Page 70 of The Duke and the Lady in Red
Now he paced in front of the fireplace. “What do you know of this duke? He took advantage the night we were leaving. He could be doing the same now. Mayhap he intends to parade Harry before all his aristocratic friends. The nobility like to have something special to show off.”
“He has no intentions of parading Harry about,” Rose insisted. “But he is in a better position than we are to see to Harry’s needs. He has servants, staff. I daresay he’d hire a nurse if need be.” While he hadn’t said as much, she’d wager her five thousand quid that he would do it. He fought so hard to give the appearance of not caring, and yet he had done little except show her kindness. And now he was extending it to Harry.
“We don’t take such bad care of him,” Merrick insisted, coming to a halt and jabbing his hands onto his hips.
She realized his pride was hurt. She hadn’t considered that. She’d thought they’d all want what was best. “You take marvelous care of him, but this is an opportunity for him to experience a bit more of life. The duke has a billiards room. Harry has never played.”
“It’s a silly reason to take him away.”
“You can come visit, every day if you like.” She fought not to grimace. Avendale probably wasn’t going to like that.
“It should be up to Harry,” Merrick said.
“Yes, of course, it’s completely up to Harry. We’re not going to take him kicking and screaming from here.” She looked at her brother. “Do you want to come with us?”
“Do you love him?”
What did that have to do with anything? “I like him very much.”
“I like him, too.” He turned his body slightly so he could see Merrick more clearly. “I’m sorry, Merrick. But I want to go.”
“No need for you to apologize,” Merrick groused. “If I was you, I’d probably want to go, too.”
“I think it’s wonderful,” Sally said. Merrick glowered at her, and Rose knew he was thinking,Traitor.“Think of everything he’ll experience. Lovely breakfasts that are more than my boiled eggs.”
“I like your boiled eggs,” Harry said.
Sally smiled. “You’re such a sweet lad. But, caw, to spend time in the presence of a duke ... it’s a dream for some, you know.”
“For you?” Merrick snapped.
She scowled at him. “No, of course not.” But when Merrick looked away, Sally winked and nodded at Rose.
Rose almost laughed, then her thoughts sobered. She’d once judged Avendale by his rank, giving little thought to the man behind it. Now she hardly saw his rank anymore. She saw only the man.
Chapter 14
Harry felt like the puppy he’d had as a boy. It had been an excitable creature, always jumping around, chasing its tail. His father had given it to him before Harry had become a monster, had become the Boulder Boy. In anger, when his father realized Harry was not his son but the devil’s, he’d drowned the dog.
Rose had held Harry while he cried. She’d promised him that she would never let anyone hurt him again. She was seventeen before she’d been able to carry through on that promise. Harry often wished that he could make the same promise to her, that he could watch out for her.
Although he suspected that the duke was going to do it for him. Not that he thought the duke was aware of it as the carriage traveled through the London streets. But Harry knew. He was able to sense things like that. Just as he knew it was going to rain again.
The trunk Merrick had helped him pack was on top of the carriage. Rose sat beside him. He suspected the duke would have preferred that she sit at his side, but she was worried that Harry was afraid, that someone would hurt him. He wasn’t afraid, at least not for himself, but he did worry about her. He knew that she’d often done things that she shouldn’t, that she could go to prison if she were ever caught. She didn’t know he knew these things. Because his speech was impeded and he had to communicate with simple words—his misshapen mouth had difficulty forming the more complicated ones—people often thought his brain was encumbered as well. But he was sharper, more aware than people realized.
And so it was that he was also very much aware that very soon he would die.
He was growing more tired with each day. Sometimes he could barely lift his head because of all the boulders that had grown from it. They were growing inside him as well; he’d known it for a while. The doctor had confirmed it when he’d pressed on Harry’s stomach. He was certain the physician had felt them. He hadn’t said as much but his eyes had filled with sorrow.
Harry had wanted to stay with Merrick, but it was more important that Rose be with her duke. Harry knew all about dukes and the power they wielded. He could protect Rose as Harry never could.
Harry wore his hooded cloak. He’d kept the hood up even after he settled into the carriage. Easier to observe the duke that way without the man realizing he was being studied. The duke’s gaze seldom left Rose.
“You should know,” the duke began, “that I instructed my butler to have a footman available to you at all times. Should you require anything at all, you need only ask him.”
“That’s very kind,” Rose said.
The duke scowled. “I pay them, Rose. They might as well earn their salary.”
