Elias showed the duchess where to sign and initial. Once she completed the task, he handed the copies to Gransdon. “You and Berta sign beside Her Grace’s signature on the last page of each copy. Along with today’s date, please.”
“Yes, my lord.” Gransdon tipped a nod for Berta to follow him.
The maid removed the lap desk and carried it over to the table, where Gransdon laid out the three copies of the will.
“Help an old woman settle more comfortably, my lord.” The duchess shifted and plucked at her coverings, wincing as though in a great deal of pain.
“Gladly, Your Grace.” Elias helped her slide deeper into the pillows and recline even more. “Pardon my forwardness, but did your physician not suggest laudanum for your pain?”
“I refuse to take laudanum,” she said. “The dreadful stuff makes me see things I would prefer not to revisit.” She patted her chest and pulled in a deep breath. “And it makes it harder for me to draw in a satisfying breath as well.”
He knelt beside her and whispered, “My auntie hated laudanum too. But a generous glass of good whisky took its place very nicely.”
The duchess smiled and whispered back, “I wonder if we have any?”
“If you do not, I shall send for some immediately.” Elias rose to his feet as Gransdon returned the signed and witnessed copies of the will to him. “Gransdon, scour the place for whisky—a good whisky, mind you. If none is found, send for it. It will help Her Grace immensely.”
The butler turned to the duchess and waited.
“Please do, Gransdon.” She seemed almost relieved.
“At once, Your Grace.” He bowed and hurried out the door.
“I shall leave you now, Your Grace.” Elias wished he could do more for the lady than recommend whisky to numb her pain. He held up the papers. “Shall I place a copy in the library on my way out?”
The duchess gave another weary chuckle. “If you can make it past the she-dragon hiding in her treasury of books, then yes, by all means, do so.” She nestled deeper into her pillows and smiled. “In fact, please do go to the library, Lord Raines. See if you can’t find a way to make amends with her and get started on that promise you made to me.”
Elias couldn’t help but smile. “You are a formidable woman, Your Grace.”
She barely shook her head. “Perhaps, once. But no longer.” She closed her eyes. “Leave me now. I am tired.”
“Rest well, Your Grace.” Elias eased from the room, pausing once he stepped into the hall to offer up a silent prayer to ease the woman’s suffering. As he lifted his head, a flash of color in the hallway downstairs caught his eye.
The elusive, lovely, and yet most frustrating Miss Bening. No. Not Miss Bening. His Celia. He smiled at the memory of the dowager’s charge to win Celia’s love and love her in return. He had already completed half the quest. His love for her was the simple part. His beguiling lioness had captured his heart the first time she roared at him.
Papers in hand, he descended the steps with his focus on the library door. Knowing Celia, she had probably locked it. But then again, perhaps she hadn’t. Perhaps she believed he hadn’t seen her. He paused with his hand on the door handle and listened for movement on the other side. Nothing but the lonely echo of a clock ticking away the minutes came to him. He pushed down on the handle and smiled when it clicked and the door swung open.
“Celia, I know you are in here.” He stepped inside, closed the door behind him, and waited for his eyes to adjust to the absence of light. With the heavy curtains drawn and no candles lit, the small fire in the hearth at the other end of the room did little to beat back the darkness. “I brought in Her Grace’s copy of the will. Signed and witnessed as is proper and according to her list of wishes.” The paragraph he had added for Celia’s own good would remain unannounced for now. “I shall place it here in the center of the desk so you may file it wherever you wish.”
Elias eased deeper into the room, every sense alert to pick up on the slightest sound or hint of movement. A floorboard on the second floor squeaked and made him smile. “I want you to know that I did not suggest the carriage ride to Hyde Park as a means of getting information from you.” He meandered around the desk, eying the upper level as he walked. “I suggested it because I thought it might lift Her Grace’s spirits.” He listened for the floor to reveal Celia’s movements again. “And also because I knew you would come along too—what with your being her companion. I wanted to be with you, Celia. Spend time withyou.I need you to believe that. You have completely ensorcelled me, dear lady. I can think of no one but you.”
Only the ticking clock continued to break the silence. Elias pulled the chair out from behind the desk, scooted it to the foot of the stair, then lowered himself into it. Once fully seated, he angled it so he might comfortably prop his feet on the steps while he waited for his delightful she-dragon to emerge from her lair. “I am not leaving until you come out and talk to me. You will find I can be very single-minded when I decide I want something, and I want you.” He couldn’t resist a smile. “Come, Celia. As I said, I will not leave until you talk to me.”
“You may now leave, Lord Raines. I have talked to you.” Her voice came from the second level, but she remained out of sight.
“I never figured you as one to be childish,” he dared her. “Or cowardly.”
“I am also not one to fall for such a ridiculous attempt to make me appear. Go away.”
“Indeed.” He stretched out more comfortably and crossed his legs at the ankles. “This chair is quite comfortable. I believe I could nap in it. Are you just as comfortable up there? I hope not, or we could very well be stuck in here for quite some time.”
“You are sorely tempting me to throw books down on your head, Lord Raines. All that currently stays my hand is my love for the literature on these shelves.” The floor above squeaked again, this time much closer than before. She had to be close to the top of the spiral staircase that led to the second level. “Go away. You have completed the will. Your services are no longer required here.”
“On the contrary—Duchess Thea charged me with another task. One I have yet to complete.” He laced his fingers together and propped his hands across his middle. He grinned to himself. “And this task could take me a lifetime to complete.”
“A lifetime?” she repeated, sounding more frustrated by the moment. “What sort of task would Her Grace give you that could possibly take a lifetime?”
“Protecting you.”
