Page 28 of An Accidental Bride for the Duke
She rolled her eyes. “If you say so.”
“Truly.” Philip moved to her bed, the urge to sit down beside her and take her hand so strong that he had to fight against it. “I know we have not known one another a long time but…” He shrugged. “To be perfectly honest, at times I think that you are too strong willed.”
She laughed… and then broke into a coughing fit. “You just bring it out in me, I suppose.”
“Shame on me.”
“Yes.” She widened her eyes at him as if in warning, but the expression softened, and she almost looked grateful. “Shame on you.”
Once again, Philip was taken by the urge of protection that lived deep within his soul. Iris might have been one of the most strong-willed women he had ever met, but he sensed that it was a front for something else. That she was compensating for her youth and how she had been treated.
It is no wonder she reacts the way she does to being chastised. I would not be surprised to learn that not once growing up was she ever in trouble.
“I am glad to see that you are not…” He clicked his tongue as he considered how to phrase it. “That this illness won’t be the end of you.”
She laughed. “I like to think I am stronger than that.”
“And here I was, all ready to break my fast with you. When you did not come, I assumed you were angry with me.”
She frowned. “Truly? You… you were waiting for me?”
“I was.”
That surprised her, and she wore that look on her face without trying to mask it. Looking up at him, Philip could sense the way she studied him closely, as if she was seeing him for the first time. Or rather, that she was seeing another side of him.
The truth of the matter is that this wasn’t a new side to Philip. It wasn’t one he hid from or ignored. The fact of the matter was that until now, he’d had no reason to show it to Iris. Happy to pretend this marriage meant nothing. Happier to avoid its consequences and hope that Iris would be of the same mind.
Now… Philip wasn’t so certain what he felt. Or how he should do.
It went without saying that for once, it wasn’t arousal or desire that kept Philip by Iris’ bed. He wasn’t drawn to her in that way, nor would he be with her current state. Rather, he realized in the moment that perhaps he had been coming at this marriage from the wrong position.
Was it worth taking a chance and seeing what might happen if he allowed himself to grow close to Iris? If he gave her a chance? Did he even want such a thing?
Philip didn’t have the answers right now, but he wasn’t as scared to find them as he had been. And this right here, well it felt like a perfect chance to start.
“Are you hungry?” he asked her.
“Oh, no, I couldn’t eat.”
“Some sunlight…” He half turned to the closed curtains. “Perhaps that will help?”
She winced. “In truth, it does not. It makes me feel queasy.”
“How about some company?” he offered instead, pairing the offer with a kind smile. “Surely that won’t make things worse. Even if my company isn’t exactly renowned for bringing comfort.”
“Are you…” She leaned back, her brow furrowing. “Are you certain? I wouldn’t want to put you out.”
“You aren’t.”
“Or distract you. I know how you feel about me invading your personal time.”
He laughed. “In this instance, I think I will manage. Besides, with how sickly you are, if you annoy me enough, I can just get up and leave. And it is not as if you will be able to chase me.”
She laughed at the joke, then coughed violently, but held her smile. “True enough,” she wheezed and hammered her stomach to clear the phlegm. “Some company would be lovely.”
And it was too.
For the next few hours, Philip sat by Iris’ bedside. Their conversation remained surface level, both careful not to go too deep and risk upsetting whatever this was. It was such a small thing, Philip knew. And still, he wasn’t certain how he felt about it.
