Page 2 of A Scandalous Love for the Enticing Duke
The physician seemed so lost for words that he stuttered at first. “Your Grace... Th… that is...” A pause to regain his composure, and a sharp clearing of throat as he stood upright and straightened his shoulders.
“That is a most excellent suggestion, My Lady. We can manage that; I am certain. I will look into medicine that can help the Duke live his last days with more strength. Mayhap, they would not be his last if the Lord answers our prayers.”
Pleased to hear this, that there was still a little bit of hope, a little candle flickering, but burning nonetheless, he returned his wife’s bright smile as she looked at him again.
“Do you hear that, Henry? You shall be able to make it to the season.”Whatdid he ever do right in this lifetime to have deserved such a wonderful woman?If this worked, he was going to be on his feet again, be able to move around, to behold sunlight. He felt her tender hands caress his cheeks before turning to Wimpletton who had looked away in their moment of privacy.
“We shall be waiting to hear from you, Wimpletton. You must understand, if you can get my husband on his feet again, howbeit for such a short period, we shall remain indebted to you. I give you my word as your Lady.”
Upon hearing this, Wimpletton lowered into a deep, regal bow, more than happy to be of service.
“If thou wishes it so, My Lady. I am the honoured one for having this opportunity, to do this for my good Lord.” He stretched back to his full length. “If that would be all, with your permission, I shall take my leave.”
“You may leave, Wimpletton. We shall call for you if any urgent matter arises.”
“I shall do my best to respond as soon as I can, if any such call should arrive. Good day, Your Grace.”
He dropped another bow before taking his leave. Elizabeth must have wanted time alone with him, for she called on Callaghan.
“See Mr Wimpletton off, will you?”
The valet dropped a bow and followed the doctor out. As they stepped out of the room, they could be heard engaging in small talk. As soon as their voices became faint, Elizabeth hugged her husband, placing her head on his chest as more tears left her eyes.
“I cannot believe this, Henry. Was it not just yesterday when you were racing me to the stream on Kingston, as strong as an ox? How did we get here so fast?”
Henry could hear the sadness in his wife’s voice, and it pained him to see her so sad. He knew if this ailment took him, it would be a hard blow on Elizabeth. He worried for her more than he worried for himself. So, needing to take what little of her sadness he could away, he teased.
“I remember that day as clear as the skies, Elizabeth. I won again, as always. You were so far behind on Queen that I had to return to you. Then you pushed me off Kingston, and before I could get back on, you raced to the stream.”
Jerking up, she looked at him, flabbergasted, as if unable to believe the ridiculousness of his accusations.
“Henry Stamford, did you just accuse me of cheating to win that race? Because I remember, quite well for the matter, that you fell off that horse on your own,and you never got to the stream in the first place, talk more of returning to me! I won, fair and square.” She ended with her chin up as he dissolved into a fit of laughter, suddenly feeling stronger with Wimpletton’s promise.
“Oh Elizabeth. I never would have fallen off my horse in the first place if you had not flashed me your undergarments, intentionally.”
“I know not what you speak of My Lord. I was riding astride; it is only normal for my clothing to enter a state of disarray. And this is a much different story than the narrative you told earlier,”she ended, pretending to be hurt, but he knew better. It also gladdened him that she had forgotten her sorrow for long enough to play along.
“I fell; you won. These were constant in both narratives, were they not? I see no lie, dear woman wife. I may be a sick man, but I will not be accused of being a liar.”
He watched her heart melt before she bent to give him a kiss on the lips. “A fair game, would you not call it, husband man? Since you began with the accusations, after all,”she countered, causing him to break into hearty laughter again. Elizabeth smiled at this, aware that it had been a while since she heard him laugh so heartily.
“Enough of that. Kiss me again dear wife; remind me of how that particular day ended.”
She flushed at this, and he knew what she was thinking of. It was the same memory that rang in his mind at this moment. How they had made sweet love by the river. Tenderly, passionately, like it almost always was with them. When she lowered her head to capture his lips in another soft kiss, he welcomed the sensations.
“Aye. That is more like it. I cannot wait for Wimpletton to return with the medicine so that I may be able to act that scene fully again.” He ended with a wink, causing her to dissolve into a fit of laughter of her own. Then she lifted her hands to his cheeks and began to stroke, holding his gaze with her pure amethyst eyes.
“Oh, Henry. I love you so much. It’s never going to be the same without you. I shall be so lonely. However, shall I survive?”she cried.
“Shhh. Do not say that Elizabeth. You shall do just fine. You have Nicholas, and you have the memories of our love to carry on with. Thirty years together. That is going to count, right?”
“Right.”
“Good. In that case, do not be sad, and do not think that surviving will be difficult. You are strong, and you will do so, just fine. Nicholas will take care of you too. Of that I am certain.”
Nicholas was the only child they had been blessed with, in all their years of marriage. At first, Elizabeth had worried he would be unhappy with her and seek another wife or a mistress, but he never said a word of complaint to her. It never crossed his mind, not even in the three years it took for her to become heavy with Nicholas. He had loved her through it all, cherished her like she was the only woman he saw and remained faithful to her. That was something many women of the ton could not boast of.To think that they had had to grow in love.
“Do you think we should let him know?”
