Page 52 of A Duke Under Her Spell
“My apologies if my words offended you, sir,” Marybeth replied with sincerity. It had not been her intent to offend anyone. She simply could not imagine anyone wishing to drink it, let alone traveling across England for it. “Do the waters truly heal?” she inquired doubting that it could do any of the miraculous things bestowed upon it.
“But of course,” the man huffed once more. then left the Pump Room.
Lady Cordelia and the Earl of Bredon stood watching her with disapproving eyes. Marybeth knew that in their minds she should not be there, but she was not going to let their dislike or distrust stop her from enjoying her one and only outing with the Duke and Dowager Duchess. With her decision to depart Arkley Manor soon upon their return, she wished to enjoy the trip to Bath as much as was possible.
“Would you like to go and bathe in the waters now, Mother?” Felix asked, chuckling at the comical look upon her face as she attempted to drink the waters down.
“Yes, perhaps that would be best,” the Dowager Duchess nodded, setting her glass aside after she had forced herself to empty it.
Felix had brought the three wheeled Bath chair that he had made for the Dowager Duchess and he pushed her around in it now. Leaving the Pump Room, they made their way down to the Roman baths. The ancient architecture was beautiful to behold. Marybeth delighted in the various statues that decorated the way. Felix shared the baths’ history, including some of the curses that had come to be associated with them. It was a delightful time of soaking in the warm waters and talking together.
Lady Cordelia and the Earl kept as far away from Marybeth as possible. It was almost as if they were afraid that her supposedly being a witch was catching. Marybeth longed to give them a good fright and in doing so give them a good reason to be scared of her. Deciding to ignore them, Marybeth leaned her head back against the stone ledge of the bath. The warm water eased the tension from her body, and she began to understand why people traveled to Bath.
Such would be good for gout.
Still exhausted from the journey, she began to drift off to sleep unaware of doing so. Her first realization that she had done so was Felix pulling her up out of the waters as she coughed and sputtered. “What happened?” she asked once she had caught her breath.
“You fell asleep and went under the water,” Felix answered, his concern for her wellbeing clear upon his face. “You scared me,” he informed her quietly. “Please be more careful. Were anything to happen to you, I would be truly lost.” His face and tone told her that he meant every word.
“But you will lose me, Felix,” she answered just as quietly. “I will be leaving Arkley Hall upon our return.”
“You cannot leave. You must finish your work with my mother.”
“Anyone can administer the treatments now. I will leave instructions with Mrs. Snow on what to do.”
“No, it must be you. What if something happens in your absence and Mother takes a turn for the worse?”
“Then I can be sent for. I will still be living in Arkley Forest.”
“I am not in agreement with this, Marybeth. I cannot let you go.”
“You must. You knew this day was coming. We have spoken of it before.”
“Yes, but it was always after you had cured my mother. I believed we had months, not mere days. I cannot do this without you.” His eyes pleaded with her to change her mind. “I will do whatever it takes to keep you at Arkley Hall. You need only name it.”
“There is nothing that can be done. It is too late.”
“I promise you that I will never lay a hand upon you again.”
“I wanted that as much as you did. It is as much my fault as yours. I am not leaving because I do not trust you to control yourself around me.”
“Then why?”
“I am leaving because I cannot control myself around you. I love you, Felix, and anyone with eyes can see it. Lady Cordelia and her brother can see it. Your mother can see it. If I stay a moment longer than is absolutely necessary, I could ruin your entire future. I must go.”
Felix looked at her with a combination of hurt and joy. “You love me?” he whispered moving toward her.
“Yes,” Marybeth answered matter-of-factly.
“I…” Felix began to answer and found himself being interrupted by the Earl of Bredon calling his name. Resigned, he gave Marybeth a look that said they were not finished yet and went over to see what his guest needed.
Feeling flushed and near tears, Marybeth decided that it was unwise to linger in the heated waters over long and exited the bath. The Dowager Duchess, seeing her go, called out requesting to return to the townhouse. The poor woman was exhausted beyond measure as the journey had taken entirely too much out of her. Had it not been for Marybeth’s treatments the Duchess would not have been able to make the journey at all.
“Felix,” the Dowager Duchess called out softly. Her son turned to answer and found both women ready to leave. He emerged from the waters, his shirt clinging to his muscled form. “I need to return to the house to rest, but you and the others may stay as long as you wish. I believe there is to be a ball on Monday and another on Thursday that Lady Cordelia might be interested in attending. Perhaps you could invite her to go with you?”
“I will return with you now. I will inform the Earl and Lady Cordelia that they may stay as long as they choose. I will broach the topic of the ball over dinner this evening.” Felix turned to speak with his guests and then rejoined Marybeth and his mother. He pushed the Dowager Duchess back to the town house in her wheeled chair and Mrs. Snow helped her into bed. Marybeth administered another treatment and the Duchess was sleeping soundly in no time at all.
Tired, Marybeth crawled into her own bed after changing out of her wet clothes and allowed sleep to claim her. As she slept, she dreamt of another life where she and Felix were wed, their children and grandchildren gathered around them.Felix, her heart whispered as she reached out into the darkness for a man who was not and would never be hers.
