Page 28 of The Brooding Duke's Fateful Letter
“I would very much like to hear what it was, Your Grace,” Charlotte said in a tender tone as he looked into her eyes.
I think I’m falling in love with my future husband! Charlotte admitted to herself.
“Your Grace.” A groomsman stood at the door looking disturbed.
“Yes, what is it?” He asked without taking his eyes from hers.
“Your Grace one of the horses needs attention. We think he might be glanded, Your Grace.”
Henry’s expression went from loving to grief stricken. “Excuse me, My Lady. This is rather serious.”
“Will the animal be alright?” Charlotte asked even though his grave expression told her she would dislike the answer.
“No, My Lady. It might even affect the other horses. I will do all that I can so that they do not suffer.” He said starting to shake visibly from emotion.
Chapter 10
“Is it just the one?” Henry asked the groomsman.
“Yes, Your Grace. We have the doctor at the stables. He told us to separate the sick horse from the rest.”
He nodded not feeling up to what was about to transpire. Glanders was an infectious disease that infected the glands and lungs of horses. It was as fatal as a broken leg, meaning he would have to say his farewell to the animal.
“Morning doctor.” He greeted the man waiting with the horse.
“Your Grace, good to see you. I am sorry about Sugar, she is in pain, Your Grace.”
“Good to see you too doctor. Thank you for your time.” Henry went to the horse. He wanted to thank her for all she had done for him. She had been so patient when he had learned to walk and ride again.
Is this really how I get to repay you?! At best to put you out of your misery?
Henry hugged the horse as his throat burned with the effort of withholding tears.
“Is there no way that she would recover?” Henry asked knowing there was little to no chance of that. The doctor looked down and shook his head.
“Right. The animal cannot suffer. Doctor if you would see to it,” Henry said. He gave the horse one last hug and a scratch behind the ear. “I shall never forget you. Soon you will be free from pain,” he whispered, and stood back.
Even though Henry had given the order, when the gunshot went off, he jumped. The groomsman stood ready and covered the animal with a blanket. He turned away to hide how upset he was and marched to his quarters.
Tomorrow morning I shall arrange a hunt. It will not do me any good to sit indoors and grieve. He thought as his eyes stung. The duke had invited peers closest to him to join him for a hunting trip. This was an activity he had not participated in for a while.
He realized that he had been living as a shell of his former self and that Charlotte had awoken him from his sleep. Since the accident, the duke has ceased activities all together. Charlotte had made the duke want to be part of life again. Whatever the outcome of this courtship, he would be forever indebted to her.
It was why, when the sun had barely made its way from its bed in the mountains, that the duke made his way to Charlotte’s quarters to give her a gift. He had taken care of the little creature last night, making sure the young hound felt warm and safe.
A baby was still a baby even when it was an animal. The duke thought as he had carefully held the young puppy after he had given him warm milk. He had looked forward to showing her gift to her and would have struggled to fall asleep if he had not enjoyed the puppy at his side so much.
“Inform Lady Bethany that I would like her company in the lounging area as soon as she can,” Henry instructed a servant. The duke watched the door, eagerly awaiting her arrival. He decided that facing away from her would offer a better surprise.
“Your Grace, you wanted to see me?” Lady Bethany spoke at the door just as he had turned around.
“Yes, My Lady. I wondered if you might be interested in taking care of him,” the duke said, and turned to face her.
The look of pure happiness and delight that spread across her face was a hundred times more satisfying than he could have thought possible.
“Oh, he is so wonderful, Your Grace,” she said as she picked the puppy up into her arms with care. “Is he really mine?”
“Yes, My Lady. If you will accept him.” The duke could not stop smiling.
