My wife… my duchess… She is awake.
Without a second thought, without a care for appearances, he pressed more kisses to her delicate hand. Like a man who had been drowning and just broke the surface.
CHAPTER 37
Aurelia blinked slowly.
That scent. Clean musk, faint leather, and something uniquely his.
That face, half-torn with torment, half-coated with beauty, leaning close as though he would crumble if he looked away.
Percival…
She thought that her eyes were playing tricks on her, that she was dreaming. The formidable duke who had pushed her away now looked as though he would fall apart if she slipped away again.
Her chest ached, and her throat tightened. She had missed him more than she dared to admit.
And in that fragile state, she wished, more than anything, that she could rise and throw herself into his arms. She wanted to bury her face against his chest and scold him all at once.
What took you so long? Why did it take danger to bring you back to me?
But she could not. Her body betrayed her with its weakness. Her pride could only whisper cruel reminders. He had only come because he had heard she was hurt. He had not come for her heart.
And yet, it was hard to get angry when his eyes bored into hers with such intensity and raw fear. When his hands curled so tightly around her fingers, as though letting go would burn him.
Their eyes met and held. At that moment, the air around them seemed to vanish. They both had a thousand words they wanted to speak. But for now, all they could manage was that stare.
Lady Scovell broke the fragile silence. She moved closer, her worry trumping decorum.
“How are you feeling, Aurelia? Does your head hurt still?” She pressed her palm to Aurelia’s forehead.
Aurelia swallowed, summoning all her strength to nod once. “I am… better.” Her voice was faint but steady.
A cruel memory flashed through her mind. One of struggling against rough hands. Of Nora’s muffled cry, and Hyacinth’s brave defiance. Of the moment Sir Edmund had shoved her back.
Fear rose in her chest, but she forced it down.
“Nora and Hyacinth have been worried about you, child,” Lord Scovell rumbled, interrupting her thoughts. “We shall let them know you are awake, and they may visit once you are strong enough.”
“Yes.” Lady Scovell nodded, trying for a smile, though her eyes were glassy. “They have been restless. They will be glad to see you smile again.”
Aurelia managed it then. Her lips curved slightly. Her smile was weary but genuine.
Her parents could not hide the relief on their faces, and even Percival seemed to relax at the sight of her smile.
Her eyes drifted back to him, and she whispered, “I am glad… to be all right.”
Then, with quiet courage, she turned back to her parents.
“May I?” Her voice was soft but sure, her eyes flickering briefly toward Percival. “Could you give us some time… alone?”
Lady Scovell’s lips parted in surprise, but she made no argument. If anything, she seemed glad.
Relief softened her strict features. “Of course, darling.”
Lord Scovell quickly came forward to kiss his daughter on the forehead and then followed his wife out of the room.
As soon as the door clicked shut, silence reigned, broken only by the tick of the clock on the mantelpiece.
