Page 33 of When her Duke Returns
“How did you even know I was back?”
“I heard you. You shouted.”
Alexander’s jaw clenched. “It’s not as bad as it looks,” he suggested and then pointed to the tumbler. “Will you give that back?”
“You need to see a surgeon or have one of the men look over it. It will fester otherwise.”
“How do you know I haven’t?”
“Because that looks no more a proper dressing than the remnants ofthatcut-up shirt,” she said and gestured toward the creased and torn shirt at the foot of his bed.
“I will be fine,” he resolved, and Mary could tell he was growing tired of her. “It’s not worth worrying your lot over. Truth be told, I cannot bother with any more Carlisle antics.”
She was exasperated. “It was Antony, wasn’t it? You fought, and he did that. I shan’t be cross if you tell me. I won’t do anything.”
“I will not speak of this with you.”
There was nothing Mary hated more than being denied answers—oranythingshe wanted for that matter. “If you will not budge, then I shall fetch a doctorforyou,” she said and turned to leave.
“Wait!” Alexander bellowed and then sunk his voice to a whipping whisper. “Come back,” he groaned.
“So?” she asked.
“Yes.”
“Yes, what?”
“You have the right of it.”
“Why?” she whined. “Why would you fight?”
“That is a question best reserved for your betrothed,” Alexander retorted and laid down against the bed. “He made to confront me about you, and we had a tumble.”
“That looks like more than a tumble,” Mary stated, gesturing to his arm.
“Does it matter?”
Mary shook her head. “What did he say?” she asked first. “What does he know?”
“He doesn’t know anything. He thinks you…” the Duke began then trailed off as if he thought better of it.
“What?”
The man scoffed. “He wants you to love him and believes I am to blame. He sought to intimidate me into leaving you well alone and did a poor job of it. That is all.”
“My dislike of Antony has nothing to do with you,” she offered as consolation though she feared it would not be enough.
“That’s what I said,” Alexander replied through a heavy smile. “Please, let’s not discuss this further. I must try and rest.”
Mary frowned. “What if it festers?”
“It won’t.”
“Did you strike him back?”
“I did,” Alexander noted, and his face twisted into a grin. “Though, I fear I got the worse of it. My arm ground into a piece of dry wood when he first lunged at me.”
Mary sighed. “I cannot believe this,” she said and then added. “First me and now you. This place is surely cursed.”
