Page 74 of Anything But a Duke
“Be amused. You, in your metal-filled tower. I’ll do the honorable thing and endure an evening of hellish entertainment for the both of us.”
“You’re very like a knight in shining armor.”
“Tell Lady Sophie that.” The moment the quip was out, his eyes widened and he attempted to cover the admission with a choked guffaw.
“Perhaps I will, brother dear. Perhaps I will.”
“Don’t,” he said softly.
“Dominick.” Their mother’s call was muffled and barely audible.
“Go and enjoy yourself as much as you can.”
Dom glanced around her crowded workshop, more cluttered now with the addition of materials for the five devices and three completed models. “Don’t hammer or nail yourself to anything, and don’t let anything combust.”
“I haven’t burned the house down yet.”
He finally lightened as he departed, casting one of his charming grins over his shoulder at her.
Diana resumed her seat at the workbench and gripped her hammer. She ran her fingers over the copper, feeling for the spots that still needed shaping. When she’d determined where, she attacked the metal again.
A series of knocks rattled through the house and she turned her head a fraction just as the hammer struck the spot where she was holding the copper in place. Her thumb took the brunt of the strike. Shooting pain lanced up her arm, and she let her hammer clatter to the floor. Lifting her hand to examine her thumb, she realized her whole arm was shaking from the pain. Tears streaked down her face, as if her body was determined to let the discomfort out somehow.
Still the banging continued. A visitor was at the front door and, for some reason, none of the servants seemed capable of answering.
She stood up from her chair and fought a wave of dizziness. The sharp sting had turned into a torturous throb and the edge of her thumb had begun to redden and bruise. She hadn’t broken the nail and she could move the digit enough to convince herself she hadn’t done any permanent damage. But it hurt like hell.
As she headed down the hall, she encountered the housekeeper.
“Sorry for the delay, miss. I can fetch the door.”
“It’s all right. I’ll greet the visitor, but would you bring some ice and rags to my workshop, Mrs. Rudd?”
The older woman’s face furrowed with concern when she noticed how Diana was sheltering one hand with the other.
“You’ve hurt yourself, miss. I knew it would come to that eventually.”
Diana tamped down the flare of irritation. “I’ll be fine. Just see to the ice.”
Whoever was at the front door knocked again and it took her last vestiges of restraint not to shout at them to stop. After a quick swipe of her cheeks, she turned the knob with her undamaged hand and held the other close against her chest.
“Diana.” Aidan cast her a look that was equal parts surprise and pleasure to find her answering the door. His mouth began to lift in a smile until he noticed her swollen thumb. “My God, what’s happened?”
He began to reach for her and she instinctively pulled back, tucking her hand closer to her chest.
“An accident. Nothing serious. It won’t slow me down. I can still get the five devices completed by the end of the week.”
“To hell with the devices. Let me take a look at your wound.” He stepped inside, shrugged out of his coat, and deposited it in an unceremonious heap on the entry table.
“The housekeeper is bringing some ice back to the workshop.” Diana hated the tremulous quality of her voice. She realized it wasn’t just her hand that was shaking. Her whole body had turned clammy and she couldn’t stem a case of shivers.
“Lead the way,” Aidan told her and then gathered his coat in one hand before following her.
Once she was seated in her workshop chair, he settled the garment around her shoulders. She didn’t protest. The chills persisted, even though the pain in her thumb had begun to wane.
“How did it happen?” Aidan retrieved one of her wooden stools and sat in front of her. He offered his open palm, not touching her but indicating that she should place her hand in his.
“The hammer. I was shaping that bit of copper.” Diana laid her injured hand gingerly in Aidan’s palm and indicated the tool and project she’d abandoned. “I missed.”
