The Dowager Duchess looked at Simon and her granddaughter, then she nodded and started to talk, including both Simon and Eva in the conversation. If both chose not to add much, it went unnoticed.
Before long, Claire returned, moving to Simon’s side. Eva heard her begin to question him. Her tone was gentle, unlike the other times they had conversed. No one commented on the duchess’s pale face or shadowed eyes. They all just stayed close to her side, listening as the Dowager Duchess and her elderly friends talked endlessly of amusing stories from their past.
When Daniel walked into the ballroom, he was once again the immaculately attired Duke of Stratton. His arm had been cleaned, stitched and bandaged and stung like the devil beneath his jacket. His eyes swept the room but could not find his wife. Prowling around, he finally felt his body relax as he saw Eva’s head beside Claire’s. Simon stood at her back and his grandmother to her right. His heart eased at the scene; they had formed a circle around his duchess, protecting her. Nudging Simon aside, he moved into position behind her. Placing one hand on her shoulder, he caressed the soft skin.
“I hope you are not telling stories of my youthful indiscretions, Grandmother.” He felt the shudder that ran through Eva at his words and tightened his fingers on her. He stood there for a while, talking and stroking her skin until she slowly relaxed.
“Come, Duchess, it is time for our second waltz.” He took her hand in his. “Thank you,” he then said to each of the people who had cared for her while he could not.
“It’s all right now, love,” he whispered as she gripped his fingers tight. “I am here, Eva, with you,” he added soothingly, dancing her slowly down the room. “Look at me, love,” he coaxed.
“I was scared I would lose you.”
Daniel felt her despair like a fist to his stomach as she looked up at him. The blue depths were wide with remembered terror. He had vowed to keep her safe from those who would hurt her, and again he had failed. “You will never lose me, Eva.”
Lowering her eyes, she kept them trained on his necktie for the rest of the dance.
For the remainder of the evening, Daniel watched Eva closely. Her smile was brittle as she danced and chatted and he knew her well enough now to see the turmoil hidden deep inside.
“We will leave soon, love,” Daniel whispered in her ear as he stood at her side. Her only response was a quick nod. Finally, an hour later, the guests started to depart.
“Come, sweetheart, let’s go home.”
“I don’t understand.”
“We need to be in our own home tonight,” Daniel said, leading her down his grandmother’s front steps and into the waiting carriage. They were silent on the journey. He held her close to his side. She stared out the window into the darkness and Daniel wanted to tell her how proud he was of the way she had gotten through the evening, yet knew now wasn’t the time. First, they would have to discuss the duel.
“I will say goodnight, Daniel,” she said as soon as they entered the house. “I am in need of sleep. Therefore, I shall see you in the morning,” she added in a tight voice.
Daniel admired his wife’s slender ankles as she picked up her skirts and ran from him up the stairs. If she thought she would be spending the night alone, she could think again.
“Will you require anything further, your Grace?”
“That will be all, Wernham,” Daniel said, following his wife. His valet helped him remove his clothing and then Daniel dismissed him. After washing, he slipped on his dressing gown and moved to the connecting door between their rooms.
Pushing the door open, he saw Eva lying on the bed, still dressed in her gown and slippers, with the puppy nestled under her arm. Closing the door behind him, he watched her eyes widen as he stepped up to the bed.
“I want to be alone,” she whispered.
“I think not, now get up and I will help you undress.”
This time it was her turn to say no.
Daniel lifted the sleepy puppy and walked back into his bedroom, where he placed him on his bed and then closed the door. Eva had moved as far to the opposite side of the bed as she could. Leaning on the mattress, he grabbed her ankles and tugged her gently toward him.
“Daniel, your shoulder!” She tried to wriggle free from his grasp.
“My shoulder is fine,” he said taking her hands and pulling her to her feet before him.
“I want to be alone.I-I need time…”
“Time for what?” Daniel said, undoing the buttons at her back and pulling the dress from her shoulders.
“To…” She struggled to put her thoughts into words. “To come to terms with what happened tonight.”
“I don’t remember needing isolation when you were nearly killed in that carriage accident.” Daniel unlaced her corset and manfully tried to ignore the generous swell of her breasts. “In fact, I needed only you that night.”
“You should not have fought that duel!”
