Page 30 of His Darling Duchess
“I pray you will allow me the indulgence of being concerned about you.” Once again, his fingers brushed her cheek. “Kate and Sarah are eminently sensible; I know neither of them will panic unnecessarily.”
Aurelia was too exhausted to protest further. She nodded, enjoying the slide of his fingers against her face, the tenderness with which he touched her.
“I will see you in the morning,” Stowe said quietly, and then she felt the faintest pressure against her brow.
Did he just kiss me?But she was too tired to open her eyes, see if he was indeed bending over her.
The maids were standing back with eyes politely averted as Rhys straightened up. He wasn’t even sure what had possessed him to kiss Aurelia’s brow, only that she looked so peaceful and yet so vulnerable there on the bed. He’d wanted to reassure her, tell her it didn’t matter to him even if they had to stay throughChristmas at this, the smallest of the duchy’s many properties. Mrs. Bretton would keep them well fed.
For a moment, he allowed himself a dream of staying here, hidden away from the world at large, just him and Aurelia and the few staff who were with them. He could pretend he hadn’t inherited the dukedom, that he had no responsibilities other than the care of his new bride.
“Your Grace?” The maid’s timid voice interrupted his thoughts. “We’ll speak to Mr. Harris in the morning, when her grace wakes.”
“Of course.” They were waiting for him to leave, Rhys realised, so they could remove Aurelia’s gown and make her ready for bed. With a quick glance back at his sleeping wife, Rhys left the maids to take care of her, closing the door firmly behind him before heading.
Mrs. Bretton met him on the landing, her face creasing with concern. “Was dinner not to your liking, m’lord?”
“It was perfection, but I’m afraid it’s been a long day and Lady Stowe very nearly fell asleep with her face in her plate.”
The housekeeper chuckled, relaxing a little. “She looked all done in.”
“Indeed, and I’m weary myself, but not so much I can’t do justice to a little more of your wonderful cooking. I’m going down now for another plate.”
Mrs. Bretton’s eyes crinkled at the corners as she gave a little curtsey. “I’ll bring in the sweet I made then, m’lord. A Welsh pudding.”
“You remembered!”
It was quite by chance the housekeeper had prepared the custard-based treat edged with candied orange slices the first time Rhys had lodged at the house on his return from France. One taste and memory had overwhelmed Rhys; he’d forgottenhow his mother used to order the dessert on special occasions and come up to his nursery to share it with him.
“I’ve written out copies of the receipt for the cooks at Stowe Park and your London house too, m’lord.” Mrs. Bretton beamed at him. “Come on downstairs now and I’ll fetch it to the table. With her ladyship gone to bed, you won’t even have to share.”
A rusty laugh escaped Rhys as he followed the motherly woman downstairs. The receipt was something he could give to Aurelia, he thought as the golden tart was placed before him; she said she wanted to please him and he truly did have very few preferences. Having the cooks occasionally prepare one of his favourite dishes would be something she could do, at least.
“I’m not sure if we’ll be travelling on to Stowe Park tomorrow,” he told Mrs. Bretton as she placed several sheets of folded paper beside his plate. “If Lady Stowe is still feeling unwell, we may tarry a day or so. Or maybe just go part of the way tomorrow afternoon, Reading isn’t so far.”
“You’re very considerate of her ladyship, but it’s not so much further to Stowe Park from Reading, is it? Mr. Bretton says it’ll start snowing soon, before Christmas, and he always knows.” Mrs. Bretton nodded sagely. “Feels it in his missing leg, he does. Best get her ladyship safe home tomorrow, not risk being caught in a blizzard somewhere.”
Home. Was Stowe Park really home? Rhys mused on it as he ate his dessert. He’d only been back in England six months, had spent less than two months of that at Stowe Park. His father had cared for little but his own comforts and the duchy’s dependents all over England were in desperate need. Rhys had done little more inside the grand manor house of Stowe Park than lay his head down to sleep, and there’d been all too few hours of that. He could hardly drop Aurelia off at the house and go straight back out again, though, so perhaps it was time to properly face the ghosts of his past.
With a sigh, Rhys pushed back from the table and rose to his feet. Tomorrow would be soon enough to concern himself with what would happen when they reached Stowe Park, and maybe not even then if Aurelia wasn’t well enough to travel. For now, he would seek his bed and hope sleep came easier tonight.
Chapter Thirteen
Harris woke Rhys afterthe best night’s sleep he’d enjoyed in some time, with the surprising news that his wife was already dressed and downstairs partaking of some breakfast, eager to continue the journey onwards to Stowe Park.
“I took the liberty of ordering the carriage made ready, m’lord,” Harris noted as he handed over clean smallclothes. “The weather is still holding.”
“We’d best be off as quickly as possible, then. If we’re to reach the Park today, I’d like to do so in daylight. Her ladyship wearied very quickly yesterday afternoon, and I would rather not see her arrive, have to greet the household and fall down exhausted at my feet.”
“I’ve no doubt you’d catch the duchess before she reached the floor, m’lord.”
“Your faith in me is touching, but I’d rather not risk it.” Rhys shrugged into his jacket, scowling as Harris held up the hated neckcloth. “Very well, but be as quick as you can, please.”He’d rather do without the dratted thing at all, but he didn’t want Aurelia to think he was some sort of uncouth ruffian. “Everything is ready in the carriage?” He’d given instructions to Harris before retiring, to have extra blankets put in the carriage, and planned to ensure the hot bricks in the basket were replaced at every rest stop too. He’d failed to ensure Aurelia’s comfort yesterday, allowing her to grow chilled, and vowed it would not occur again.
“Yes, m’lord,” Harris said patiently, deft fingers working the cravat into something resembling a respectable knot. Rhys barely waited for his valet’s hands to drop before he spun on his heel and hurried from the room.
“Good morning.” Aurelia’s smile was bright as she looked up at him, a cup of tea poised in mid-air in her delicate hand. “Did you sleep well? I certainly did; I declare, the bed in my chamber here was even more comfortable than the one at your townhouse, luxurious though that was.”
“Good. I mean, yes, I did sleep well, thank you for asking, and I’m glad you did as well.”
