Page 67 of Her Duke Next Door
Eloise glanced at Mary, who nodded, silently encouraging her daughter to request something. “Well, Bernie has started to let me read aloud at nighttime, and I have rather enjoyed it. I am keeping up quite well with my reading. Please may I have a book of fairytales, Papa?”
Emotion welled in Mary at hearing her daughter call DominiquePapain such a small voice, as though she was unsure about using it. She truly had not thought she would see the day that would happen.
“Of course,” he promised. Then he stood up, and Katie stepped aside as he embraced Mary. “And for my beautiful wife? What can I bring back for you?”
She kissed him lightly. “Only the promise of your return to me safely.”
Return home to me so I can tell you that I am in love with you. I am finally ready to say it, Dominique.
He smiled at her, holding her gaze for a moment longer. “Stay safe, Mary. Remember that you are safe here, with me, and I shall be back before you know it.” Then he nodded and turned away. He strode out of the door with a glance back before he swung himself up onto his horse and rode away.
Katie sniffed. “He has never looked back before.” Her smile was weak and watery but full of hope.
* * *
“Without my papa here, I can kick my ball however I please!” Katie announced in the garden.
Mary had been trying to get the girls to visit with her sister all afternoon, if only to take her mind off the now-empty castle but neither was interested. Katie hitched her dress higher, tossing the ball between her shoes. Eloise stood back.
“Do you not wish to play, Eloise?” Mary asked.
She shook her head. “I like playing catch but I do not like kicking the ball.”
“Katie, be careful!” Mary cried as Katie swung her foot into the small yellow ball, sending it high into the tree branches before it came back down.
“I shall!” she called back. Mary got closer, wanting to keep careful watch over the girls.
“Papa never lets me play like this!” Katie giggled, kicking the ball hard against the tree trunk so it came back to her. She kept up her rhythm like that, over and over, kicking with more force each time.
“She is good, isn’t she?” Eloise asked Mary, grinning. “Although do not tell Katie but I think I am cleverer than her.”
Mary only laughed quietly, hugging her daughter to her side. “You shall both grow into such intelligent women but I do fear those minds of yours will cause some heartbreak.”
Eloise looked utterly thrilled with that.
Mary’s laughter was cut off by a cry of her name. She turned around to find Katie’s yellow ball flying right for her face. She tried to avoid it but only cried out in pain when the ball skimmed her cheek, grazing her skin. It stung immediately, and the ball rolled away.
Katie cried and rushed up to Mary. “I am so sorry! I did not mean to be so rough! Please do not tell my Papa,please.”
“Your Grace, are you all right?” Geraldine, the housekeeper, rushed over to Mary, checking her face. She hissed. “Ah, that might leave quite the nasty bruise. But it shouldn’t cause you too much bother, I don’t think. Let’s get it cleaned up, shall we?”
“Thank you,” Mary said. “And Katie, please do not worry. I am only glad you are having fun.”
Her cheek stinging, Mary walked back into the castle with Geraldine, who had one of her maids set up the cleaning supplies to ensure no dirt entered the small graze.
“I am quite fine,” Mary assured them. “It is only a scratch. I am more shocked at how fast it was! Katie has quite an impressive kick.”
“That she does,” Geraldine said, nodding. “It is why His Grace doesn’t always let her play with the ball.”
Mary winced as her graze was washed. “That is very understandable. Still, not true harm done. I only wish to see her happy.”
Geraldine smiled. “If you don’t mind me saying, Your Grace, you have made Katie and His Graceveryhappy. We haven’t seen him this talkative and happy in many years. Possibly if ever. He was like Katie when he was younger, always waiting for his mother to return home. I never understood how he could put his daughter through the same thing that hurt him so deeply but… You are changing him, Your Grace. You are giving him a future he wants to come back for.”
Mary warmed, smiling at the praise. “Thank you, Geraldine. He has made me happier than ever before, too.”
* * *
The next day was a lesson in patience for Mary. Eloise busied herself with painting and embroidery, burying her nose in books, but Katie always wanted to be moving. She wanted to go outside but was tired quickly of the same garden.
