“Perhaps I truly do have a sixth sense, Your Grace,” she said.
“Perhaps you do.” His gaze was intense. Undecipherable, but intense all the same. Isabel hoped her cheeks weren’t red.
“Do you want to know the truth, Your Grace?” she said as she watched him begin to eat. She was happy to see that he still had his appetite. “I was dreadfully bored myself. Being here is really only to satisfy my own needs.”
“Is that so? How bold of you to say.”
For an alarming moment, Isabel feared he might have taken her seriously, but then his lips twitched and his eyes lightened. They were chestnut, those eyes, nearly the same color as his hair. Somehow, they made his hard, strong face seem a little softer.
“Prepare yourself for my constant company from now on, Your Grace,” she said, smiling herself.
“I don’t know how you managed to deal with all that boredom without me around.”
“It was quite the struggle and I didn’t know how long I’d be able to last, in truth.”
This time, he actually laughed, blurting out a surprised chuckle. Isabel laughed along with him. She was happy he went along with the joke, since she knew he was the one who made preparations for her to stay with the Marquess and his wife during his absence.
Ah, this is so much better than the incomprehensible gaze of his. He looks much better when he smiles.
Again, there was something strange happening to her body but Isabel decided to ignore it, focusing on him instead.
“Do you feel a little better, Your Grace?”
“The pain has subsided somewhat. The physician left something at my bedside to help ease it and I’ve been sipping it all day.”
Isabel guessed it was laudanum. She couldn’t imagine what else it could be.
“He tells me that he’ll be back within a few weeks with a Bath chair so that you won’t be confined to the bed for long.”
“I have no doubt that being confined to bed for the coming weeks will be as terrible as it sounds, but thank heavens it won’t be forever,” the Duke said and she actually saw his shoulders sag with relief. “The very thought of having to lie here for long was already driving me insane. I have too much work to do as it is.”
“Work?” she said in surprise. “You truly plan on doing work in this state, Your Grace?”
The Duke paused, blinking slowly at her. Isabel couldn’t tell if he couldn’t understand her surprise or if the look meant something else.
“What else would I do? That’s the reason I am here, is it not?”
She knew that, yet it pained her to hear it. Her birthday was only a few days from now. She had liked the idea that maybe he returned here for that purpose. “Even if that is so, Your Grace, you simply cannot. You are injured, which means you shouldn’t do any strenuous activity until you are well enough again.”
“I doubt sitting behind my desk looking at paperwork counts as strenuous,” he commented.
Isabel was already shaking her head. “You can’t, Your Grace. You have to rest. I’d hate for you to develop a fever again, or something worse this time.”
The Duke only stared at her. Isabel busied herself by eating, trying to withhold the blush creeping up her neck from her own bold words. It wasn’t working, but she tried nonetheless.
“Well, all right,” he said after a moment. Isabel’s head shot up and he continued, “I can already imagine how tiresome it would be to attempt working while I’m in this state. It might be best, as you said, to wait until I am healed first.”
Isabel smiled. “I’m happy you see that, Your Grace.”
He smiled at her again. It was honestly surprising to see how easily he smiled, since she had spent so much time thinking he was a standoffish person. Sure, he still wasn’t the easiest person to decipher, but having him smile at her proved he wasn’t so cold.
Chapter Six
Miss Isabel didn’t stay for long because David didn’t want her to. He had felt the same tingle that steadily grew stronger the longer he was in her presence. He was afraid of frightening the young lady—especially since he was frightening himself—and so as soon as he was finished eating, he claimed fatigue and asked for privacy to rest.
Isabel’s disappointment was tangible. David watched closely, noticing how plainly she wore her emotions. Happiness, worry, excitement… they were all stamped as clear as day on her face. And the disappointment was no different. Her shoulders sagged, and he wondered if she realized how obvious her emotions were.
“Of course, Your Grace,” she said, with a nod. “I’ll have someone clear all this up.”
“Thank you, Miss Isabel.” And because he couldn’t allow her to leave just like that, he added, “I enjoyed your company today.”
“As did I, Your Grace.”
When she rose, he was moved by her elegance. Isabel moved as if she were on water, as if the air bent to her will. And with her beautiful long hair falling around her shoulders, she resonated with innocence.
It bothered him that his thoughts were fast growing inappropriate. She wasn’t only his ward but she was also young and pure. As her guardian, he had a duty to protect her. These thoughts were far from innocent.
He noticed the curve of her lips, the way they stretched apart in such a glorious way when she smiled. And the move of her body, somehow accentuating every curve and dip, stirred something in him that had long been dormant.
He spent most of his time focusing on his duties and responsibilities. Though he was nine-and-twenty years, he didn’t entertain the idea of marrying any time soon. He believed that when he did, it should be with someone he was in love with, and David doubted that would happen with how busy he was.
Miss Isabel gave him one last look before she left. David was beginning to think that she did that hoping he would say something at the very last minute to make her stay. But he held his tongue. Although he wanted Isabel’s company, David thought it was best not to stray too far from what he knew needed to happen.
She will turn nineteen soon. She will marry soon. It’s my duty to ensure that she does.
And what a lucky man that will be.
Once Isabel left the room, David’s mind began to race and he sagged back on the pillows. He had to remember that soon, she would make her debut during the London Season. She would find a good match and he’d no longer have the responsibility of being her guardian weighing so heavily on his mind.
He hoped.
* * *
Miss Isabel was back again—as she had been the day before that, and every other day from the moment he woke up in bed. With her company, the long and boring days he had expected became much more bearable until six weeks had gone by with relative ease.
This time, however, she was early. Usually, David would find himself awake and waiting for her to arrive, the minutes stretching endlessly. But no sooner did he opened his eyes did she knocked on the door, murmuring a soft, “Your Grace?”
David tried coming to a sitting position as best as he could. Because of his leg, he couldn’t twist and turn during his sleep and so his body ached. Running his fingers through his hair in the hopes that the strands weren’t sticking upright, he said, “You may enter.”
Miss Isabel pushed the open only slightly and she popped her head in. “I hope I’m not waking you, Your Grace. It’s just that the physician is here to check up on you.”
David sagged, a mixture of relief and disappointment rushing through him. With Mr. Phillip here, perhaps he would have better control of his thoughts. “Show him in.”
Miss Isabel pushed the door open wider. David was too busy drinking her in to bother with the entrance of the physician. She was in a green gown, the color of grass after the rain. It made her eyes stand out and the soft smile she offered him in greeting was enough to chase away any remnants of sleep.
Get yourself together, David!
“Ah, Your Grace,” Mr. Phillip came into view and only then did David notice that he was pushing something before him. �
�How are you feeling? I have something for you.”
“Yes, yes.” David cleared his throat and spoke again. “Miss Isabel did tell me that you were planning to bring me a Bath chair. Is this it?”
“That it is, Your Grace.” Mr. Phillip took a step back, narrowing one eye without the other eye moving at all. Both darted back and forth between David and the chair. “And judging by the size of it, I think it will fit you just fine. How about we give it a try?”
David nodded, enthusiastic to get out of bed. Being immobile only made him think on things he shouldn’t.
At David’s agreement, Mr. Phillip raised his hand and signaled to two servants standing outside the door. They came and began to help David to stand. He refused to have them lift him up entirely and so he rested his good leg on the floor, balancing his weight to one side, and with their help, he eased himself into the chair.
“How do you like it, Your Grace?” the physician asked.
“I think this will do just fine, Mr. Phillip. Thank you.”
“Oh, you’re most welcome. Now, you’ve been taking your medication, have you?” Mr. Phillip gave him a pointed look.
“Yes, Mr. Phillip. I’m not so tough a man that I could endure such pain for such a long time.”
Unable to help it, David glanced at Miss Isabel and saw that she had lifted her eyes to the ceiling, her lips quirked slightly. The sight filled him with amusement and he nodded at the physician.
“Glad to hear it!” Mr. Phillip clapped his hands sharply. “You make good use of this chair now, you hear me, Your Grace? Use it to keep all weight off of that leg of yours. And I’ll be back within a few weeks to take a look and see how the bone is mending.” He faced Miss Isabel and she perked up when his attention fell on her. “I’m leaving it up to you to ensure he doesn’t strain himself.”
“Not to worry, Mr. Phillip. I’ll make sure he’s resting and comfortable, and uses the chair instead of putting weight on his leg.”
“Good.” In a very pleasant mood, the physician bid them all goodbye and left the room. As soon as he did, Miss Isabel turned her attention to David.
David, like she had done, perked up when her eyes fell on him. “This means you’ll be able to have breakfast in the dining room, Your Grace,” she said. “Isn’t that wonderful? It’s been a while since you last dined there.”
“Is this another way of expressing how bored you are, Miss Isabel?” he asked, unable to keep from teasing her.
He was happy to see her blue eyes light up with mirth. “You’re beginning to read me well. Surely, you won’t turn me down now that you’ve seen my plight?”
“Now, that would be dreadfully dishonorable of me, don’t you think?”
Her laugh filled the room. He only had eyes for her, even when she looked away and signaled to the servants to start pushing his chair.
“This is going to be a special breakfast, Your Grace,” she said, coming to his side as he was wheeled down the hallway.
“How so?”
“Well, seeing that your return to the manor had been marred so badly by your accident, I thought I could do something special to help raise your spirits.”
David gave her a curious look. It was odd being like this, looking up at her the way he was from the Bath chair, but it was another angle of her beautiful face that he could admire.
“What makes you think I need my spirits raised?” he asked. “I don’t think I appear to be in a low mood.”
“You don’t have to look it, Your Grace. I know. If you’re anything like me, you hated being cooped up in bed and unable to do the things you used to.”
If I’m anything like her? Why did she say such a sad thing in such a cheerful tone?
“Ah, I see,” he said. “Now, why is this such a special breakfast?”
“I asked the cook to make you something she knew you liked.” She looked very pleased with herself. “Breakfast today will be all things she knows are your favorites.”
“The cook?”
“She’s been here ever since you were young, am I right?” Miss Isabel asked.
David nodded. Though he didn’t know the servants personally—except a few, like James, Thomas, and his butler—he did keep a check of all who were employed here. He was well aware that there were a few servants that had been working here since he was young but he couldn’t fathom what he might see when he reached the dining room.
Has she always been this kind?
Miss Isabel wore that small smile all the way to the dining room, even as the servants carried his chair down the stairs. When they entered the dining room, and David saw the food laid out before him, his gratitude grew. The smell was magnificent and Isabel beamed to herself, as if she knew how happy and hungry the sight made him.
He looked at her as he was wheeled over to the head of the table. She took her seat next to him, eyes running excitedly over the food before her.
“This is very kind of you, Miss Isabel,” he said, watching her closely.
Her eyes, as impossible as it seemed, grew brighter at the compliment. "I'm happy you like it, Your Grace.”
“How have you been all these years, Miss Isabel?”
“How have I been?” The question caught her off guard and she frowned a bit. “What do you mean?”
“I haven’t been around very much, moving from estate to estate as I have been. Lord Pemperton sends me letters from time to time, but I’d like for you to tell me yourself.”
Miss Isabel picked up her fork as she thought.
How interesting. She pushes out her bottom lip when she’s thinking hard.
“I’ve found ways of entertaining myself,” she said after she was done thinking. “Staying with Lord and Lady Pemperton has made my days much less lonely than they would have been.”
“Yes, I’m well aware. I had hoped that staying with the Marquess and his wife would help the days pass a little smoother for you.”
Miss Isabel nodded. She ate heartily. David had noticed that when they sat together eating before.
“Lady Pemperton treats me as she would her own daughter. She is truly very kind and quite an interesting lady.”
David never really spoke Lady Pemperton to know that. But her husband, Lord Pemperton, had been the late Duke’s old friend and had become David’s friend after his death. David had asked him to take care of Miss Isabel in his absence and received letters about her wellbeing from the Marquess from time to time.
“I should invite them over soon,” David said. “To thank them for taking care of you when I’m not here.”
“If you plan to invite them over, Your Grace, I suggest you move quickly. Lady Pemperton is quite fond of having company and she’s bound to send you an invitation for tea soon. I’m surprised she hasn’t already done so.”
“Perhaps she has learned of my injury.”
“Perhaps,” Miss Isabel said with a nod, her tone unconvinced. “But once she learns of your newfound mobility, she’ll reconsider.”
“She sounds… quite the lady.”
To that, Miss Isabel laughed. “She truly is. Do you enjoy the company of others, Your Grace?”
“As much as any other would.”
“Then when you sit down to have tea with Lady Pemperton, you’ll surely enjoy yourself for she is three ladies in one. She has such a spirited and diverse personality that it’s always so hard to keep up with what she might do or say next.”
David’s eyes went wide at the comparison. Surprise filled him when he saw Miss Isabel’s eyes twinkled. “You sound convinced of the fact that this invitation will happen.”
“It will. And you’ll be going. Believe me, Your Grace.”
Isabel’s words were laced with such mirth that David couldn’t tell whether she was teasing him or not. It made him stare, more than usual, and he half-hoped she wouldn’t catch his gaze. David didn’t think he would be able to look away even if he tried.
Luckily for him, Isabel’s attention remained solely on her food, which also
caught his eye.
She’s an enigma. How can one eat with such gusto, yet remain ladylike and graceful at the same time?
“Oh, Your Grace—” Isabel looked at him suddenly, as if she just remembered something.
David didn’t look away from her in time. He couldn’t. When her eyes met his, he went still—unable to move, unable to look away. He watched as her cheeks grew a bright pink when she caught him, and her eyes darted away, blinking rapidly.
“Is there something wrong, Your Grace?” she asked, sounding slightly alarmed.
Daring Deeds 0f A Forbidden Duchess (Steamy Historical Regency Romance) Page 4