 of A Bride for the Cruel Duke

Deep breaths, Caroline said to herself as she tried to relax through the pain. She was able to feel all of her body, and move her legs and arms and finger and toes, which she took as a good sign. Sitting now too, the room coming into focus, the first thing she saw clearly was Anthony. He was seated by the head of her bed, his expression unreadable as it was far too dark for her to make out. Even his eyes were covered in shadow.

“What happened?” she asked with a wince.

“You don’t remember?”

“I...” It came to her slowly. In hindsight, a most foolish thing to have done, and considering the result, Caroline could not believe she had been so stupid. “I came off my horse.”

“You make it sound like an accident.” His spoke without emotion, as if they were discussing the weather. She might have liked to have heard a sense of worry in his voice, but that he wasn’t shouting was as good a sign as she could have hoped for.

“No, not an accident,” she sighed. “I should have listened to you.”

“Yes, you should have.”His tone was harsher than she expected it to be, and she winced to hear it.

“I’m sorry, Anthony. I don’t know what I was—” She stopped short as more came back to her.

Caroline remembered well enough now why she had insisted on trying to race Anthony in the dark. It had been a foolish ploy to continue the good mood found earlier.What had I even hoped to achieve? Honestly, I cannot say. A stupid decision made in the moment, leaving me feeling mortified with embarrassment. Although...

That Anthony was by her side was a good sign. Dammit, it was a great sign. He did not have to sit here and wait for her to wake. Indeed, the Anthony who she thought she had known would have put her to bed and not thought twice about her wellbeing. So, that he was here, willing to sit in silence until she came to could only be read as a good sign.

She breathed a sigh of relief.He does care for me. I knew he did.

“I am sorry...” she said, bowing her head in what she hoped to be an appropriate amount of shame, trying not to smile because despite it all, she was beyond relieved.

“It is fine.” Anthony sighed loudly. “I am glad you are not seriously hurt.”

“Is that right...?” She chuckled sarcastically.

“You are bruised,” he confirmed. “Battered. But I have had the doctors see to you and they assure me that nothing is broken. A few days of rest and you will be back to your old self.”

“How horrible,” she tried for the joke. “And here you were likely hoping I’d be out of action for weeks. Give you some time to yourself, yes? That peace and quiet you are so desperate for.”

Oh, how she wished she could see his face properly. At least then she might have been able to see if her joke hit the mark. Or if Anthony even recognized it as a joke! But he did not chuckle. His body did not shake from laughter. He was a block of shadow, unmoving and unreadable.

No, Caroline, do not read into this. He is just tired. Worried, also. The fact that he is here! That is what matters!

“How long was I out for?” she asked, needing to fill the silence.

“Only a few hours,” he said. “The fall was not nearly as bad as it could have been. Honestly, Caroline...” His tone hardened and she braced herself for his reprimand, strangely hoping for it. At least that would show that he felt something for what had just happened. That it had affected him in some way. As things stood, she felt like an inconvenience, rather than his wife. “I am just glad that you are not too seriously hurt,” he finished instead, not sounding at all like he meant it.

She winced despite herself. Her head throbbed. Her entire body was one big bruise. Tired. Hungry. Dehydrated. Mind in a million places at once. There was little that Caroline could do right now, so she decided to do nothing.

Let this tragic day play out and see what tomorrow brings. That will confirm that everything is fine and this is all in my head.

“I should be leaving you.” Suddenly, Anthony rose from the chair.

“You’re going?” she moved to reach for him but winced as pain shot through her right side.

“You need sleep.” He stood over the bed, but away from it, as if careful not to get too close. “Bed rest. Doctor’s orders.”

“But...”

“If you need anything, I will be right outside,” he assured her. “And I will have the staff check on you hourly—do not try leave your bed, Caroline.” Through the dark, she could see him looking down at her.

“Is that an order?” she said with a smirk.

“Good sense,” he said without humor.

“Oh...”

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