Page 34 of A Trap by the Rakish Duke
The butler didn’t need to be told twice, nodding his head quickly as he hurried to execute the Duke’s order.
Aurelia held on tightly to Philip, her arms encircling his neck, feeling his firm, strong muscles flexing beneath her hands. Her ankle throbbed with pain, but she couldn’t help the small smile that formed on her lips.
This had not been part of her plan, but it had worked out beautifully. She had imagined many ways to get close to her husband, but none had been quite so…intimate.
As they entered the manor, the curious eyes of the staff landed on them.
“What happened to Her Grace?”
“Is she alright?”
“She looks hurt.”
“What is she playing at?”
Maids whispered behind their hands, footmen cast surreptitious glances. Aurelia knew they would gossip about this moment for days, perhaps weeks, about how the Duke had carried his Duchess in his arms after a morning ride in the woods.
Aurelia paid them no mind as the Duke’s focus was entirely upon her. Each step he took was measured, careful, as if he was afraid he might injure her more. She rested her head on his shoulder, allowing herself a moment of contentment. How odd it was to feel both pain and satisfaction simultaneously.
Philip carried her all the way to her bedchamber without breaking a sweat. Once they were inside he lowered her onto the bed with such care that she barely felt her aching ankle move. He stood back, his eyes narrowing as he studied her face.
“I will venture a guess that this was not part of your grand plan?” His tone was dry, but the glint in his eyes betrayed something softer.
Amusement, perhaps?
Aurelia’s cheeks flushed crimson and she shook her head. “No, Your Grace. I did not intend to injure myself.”
“I see.”
From the corner of her eye she spotted her book lying innocently on the bed, where she had left it the night before.
The color in her cheeks deepened and in one swift motion she tucked the book under her pillow, hoping Philip wouldn’t notice her hasty action. But something in the slight quirk of his eyebrows told her he had seen it, or at least suspected something.
She cleared her throat and offered him a small smile. “Thank you for the ride, Your Grace. I must say I quite enjoyed myself if it had not been for the…” She paused, looking down at her throbbing ankle. “… unfortunate event.”
Thankfully caused by you.
“I realize you have other duties to which you must attend. You should not trouble yourself with waiting here, Your Grace. Once the physician arrives, I will be well taken care of,” she offered.
Philip did not move. He stood by the window, his gaze focused on the garden beyond, though he was clearly not seeing it.
“No. I shall wait here until the physician arrives,” he said curtly, his tone leaving no room for argument.
Minutes passed in tense silence until the door creaked open and the physician entered. He was an old balding man with a noticeable paunch and a monocle perched precariously in front of his right eye. He bowed awkwardly to the Duke before approaching Aurelia, his attention immediately turning to her injured ankle.
As the physician worked, examining her ankle and pressing careful fingers against it, Aurelia watched Philip from beneath her lashes.
His jaw tightened with each wince she made, his hands clenching at his sides. She noticed the way his gaze frequentlyshot toward the physician, as though he wanted to pull the man away and fix her ankle himself.
She suppressed a smile. Was that concern? Possessiveness, even?
The physician finally concluded his exam and stood, adjusting his monocle with a grave nod. “Your Grace, the injury is not severe, but it will require rest. You must not put weight on your ankle for at least five days. After that, gentle movement may be resumed, but nothing vigorous.”
“Five days?” Aurelia’s tone betrayed her frustration.
Five days of being confined to her bed meant five days of distance from Philip. Five days for him to retreat into his cold, calculated countenance.
This will ruin everything which I have worked for.
