Page 30 of Wedded to the Loveless Duke
Eleanor shook her head, blushing and staring down at her plate. “I have not. Where is it?”
“It is situated at the back of the estate a ways away. It’s very private and very beautiful in the height of summer. You likely missed it if you did not ride far out.” He took a bite of hisown breakfast, still watching her with amusement. “You seem to enjoy the scones a great deal. If you like them so well, tell Annie to make them a regular feature for breakfast.”
Her cheeks warmed further. “I would hardly want to put her out. Besides, if I eat these constantly, I shall lose my figure, and I would like to continue fitting into my wardrobe, Your Grace.”
Phillip grinned. “I would buy you a new one if you wish. Besides, you are such a tiny woman that I cannot imagine eating these every day would do you much harm.”
Eleanor chewed on the inside of her cheek and contemplated the scone to take her attention off him and his teasing. “Do you mean to imply that I am too thin, Your Grace?”
“Not at all. You are perfect as you are. But if you were to gain a little weight, I would not be upset, particularly since I quite enjoy watching you relish these when Annie makes them. It is endearing.”
“Endearing?” She had a distinct impression that ‘endearing’ was not the word he meant to say.
Phillip’s grin broadened. “Endearing.”
It was not the word he meant to say at all.
“You are teasing me, Phillip.”
His deep, rich laugh filled the room. “I am. It is difficult to resist when you turn that pretty shade of pink.”
Eleanor bit her lip. “I see.”
“I do not mean any harm by it. If it upsets you, I will stop at once.” His smile softened. “I mean only to tease you a little, and I rather thought you enjoyed it since you bantered back.”
“It does not upset me,” she murmured.
“Good. It would be a tragedy if I could no longer see that blush on your cheeks after all.”
She laughed and sipped at her juice. “For you, perhaps.”
Phillip gave her a sly smile and then turned his attention to his plate. He polished off the rest of his food quickly and set to read the morning paper while Eleanor finished hers.
When she’d finished, he set the paper aside and rose. “Shall we go now? We can take lunch with us. I have already asked Annie to prepare something.”
“So certain I would say yes, were you? What if I had said no?”
He laughed. “Now you are teasing me, Eleanor. If you had said no, we could have picnicked in the back garden instead.”
She remembered how their last attempt at a picnic in the back garden had gone and grimaced. “The last time we tried to do that, it went very poorly.”
Phillip drew her to him and rested his forehead against hers with a soft sigh. “Then that only means we need to make another attempt at it to erase the poor memory the last attempt left.”
Eleanor pressed her palms against his chest with a sad smile. “I am sorry for how I reacted then, Phillip.”
“I know you are, my love. I do not hold it against you, though. You were going through a great deal, and you had no reason to trust me. After what you had overheard, I can hardly blame you for the misunderstanding.” He lifted his head.
“I was horrid about it, though. I never gave you a chance to explain.” She tipped her head up to look into his eyes. “Will you tell me now what I missed after I fled the garden on our wedding day?”
He kissed her forehead gently. “If you wish. Come, we will sit in the parlor by the fireplace while Annie prepares our lunch.”
Eleanor let him lead her down the hallway to the parlor and tuck her into a seat near the hearth. Despite the summer weather, it was still chilly in the mornings, and she appreciated the fire in the hearth.
Phillip sat beside her with a heavy sigh. “I was upset with your father, to be honest.”
Eleanor remembered the moment she’d eavesdropped on their conversation. Phillip had sounded a little unhappy and perhaps a touch bitter. She’d assumed it was because he didn’t want her.
Was there some other reason?
