Page 39 of Wedded to the Loveless Duke
Eleanor cupped his stubbled cheek in her hand. “Phillip, I am glad you were not a better man.”
He stared down at her, his expression shifting to something inscrutable. “Do you mean it?”
“I do. At first, I hated you for what you had done, but now I understand that it was better you than another man. You understand me, while others never did. If I had to be wed, I would have preferred you to the alternative.”
He chuckled and closed his eyes. “You know how to make a man feel as though he is minuscule sometimes, Eleanor. I would have your heart and your devotion, not just your appreciation that I am better than the alternative.”
Eleanor leaned up on her toes and pressed her lips to his in a chaste, gentle kiss. “You are slowly stealing both, Phillip, though I admit I thought the task an impossibility.”
He kissed her back gently. “I am glad to hear it. Come, then. If we dally longer, we shall not leave this study any time soon.”
“Would that be so dreadful?”
“I can carry on our conversation and come to know you better in the carriage just as easily as I can here.” He stroked her cheek with a soft smile. “I cannot, however, take you shopping here.”
“I see. Are you truly that eager to go shopping?”
He chuckled and drew her into his arms, smoothing a hand over her hair. “I am eager to spend time with you and see your eyes light up like they did when I brought you things you loved, like Bella or the diamond necklace. Shall we go, then?”
“I think we should.” Her breath caught as she looked up at him and found in his eyes a mix of desire and fondness that made her heart squeeze. “You know, Phillip, I think a conversation about an heir would not be so terrible.”
He smiled at her and guided her towards the door. “Another time. If you are merely bringing it up to appease me, you need not do so. I told you, I am not the least bit concerned about producing an heir before we are both ready.”
Sighing, she took his arm and let him guide her out of the study to the front door. There, Phillip went out to the stables and fetched a groom to prepare the carriage. Then, he returned to her and pulled her down to sit beside him on the front steps.
“I was not bringing it up to appease you, Phillip.” Eleanor leaned into his side with a sigh, enjoying the warm sunshine and breeze.
“Then we shall discuss it another time. For today, let it just be us with no concerns about societal expectations or your father’s attempts to meddle.”
Her thoughts drifted, and she let herself relax beside Phillip, enjoying the moment of stillness and peace between them. A happy yap from the stables brought her back to her surroundings. Bella came bounding across the yard to join them, jumping into Phillip’s lap and licking his cheek with enthusiasm.
Phillip laughed. “Off, Bella.”
The little dog whined but obeyed, wagging her tail as she hopped down and sat at his feet patiently. Phillip took pity on the little creature and started petting her floppy ears with a smile.
Eleanor shook her head. “She is such a traitor! I have taken care of her for years, but the moment she met you, she switched loyalties.”
Phillip captured Bella’s furry face in his hands and kissed her wet nose. “That is merely because she recognizes the hand that now feeds her as her master. She still loves you, my dear, I promise.”
As if to emphasize his point, the moment Phillip told Bella she could, she left her sitting position and jumped into Eleanor’s lap to demand more attention. Eleanor hugged the wiggling dog and petted her with a smile. “I suppose she does.”
The carriage rolled up, and Eleanor stood up, picking up Bella and carrying her to the boy who had followed the carriage out and was searching for the little dog.
“Thank you kindly, Your Grace,” the stable boy said, bowing before he took Bella.
Phillip extended a hand to his wife. “Your carriage awaits, my dearest. Allow me?”
Eleanor took his hand with a smile and let him help her in. “Thank you, Your Grace.”
He climbed in and sat beside her with an answering smile. “It is always my pleasure.”
She blushed and stared at her lap. “A pleasure or a duty?”
He shut the carriage door and drew the curtain before leaning in close to murmur in her ear. “A pleasure, my dear. Any time I can hold you or touch you, however briefly, is a pleasure, I assure you.”
"You should not say such things in public.”
“I lowered my voice,” he protested. “And besides, should a man not take pleasure in being near his wife?”
