Page 28 of My Dangerous Duke

Her father was too pompous, and her mother and sister too eager to be the center of attention. It caused most peers to put a wide berth between them; only refraining from gossip because of Xander’s well-known dark temper for such things. The only one who had not caused a scene thus far was Edna’s husband, William. But it was obvious he was growing bored, and Eleanor had as much faith in him as in her sister.

“Eleanor, darling, are you sure you are all right?” Cordelia asked, leaning forward to study her friend’s face.

“Just a bit exhausted,” Eleanor sighed, dabbing at her forehead with her kerchief. The wind had made the day blessedly cool, but she was still sweating a surprising bit. “Mother and Edna have been dragging me to all of those ladies’ tea functions, you know. Their behavior can be… tedious.”

Cordelia still looked at her worriedly, but she nodded.

“How long is their stay?” She asked next.

“One more day this week, then they wish to return to London at the beginning of August. They want me to throw an end-of-summer ball in London for them.”

The sound of her friend’s voice became muffled as Eleanor suddenly felt a wave of nausea wash over her. She looked upfrom the table, finding her vision blurry, and began to feel lightheaded as she saw a black figure approaching the table.

“Eleanor?” Xander’s voice sounded thick and distant like he was speaking through water. She tried to look up, but the light burned her eyes.

“Xander,” she sighed before sinking into darkness.

“What happened to her?” Xander’s voice clashed above her like a symbol, making her ears ache. Though her eyes were already closed, she clenched them tighter and tensed her body.

Eleanor was moving, she quickly realized, but it was notherlegs that were carrying her. They were hanging uselessly over a well-muscled arm. There was a thumping in her left ear; rapid and powerful, and through her exhaustion, she realized it was her husband’s manic heartbeat. He was scared?

“We do not know,” she heard a voice say behind them. “She was not looking well and she had mentioned that her par-”

“Marina!” Another hissed, then added “Certainguests were becoming quite vexing. Perhaps it has affected her sleep these past few days.”

“Mrs. Gaines, where have you been!” Xander snapped above her, making her wince and whimper.

Eleanor immediately felt Xander’s arms bring her even closer to him as they kept moving, and then she felt his lips caress against her temple as he whispered, “I am sorry, Honey.”

The sudden tenderness in his voice relaxed Eleanor immediately, and she once more sank fully into his arms.

“Get the physician at once, have him meet us in her quarters,” he then instructed in his normal voice.

“Right away, Your Grace,” Mrs. Gaines stated, her voice, and all the others fading away once more.

Eleanor awoke as the taste and substance of tar filled her mouth, making her choke and sputter. She tried to turn her head away and purge, but she felt a strong hand on her chin and her mouth was forced open. Once more the spoon clanged hard against her teeth, and then a hand was slapped over her mouth so that she was forced to swallow. She coughed and gagged as it went down, and finally forced her eyes open to pleadingly look at the old man with a beak nose and glasses that was holding her down.

“Let go of her!” She heard Xander roar, along with the sounds of restrained struggle.

“She is beyond exhaustion, Your Grace, yet her body keeps trying to awaken.” The physician shouted back matter-of-factly,“Her nervous system is confused. She needs to be put into a deep sleep so her body can heal. A heavy dose will have to do.”

As Eleanor felt a heaviness take over her body and her eyes slowly started to close again, she heard the sound of someone being pushed, then rapid footsteps before she heard a yelp. Eleanor’s eyes fluttered open just enough to see the beak-nosed man being pulled away from above her.

Chapter 14

“Your Grace,” Mrs. Gaines said gently from behind him.

Xander felt her hand on his shoulder, but he did not move. He had not moved a single inch since he had pulled the chair up to Eleanor’s bed and waited for her to wake.

“Yes, Mrs. Gaines?” He asked, keeping his eyes on his sleeping wife. It had been over a day now and she still had not awoken.

“The Langleys have departed, as you commanded, and the Duke and Duchess of Huxton have agreed to take over hosting the rest of the week’s festivities. Your other guests should be gone by this evening. Everyone is sending their thoughts and prayers to the duchess.”

“Thank you, Mrs. Gaines,” Xander replied, keeping his fingers tightly interlaced as he held them to his chin. “And the physician? Is he all right?”

From behind him, Mrs. Gaines let out a small sigh and he could imagine her shaking his head at him.

“After the staff made him aware of how much worse it could have been, he is feeling quite thankful all he got was a bruise.”

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