Page 32 of A Bluestocking for the Wicked Duke
A Convenient Arrangement
William struggled to open his eyes. He could feel the heat of a ray of the sun, warming up his left thigh. He forced his eyes open and rubbed at them with his hands. It was past daybreak but his room was still in shadows, the windows were still closed. There were only a few slim rays of sunlight that found their way in through the cracks in his window sill. William stood up and walked to the windows. He pushed them opening, bathing himself in the light and heat.
They had gotten home much after dark yesterday. Lord James took up a room beside William’s, he decided he would go back home the next day. William only slept in a small shorts, his torso was naked. He went to his wardrobe and picked a thin cotton shirt.
Just to cover things up.
William sat on his bed and thought about the happenings of the day before. His thought went to the dance with Joane and his heart warmed up. It wouldn’t be too difficult to get her to like him. He remembered his meeting with Esther and his mind sailed to his father.
“Father,” William said abruptly, jumping on his feet.
His father would have woken up properly now. William wore a pair of sandals and rushed out of his room, running all the way to his father’s chambers. When he got to the door he only knocked once before he entered; he didn’t wait for a reply.
His mother did answer the knock but William was already in the room. She was standing over his father’s bed and must have been speaking to him before William came in. She was still in her night gown, rebel strands of grey hair pointing out in awkward directions.
She must have slept here.
William walked to his father’s bed and saw the Duke. He was lying down but his eyes were open and alert. The tiredness always etched on his face was absent and he smiled on seeing his son. William didn’t know whether to embrace him or not, fearing that the man wasn’t strong enough.
“Father, you are awake,” was all William could manage to say.
His father smiled. It was obvious, he was pleased to see his son.
“Yes son, I am awake now.”
His voice was thin and hoarse. William knew it wouldn’t be as strong as before because of lack of use but he was still surprised by the weakness he could hear in it. William turned to his mother.
“Did he just wake up this morning?” he asked her.
“Yes, he’s been conscious for the longest amount of time this morning. I have already sent for the physician, he will be here soon to check him,” she replied.
“I am right here, Henrietta. Do not talk about me like I am asleep,”
William looked at his father and smiled.
“Your frail health has not taken away that combative nature I see,” William commented.
“It’s in you too. It’s the Marlow blood,” his father replied.
That seemed to be too much for him because he went into an extended bout of coughing after he said that. The Duchess gave William a stern look for dragging him into the conversation. William blinked rapidly, apologizing with his eyes. His father had closed his eyes again, gathering strength after the rampaging cough. His breathing was audible; it made a thin sucking sound that scared William.
The door opened again and in came Regina.
“Good morning mother, William,” she said.
She stood beside the bed and William saw as the Duke’s eyelids flickered on hearing his daughter’s voice. She didn’t say anything and neither did the Duke before he kept his eyes shut again.
“Was he awake?” Regina asked her mother.
“Yes, he was,” She replied.
She stretched her hands forward, herding her children away from the bed.
“Let’s leave him. Let him sleep,” Duchess Henrietta said as she walked towards the door.
William looked back at his father before walking out. He had decided last night to visit the Earl of Norfolk just to see his daughter. He would end it that day if he didn’t feel anything for her. He didn’t want to waste energy and time on an affair that was planned to fail.
William went back to his room and cleaned up. He joined his mother at the table for breakfast that morning, surprising both his mother and sister.
