Page 83 of Her Duke in Shining Armor
The red on Brisdane’s cheeks was changing to a mixed mottle of dark colors but Brisdane came closer, “You are brave to try to take me on, Oberton, considering you are already in Wyndrake’s crosshairs.”
“And you knowing that does not surprise me at all,” Aaron said. “Dragons like you all live in the same subterranean cave so you can flap your leather-black bat wings together like the cretins you are. But I am not afraid of you or him, or what you might throw at me, so now that we are clear, get out of my house.”
The man still did not budge, “I know you had something to do with her disappearance. If I find out that you have placed a single finger on her Oberton, I—”
“Dawn it is then,” Aaron said preemptively, and the man fumed more.
“No. I have nothing to prove to you. I just need my daughter back.” Brisdane said through clenched teeth. A certain looked flashed in his eyes, one Aaron wanted to say was desperation. Did he want his daughter back that much or was it something else? In the next moment, the look was gone and replaced with anger.
“And I have nothing to justify to you. I think we are done here,” Aaron had calmed somewhat. “Hiddleston, please escort the Duke out,” Aaron ordered his waiting footman while his eyes never wavered from the older man’s.
His manservant had barely reached out to touch Brisdane when his hand was shrugged off. Brisdane spun on his heel and walked out. When Hiddleston came back, Aaron said, “I am going back to bed, and do not wake me if it’s Regent himself come begging at my door.”
The manservant lips were taut, as his self-control prevented him from smiling, “As you wish, Your Grace.”
Aaron went back to his bed, wanting to feel pleasure that he had won that battle, but he began to fear for the war that might come.
Chapter 23
Sleep did not come to Eleanor that night. Fatigue was liquid lead to her body and the bed Darcy had given her was soft like a cloud in the sky but her mind was fixated on Aaron. She knew her father would contest Aaron but she did not know how it would end.
Peaceably?
She turned on her bed and scoffed. The very notion of peace would twist her father in two. Rising with the sun, Eleanor made her bed and went to sit by the window seat. Lady Darcy may be an early riser, but she was not going to chance disturbing her. Aaron had been right to carry her there for a temporary reprieve but she knew as well as night followed day, that she would have to leave soon.
Dawn looked different in Kensington. Instead of pale pink and light orange hues, the sky was lit with washed-out indigo that changed to a light blue. Eleanor took pleasure in seeing a tiny bird sit on the outer sill and cock its head at her in curiosity as if asking “What are you?"before it took off.
“Oh, goodness,” Lady Darcy said. “You’re awake. I had expected you to be sound asleep.”
“I wish I could have but there is no sleep when I worry for him,” Eleanor said. “I try to tell myself that he will be fine…but my father is unpredictable, and I fear his temper will get the better of him.”
“Oberton can hold his own,” Lady Darcy comforted. “But it will not do you any good to be here obsessing about it. Would you like to join me in the kitchen? I’ll show you how to make those sugar buns he likes.” She knew she needed a distraction and agreed. “Wonderful, you can wash up in the basin there and come down when you’re ready.”
Taking her friend’s direction, Eleanor washed her face and rinsed her mouth. Patting her face dry she dropped the cloth and braced her palms on the table praying for Aaron to be safe.
On the way to the kitchen, Eleanor noted the soft faded wood of Lady Darcy’s home and could feel the love of three generations embedded in the very scrubbed grain. Her fingers ran over the wood, tracing a circle of light grey and hoped she would have a home this saturated with affection someday.
The kitchen was wide and airy with light yellow curtains parted over wide-sash windows. Lady Darcy was already in motion with a bowl of white milled flour and tiny bowls of spices around it. Eleanor could smell cinnamon, sugar, and salt.
“Here, take this,” Lady Darcy handed her an apron and Eleanor tied it over her clothes.
“First, we combine the flour and salt…”
Inexperienced as she was, Eleanor dropped egg shells into yolks, added too much sugar and too little cinnamon but thankfully, Darcy was there to fix her mistakes. She slipped on melted butter, sprinkled herself with flour, laughed too much and needed a full wash by the time the second set of buns were done. For a moment, all her worries were gone.
“You two are certainly busy…” Mr. Wilcox laughed from the doorway. Mortified about her messy appearance Eleanor felt her face flame.
“Good morning, love, and Lady Eleanor,” Mr. Wilcox advanced into the kitchen, “Oberton would be tickled pink to see you.”
Lady Darcy threw a dishcloth to him and had her hands on her hips, “Don’t you dare tell him.”
“What is my bribe?” Mr. Wilcox teased.
From her spot around the table, Eleanor was happy seeing them interact. It was a simple exchange but it was so very touching.If this is what a loving match is like, I want it with Aaron. To wake up and feel this love, to know that my love is being returned in the same measure that I give it.
She cleared her throat, “If you will excuse me, I need to clean up. I’m dripping batter on the floor.”
“Oh,” Lady Darcy blinked. “I’ll send some water up for you.”
