Chapter 12

Chapter Twelve

" P lease, slow down!" Aurelia yelled at the top of her lungs, but the wind swept her protests away from Philip's ears.

Or, perhaps he'd heard her pleas but chose to ignore them.

"Your Grace, you are riding too fast!" she howled as Philip grinned behind her. It sounded like music to his ears.

Maybe the next time she would think twice before suggesting such an activity.

She'd only been riding properly for a week. She needed to keep up with him, to show him that she wasn't afraid and would not be intimidated by his efforts to throw her off.

Philip led them past the meadows and into the quiet woods, where a small lake lay nestled between the trees.

As they approached the clearing, he suddenly urged the horse into a gallop, the shift in speed catching Aurelia off guard. She gripped the reins tightly, her breath catching in her throat as her stomach churned from the abrupt change in motion.

They stopped abruptly before the lake and Philip dismounted swiftly, his expression unreadable. He turned to help her down, but Aurelia, her stomach still roiling uncomfortably from the ride, swayed slightly, needing a moment before accepting his hand.

When her feet finally touched the ground she stepped away, one hand pressed to her abdomen as she leaned against a tree, breathing heavily.

Her heart was racing in her chest, not only from the ride but from the fact that he had purposely been so rough. She could clearly see the wicked gleam of satisfaction in his eyes, but there was something more underneath his brutal actions. She knew that he would not have been so reckless if he wasn't warring with his own desires.

It is the only thing he can do to continue to resist me. Aurelia tried to suppress the faint smile tugging at the corners of her lips.

Philip watched her from a few steps away, his brow furrowing. He saw the discomfort on her face, and despite himself, a pang of guilt gnawed at him. He hadn't meant to push her that far.

"Are you all right?" His voice softened as he took a step toward her, his earlier edge of cruelty fading away.

Aurelia did not respond. Instead, she stood and brushed her hands over her dress, intending to walk away from him, ignoring his concern. But the moment she placed weight on her foot, pain shot up her leg. She twisted her ankle awkwardly and before she could catch herself, she stumbled.

Philip was beside her in an instant, his hands catching her before she fell, pulling her tightly into his arms.

Her breath hitched when she looked up at him, their eyes locking. For a moment time itself seemed to stand still and they were no longer in the woods by a lake, but somewhere far more intimate. She could feel the warmth of his body seeping through her dress, and the strength of his arms as he held her close. His eyes, so often filled with disdain or amusement, now softened as they traced the lines of her face.

For a heartbeat she believed he might kiss her. Her pulse quickened and she felt his breath mingle with hers as the space between them shrank.

Just as the moment threatened to overwhelm them, Philip's expression shifted. He cleared his throat and gently set her back on her feet, though his hands lingered on her waist.

"You are certainly committed to this, are you not." he observed, his voice low. There was a hint of admiration, though it was laced with his usual skepticism. "I must admit, I am impressed by your fortitude."

Aurelia opened her mouth to respond, a retort hanging on the tip of her tongue, but before she could speak a sharp pain radiated from her ankle again and she winced, gripping his arm tightly for support.

Philip's eyes immediately widened in alarm, the teasing edge evaporating from his demeanor.

"You are injured," he noted, his tone suddenly serious. He knelt before her, his hands moving to her leg. "Why did you not say anything?"

"I…"

Aurelia tried to protest but he was already inspecting her ankle. She winced again as his fingers pressed lightly against the swelling.

He frowned, standing up abruptly, his hand running through his hair as he assessed the situation.

"Well, this complicates things," he muttered, glancing between her and the horse. "There is only one option, and I doubt you will like it," he said, meeting her eyes. His voice was gentler now, its usual harshness replaced with concern. "We must return home on horseback and call for the physician, meaning you will have to endure the pain for a while longer."

Aurelia nodded, trying to maintain her composure, though the throbbing in her ankle made it difficult.

Sensing her discomfort, Philip wasted no time. He carefully scooped her up into his arms as if she weighed nothing and lifted her with a tenderness she hadn't expected from him, making sure not to touch her ankle as he carried her to the horse.

"This is why I did not want you to come along," he muttered under his breath, but she'd heard him.

"You speak as though you did not purposely try to harm me," she retorted in the same tone.

Philip said nothing because she was right. He instead placed her gently on the saddle, ensuring she was seated properly, her legs draped over one side.

When he mounted behind her his arms wrapped around to steady her as they began their slow journey back.

The ride was far gentler this time, Philip controlling the horse's pace with the utmost care. His focus was entirely on Aurelia, his arms tightening around her each time they encountered a slight bump on the path.

The silence between them was thick, not with tension but with unspoken thoughts. She could feel the warmth of his body against her back. Despite the pain in her ankle she couldn't help but notice how protective he had become. Every so often she felt his gaze on her, checking to see if she was in pain.

She knew this was a small victory: Philip's reaction, his obvious concern. It wasn't just a result of his guilt over her injury. No, she had gotten under his skin. He could resist her all he wanted, but she had won a portion of this battle. Now she only had to push a little further.

As they approached the estate, Philip tightened his grip on her waist. "Once we are home, I will call for the physician," he said, his voice unusually soft. "I will ensure that you are well taken care of."

Aurelia glanced silently behind her, meeting his gaze. The way he looked at her spoke volumes. She had crossed into dangerous territory.

But that was exactly what she needed.

Upon their arrival at Oakdale Manor the atmosphere became charged with activity. Philip barked orders at Mr. Wimbledon the moment his boots touched the gravel path.

"Send for the physician immediately," he commanded as he effortlessly scooped Aurelia up into his arms once again.

The butler didn't need to be told twice, nodding his head quickly as he hurried to execute the Duke's order.

Aurelia held on tightly to Philip, her arms encircling his neck, feeling his firm, strong muscles flexing beneath her hands. Her ankle throbbed with pain, but she couldn't help the small smile that formed on her lips.

This had not been part of her plan, but it had worked out beautifully. She had imagined many ways to get close to her husband, but none had been quite so…intimate.

As they entered the manor, the curious eyes of the staff landed on them.

"What happened to Her Grace?"

"Is she alright?"

"She looks hurt."

"What is she playing at?"

Maids whispered behind their hands, footmen cast surreptitious glances. Aurelia knew they would gossip about this moment for days, perhaps weeks, about how the Duke had carried his Duchess in his arms after a morning ride in the woods.

Aurelia paid them no mind as the Duke's focus was entirely upon her. Each step he took was measured, careful, as if he was afraid he might injure her more. She rested her head on his shoulder, allowing herself a moment of contentment. How odd it was to feel both pain and satisfaction simultaneously.

Philip carried her all the way to her bedchamber without breaking a sweat. Once they were inside he lowered her onto the bed with such care that she barely felt her aching ankle move. He stood back, his eyes narrowing as he studied her face.

"I will venture a guess that this was not part of your grand plan?" His tone was dry, but the glint in his eyes betrayed something softer.

Amusement, perhaps?

Aurelia's cheeks flushed crimson and she shook her head. "No, Your Grace. I did not intend to injure myself."

"I see."

From the corner of her eye she spotted her book lying innocently on the bed, where she had left it the night before.

The color in her cheeks deepened and in one swift motion she tucked the book under her pillow, hoping Philip wouldn't notice her hasty action. But something in the slight quirk of his eyebrows told her he had seen it, or at least suspected something.

She cleared her throat and offered him a small smile. "Thank you for the ride, Your Grace. I must say I quite enjoyed myself if it had not been for the…" She paused, looking down at her throbbing ankle. "… unfortunate event."

Thankfully caused by you.

"I realize you have other duties to which you must attend. You should not trouble yourself with waiting here, Your Grace. Once the physician arrives, I will be well taken care of," she offered.

Philip did not move. He stood by the window, his gaze focused on the garden beyond, though he was clearly not seeing it.

"No. I shall wait here until the physician arrives," he said curtly, his tone leaving no room for argument.

Minutes passed in tense silence until the door creaked open and the physician entered. He was an old balding man with a noticeable paunch and a monocle perched precariously in front of his right eye. He bowed awkwardly to the Duke before approaching Aurelia, his attention immediately turning to her injured ankle.

As the physician worked, examining her ankle and pressing careful fingers against it, Aurelia watched Philip from beneath her lashes.

His jaw tightened with each wince she made, his hands clenching at his sides. She noticed the way his gaze frequently shot toward the physician, as though he wanted to pull the man away and fix her ankle himself.

She suppressed a smile. Was that concern? Possessiveness, even?

The physician finally concluded his exam and stood, adjusting his monocle with a grave nod. "Your Grace, the injury is not severe, but it will require rest. You must not put weight on your ankle for at least five days. After that, gentle movement may be resumed, but nothing vigorous."

"Five days?" Aurelia's tone betrayed her frustration.

Five days of being confined to her bed meant five days of distance from Philip. Five days for him to retreat into his cold, calculated countenance.

This will ruin everything which I have worked for.

Philip looked at her, his brow furrowed. "She will recover fully, will she not?"

The physician nodded. "As long as she rests, Your Grace."

Aurelia's brow furrowed with frustration as she watched them. They spoke as though she was not in the room, and it annoyed her deeply.

Philip gave a curt nod and the physician bowed again before stepping out of the room. The moment the door closed behind him, the tension that had filled the space earlier returned.

Five days .

Aurelia's mind raced, her heart sinking at the thought. She had made so much progress in drawing Philip closer. Could she afford to lose all that ground?

No, I will not allow it.

Philip remained by her bedside, his expression unreadable as he watched her. "You should rest," he urged, his voice low.

"I suppose I must," she replied with a sigh, although her mind was already whirring with plans.

She had only just begun.