Page 41 of Duke of Gold
Peggy tried again, shaking his arm gently. “Morgan, please wake up,” she pleaded, her voice breaking slightly. But there was no response—just the same heartbreaking grunts, the labored breaths, the perspiration gathering on his brow.
She was just about to give up and summon help when the room fell suddenly silent.
Morgan grew still—too still. Peggy froze, her breath catching as she watched his chest. Her hand darted to his face, and she exhaled shakily when she felt the soft puff of his even breathing against her palm. Relief coursed through her, and she realized only then that she’d been holding her breath.
Lowering herself onto the carpeted floor, she sat back on her knees, her gaze never leaving his now peaceful form. She reached up, her fingers gently brushing through his sweat-dampened locks. His brow was smooth once more, his expression calm as if the torment had never been there.
She lingered like that for a while, stroking his hair, grounding herself in his presence. Only when she felt certain he was well did she finally rise, tucking a stray lock of hair behind her ear as she quietly left the room.
But back in her own bed, sleep eluded her entirely. Peggy lay staring at the canopy above, her mind turning restlessly over what she had just witnessed.What was wrong with Morgan?she wondered, her chest tightening anew. First, the night she’d found him frozen in the hallway—and now this.
A shiver ran through her, unpleasant and cold, but it had nothing to do with the temperature.
After a long while of wrestling with her troubled thoughts, Peggy sighed and threw back the covers. Lying in bed, stewing in worry, would achieve nothing. She slipped her feet into her slippers, wrapped herself in her dressing dress, and padded toward the door.
Warm milk and honey,she thought as she made her way down the dimly lit hallways.That never fails to settle one’s nerves.It was a habit she’d learned in her girlhood, and though the castle boasted more staff than she could count, it didn’t occur to her to summon anyone for such a simple task. Warming a little milk was hardly beyond her capabilities, and truthfully, she didn’t wish to disturb anyone so late.
The quiet of the house was heavy, the faint creaks of the old wood floors and the distant ticking of a clock the only sounds accompanying her. As she reached the rear vestibule, a shadow moved in the corner of her eye, and her heart leapt to her throat.
“Oh!” she exclaimed softly, her breath hitching as she pressed a hand to her chest. “Mrs. Hallewell,” she said.
The housekeeper stood calmly, her ever-composed expression firmly in place. “Did you need something, Your Grace?” she asked, her voice low and unruffled, as though it were perfectly normal to be wandering the house at this hour.
Peggy swallowed hard, willing her pulse to slow. “I was just hoping to warm some milk,” she said, offering a faint smile. “I cannot sleep.”
Mrs. Hallewell inclined her head slightly. “You should have rung for it, Your Grace,” she said.
“Ru ng for it? At three in the morning? Waking the household for a simple glass of milk? ” Peggy shook her head, though her hands fidgeted slightly with the tie of her dressing dress.
“The kitchens are always at your service, Your Grace,” Mrs. Hallewell replied, her tone calm and even, as though she had not heard a word of Peggy’s protest.
Peggy opened her mouth to argue further but thought better of it. Instead, she allowed the housekeeper to lead her to the kitchens. The room was quiet, the faint glow of embers from the hearth providing just enough light to navigate. Mrs. Hallewell moved with practiced efficiency, fetching a small pot and a jug of milk, her steps precise and deliberate.
“Please, allow me,” Peggy offered as they reached the stove.
But the housekeeper merely shook her head. “Your Grace, if you would like to sit,” she said, gesturing toward the table in the corner.
Peggy hesitated but eventually relented, settling herself at the table with her hands folded neatly in her lap. She watched asMrs. Hallewell poured the milk into the pot, her movements fluid and methodical. The silence between them grew thick, broken only by the faint crackle of the fire as it caught and flared.
Finally, unable to contain herself any longer, Peggy spoke. “He was having nightmares,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
Mrs. Hallewell’s hand faltered ever so slightly as she reached for a wooden spoon, the movement so fleeting Peggy almost doubted her own eyes. But the housekeeper recovered swiftly, stirring the milk with calm precision as though nothing had passed.
“Is that so, Your Grace?” she said, her tone neutral, not a hint of surprise betraying her.
Peggy’s brows furrowed as she leaned forward slightly. “It was as though he was in great pain,” she continued, her voice trembling slightly. “I tried to wake him, but he didn’t respond. And then... he simply fell silent.”
Mrs. Hallewell did not look at her, her focus fixed on the pot as the milk began to steam gently. “Perhaps His Grace was overtired,” she said evenly, her tone offering neither reassurance nor dismissal.
Peggy’s lips pressed into a thin line, her frustration mounting at the housekeeper’s impenetrable calm. “I know what I saw,” she said, her voice firmer now. “And this isn’t the first time. He’s been... unwell.”
Mrs. Hallewell turned then, holding Peggy’s gaze for a moment, her expression as unreadable as ever. “The Duke has his burdens, Your Grace,” she said simply. “But I am pleased to hear that he’s been sleeping at least. ”
Peggy blinked, her brow furrowing in disbelief. “Withthe nightmares?” she asked.
“It’s the best he ever gets,” Mrs. Hallewell replied, her tone devoid of emotion but carrying a weight that settled heavily over the room.
Peggy felt herself go limp in her seat, the back of her chair offering little comfort against the ache that had suddenly taken root in her chest. Something wrenched at her heart—a deep, unfamiliar sorrow for the man she called her husband. This was not mere fatigue or the odd disturbed night; it was a relentless torment. A tragic reality she had not fully comprehended until now.
