Chapter 13

CHAPTER 13

“ C atch me if you can,” Elizabeth challenged over her shoulder, darting further into the garden. Her feet were bare, something she had not done for years and the grass was warm and soft underfoot as she ran. She was wearing a light white muslin, something she would normally have never dared wear outside and the ties were loose, leaving her breasts dangerously close to spilling out of the top.

She could hear him chasing her, his laughter carrying after her on the air as she ran towards the little garden he had taken her to, the fountains calling to her under the summer heat.

“I see you,” he called.

She had known he would enjoy the chase. He was the hunter and she the prey, and yet it did not make her feel powerless as she climbed onto the fountain and stood, letting the water drench her and plaster her dress against her skin. The soft blush of her naked flesh now showed through the wet muslin as though she were wearing nothing and her hair was wet and wild around her shoulders. She tossed her head back, relishing the cool water and waited for him to reach her.

She felt like a nymph of the fountain, like a magical being who was drawing him on towards her for her own desires.

Strong hands encircled her waits and drew her into his embrace, Stephen claiming her mouth as his rightful prize. They pressed against each other, her wet near-nakedness hungry for his body and longing to know the secrets he might teach her as his hands shifted, found her breasts and slid her dress further down her shoulders to free them to the air.

She arched into his grip, into his touch, her head falling back as he kissed his way down her throat. He was still holding her to him and he was so strong, so powerful and she yearned - she yearned - she

Awoke with a start to Sally leaning over her and shaking her shoulder lightly. “Your Grace, you are still abed? It is near to breakfast!”

“Oh you have woken me!” Elizabeth blurted, then felt her face suffuse with a flush of embarrassment. She could not take it back now, but she wanted to desperately. It felt as though all the things that Stephen had done with her, all the things she had felt last night must be writ over the room, that Sally must know from her very face what they had done, and she could not bear it.

“Your Grace?” Sally frowned, concern on her sweet face. “Is everything all right?”

“All is well,” Elizabeth said quickly, wanting to bury her face in her pillows but not daring. “I am simply tired. It was a busy night and then I had a - dream.”

“A dream?”

“A nightmare,” Elizabeth said hastily. “I was being pursued by a - monster.”

“I am right glad I woke you then, Your Grace!” Sally said stoutly. “Now come and get dressed. Some new morning dresses have arrived today for you!”

“Please, Sally, just one of my old dresses thank you.” There was so much to think and feel about last night already that Elizabeth did not want to think what might happen should she go down to breakfast in one of the new dresses Stephen had bought for her. It would feel something like calling herself his and she wasn’t sure yet how she felt about that.

Sally made an expression of disapproval but didn’t argue, going and fetching a simple morning dress and helping Elizabeth to change and tidy herself after her busy evening and night. “Whatever happened to your gown, Your Grace? All the servants were abuzz about it this morning. It’s been sent to be cleaned but apparently it was such a sight that there are rumors flooding around that you were chased through the woods, or had to flee some terrible fellow after your modesty!”

Elizabeth laughed, well used to the way that servants could make a meal of gossip out of the smallest details of their employer’s lives. “Darling Sally, nothing so sinister! I found a wounded bird in the forest, that’s all. I do hope it is all right this morning!”

“Quite well, Mrs. Pugh tells me. His Grace’s man came early and has treated the wing and very soon they’re to come up to your room and set him up in here if you would like, Your Grace. He’s a brave little fellow and the groundskeeper has strong hopes he may settle enough to wish to stay with you as your bird if you care for him.”

Elizabeth smiled in delight. She had always loved the birds that had been kept at the Rosenburg estate but had never been allowed to spend much time with them. “That is exactly what I would wish, thank you Sally,” she said brightly. “I must hurry to breakfast but please make sure he is as comfortable as he can be made.”

“Good morning,” Stephen said as she came into the dining room, a little surprised to find him on his own as the hour was getting late to be starting to breakfast. Then she remembered that his siblings had stayed at Stapleton the night before and had likely not returned yet. “How is our young guest settling in?”

She smiled brightly, crossing to sit next to him. “I am told he will likely recover well, thank you, Your Grace.”

“Stephen.”

“Thank you, Stephen,” she said, her gaze dropping a little. She could feel the smile spreading further on her face. When she looked up again it was to find her husband staring at her lips as though entranced, an intense expression on his face.

A flush built up her cheeks as she remembered how he had been delighted by her smile the night before, and then by - other things.

She could not stay so flustered by him! Diana and the others would be home soon, and she felt she would surely die if they were to notice that she was so affected.

“Are you well, Duchess?” he asked, a wicked smile on his lips. “In truth, you look as if you may have a fever. Should you return to your bed? Should I call for a doctor?”

“Indeed sir,” she said, lifting her coffee cup to her lips. “I am quite well, perhaps it is you who are unwell. Is your vision fading?”

“Did you find me to be sickly last night, Elizabeth?” he asked, buttering a piece of toast and looking so demure that she wondered how anyone had ever found him out when he had performed mischief as a child. No man came to be in possession of such an innocent affect without practice.

“Your blood certainly ran hot,” Elizabeth retorted, keeping pace with him. It felt like safer ground to be exchanging witticisms like this, and she could see by the twitch of his lips that he was enjoying it too. “Maybe you are the one with the fever.”

“Perhaps we are both ill and should to bed together in fear of spreading it to the rest of the house,” he said, propping his chin on his fist and grinning at her. She scoffed and waved a hand at him and he caught it, kissed the knuckles quick and merry.

“When do your siblings return?” Elizabeth said quellingly, hoping it would bring him away from such dangerous topics and give her a moment’s reprieve to catch her breath.

“They should be home shortly. I imagine they supped early so they could make the journey back. They enjoy Stapleton Manor, but they do not like to be long away from home.”

“I can understand that,” Elizabeth said. It was true. Westall Estate was a happy home, but one with a tragic past. Both things made it a home that the inhabitants disliked to travel far from. She could imagine that in the past the ladies had dared barely leave their house for fear that they would return to find one of their brothers dead. “I hope that they had a lovely time.”

“They will be glad to see you are well. You have settled in to the house so naturally that I believe they are coming to see you as part of the family.”

“I am glad,” Elizabeth said. His tone was a little stilted, cautious but she felt her heart warm at the thought that she could actually begin to have a real part of this world. “Perhaps we should finish the chocolate, however. If Diana is to return soon then we shall not get any.”

He glanced at her quickly, checking her expression and then laughed when he saw that she was jesting. “I say you are right, wife, why should we be the ones to never get a chance at it!”

He took the carafe and poured her a steaming cup, then one for himself. She had noticed that he rarely partook and she had initially been concerned that such rich dishes were not appropriate for her. It felt wicked for the two of them to share the luxury, despite it being his house and her being his wife and the pretense at thievery made her laugh into her hand.

It was frothy, the chocolate. Sweet and rich and milky and it tasted like warmth and comfort.

“Oh -” she gasped. “Oh it’s lovely!”

He was watching her with interest, his own mug untouched. “You could have it every morning, you know. We have plenty.”

“I know -” she hesitated and then smiled when he pushed his mug over for her to have as well. “I was worried it wouldn’t be allowed.”

“Elizabeth…” he was cut off from whatever he was going to say by a servant knocking, and she was glad. It felt as though he might be about to ask something that she was not ready to answer.

“Pardon, Your Grace,” the valet said. “There is a messenger here from the Duke of Rosenburg.”

Elizabeth felt laughter leave her as quickly as though someone had opened a window and let in a draft. She looked to Stephen and found his face set in a puzzled frown.

“Let them in,” he said firmly. “We will hear them.”

The servant darted away and Elizabeth barely had a moment to wonder what her family was about to do to ruin her life again when a small figure came to the door.

“Annie?” she gasped, half standing from her seat.

Annie had always been small and bright, like a tiny little star, but she had never looked so tiny as now, standing in this large room and bundled up in a traveling cloak. She was staring at them with a fear that was not natural on her face, but it disappeared so quickly that Elizabeth wondered if she had seen it at all.

“Your Grace, Your Grace,” she said stiltedly, curtseying. “I have been sent by His Grace the Duke to let the Duchess know that her sister Lottie Barnes is to be married to her betrothed, the Duke of Seymour in the Autumn and shall be pleased if you will attend the nuptials.”

Elizabeth was so surprised that she forgot where she was for a moment. “Why would Lottie care about whether I attend?”

There was a slight silence, and she bit her lip and glanced at Stephen. He didn’t seem to be attending to her slip, however, instead looking at Annie with a frown on his brow. For some reason or other, the news of the marriage was concerning to her husband and Elizabeth didn’t have the faintest idea why.

“Excuse me, Your Grace,” Annie said, curtseying again. “Duke, sir, might I stay here a while? I miss my Sally so much and I’ve been wanting to see her for ever so long. Might I stay so I can see her for a bit? Please, sir, Your Grace sir?”

It was a very sudden speech, and one that seemed to have been rehearsed. Elizabeth felt a little rush of glee at the idea of her other sweet little sister figure staying with her, making this place more and more like home, but Stephen said nothing, still gazing in a thoughtful way at the small girl.

“Please, sir,” Annie said, her voice soft and desperate. “Please. I’ll work ever so hard, wherever you want me to. I’ll do just about anything you need. I just want to see my sister, sir. Please say I may.”

“Your Grace,” Elizabeth said softly, putting a hand on his. “Please. I would consider it a favor to me if you would.”

Stephen turned his head slightly, looked down at her face, his eyes serious and searching. Then he sighed a little and looked back at Annie. “I do not have a great need for a child to work on my estate,” he said firmly. “However, Mrs. Cope, the cook, has enough work that you will be useful in the kitchens. Mr. Brooks will take you. Send him in to me and I shall arrange it.”

Annie clapped her hands and bobbed curtsey after curtsey but it was to Elizabeth that Stephen glanced and she whispered thank you to him, and pressed his hand. He smiled in return.