Page 30 of My Dangerous Duke

“Nothing, Your Grace,” she replied sweetly. “I have just never seen you behave like this before.”

Xander shifted uncomfortably under Mrs. Gaines all-knowing gaze, and he looked away.

“She is under my protection until this mess is sorted,” he grunted out. “That is all.”

“Of course, Your Grace,” She replied quickly, finally making her way toward the door. “I shall leave you to it.”

“No more visitors,” he called out quickly.

Xander waited long after he was left alone before he moved again, and only then it was to step up to Eleanor’s bed. Silently, he looked down at her, taking his time to study her features in the dimming afternoon light. Her lady’s maid and Mrs. Gaines had convinced him to step out of the room long enough to get her out of her gown and into her nightdress, so she now lay in a simple white linen chemise, the white sheets of her bed pulled up to her waist. It had been up to her shoulders, but subtle movements in Eleanor’s slumber had caused the covers to fall lower. Mrs. Gaines had also removed all of the pins from Eleanor’s hair, and her curls spread like silk across the stark white pillows.

Unable to help himself, Xander reached out and captured one of the long, brown curls. Gently rubbing the strands, he found the texture surprisingly silky and soft. Not at all like his, which was thick and coarse. Releasing the curl, his fingertips traveled over the pillow to her pale cream cheek and pale peach lips. His touch was gentle; reverent, as he took in the shallow darkness beneath her eyes and the hollowness in her cheeks.

How long had she been this stressed and he had not noticed? How long had she suffered in silence? Guilt began to rack through him as he realized the flaws in keeping a physical distance between them. He had assumed she would be safe here but he had foolishly underestimated how much her family could compromise that when they appeared.

He was trying to keep Eleanor out of Victor’s blackmailing as much as possible, but the man seemed intent on using his daughter by whatever means necessary to further his standing. Even to her own detriment. He needed to keep them away from her, he knew that. But he had no idea how.

Eleanor awoke to the feeling of something cool and wet trickling down her throat. She swallowed greedily at the feel of the water and tried to raise her head. It was only then that she realized a large hand was supporting the back of her neck, and she was gently being pulled back down.

“Easy.” Xander’s deep, coaxing voice sounded through the darkness. “Are you coming around, Honey?”

Eleanor moaned softly. Her tongue darted between her lips and she found them papery and dry.

“More,” she pleaded. The spoon came to her lips again as she felt large fingers massage the back of her neck, and she drank again.

“Open those beautiful eyes for me, Honey, and I will give you much more,” Xander promised, his deep tone still warm and coaxing.

Through her fogginess, Eleanor felt a warmth bloom in her veins at the sound of Xander’s deep voice. The husky, slightly gruff tone eased her discomfort, and she felt the urge to obey. Her eyelids felt heavy and stiff at first, but after a moment of fluttering, she finally opened them to see Xander’s cool silver gaze looking down at her. It took a minute for the rest of the details to settle in, but she eventually saw that he was seated in a chair very close to the top of the bed, her head nestled under his hand and against his chest.

“There you are,” he whispered, a look of relief skittering across his face as he stroked her hair. “You have been out for quite a while.”

“What happened?” Her voice came out hoarse again, and with another gentle shush, Xander moved to reposition himself. His hand was still on the back of her neck; he raised her up with ease and slid in behind her. Once he settled, he gently brought her back to rest against his chest.

“Try to drink this for me first,” he insisted, bringing a teacup of water to her lips. “Then I will answer your questions.”

Eleanor tried to put her hands around the cup but Xander’s firm grip kept her from taking it herself, and as he cupped her jaw gently with his free hand, he tipped the teacup with the other; letting a small, steady trickle of water pour into her mouth.

“Better?” He asked when Eleanor’s eyes silently told him she was done.

She nodded, her eyes still glued to him.

Where had he come from? Had he been there when she fainted?

“The physician said you were dangerously exhausted,” Xander informed her as he sat the teacup down. “One of your friends suggested you were not sleeping well lately. Another mentioned you have not been eating. I knew your parents vexed you but I do not believe I quite understood the scale. Why did you not tell me?”

Because you do not care,she thought. Eleanor was not sure at all what was happening. Xander had been distant since the moment they had gotten married and now suddenly he was in bed with her, holding her as if she were precious. Longing and confusion shot through as she looked up at him.

Yes, his little tongue trick had been lovely and deeply pleasurable, but she knew what it was: an appeasement. It certainly worked, and she had enjoyed it immensely, but it did not give her any mixed signals. This, however, was.

“You have problems you must handle on your own and so do I,” she replied, her voice less strained now. Xander let out a long breath through his nostrils as he looked down at her, then shook his head as he looked away.

“My problems do not cause me to faint from exhaustion, Eleanor,” he replied defensively. “Until we get this annulment, you are undermyprotection, and I take that quite seriously.”

“Are you mad at me for fainting?” She asked, turning in his arms to look at him. He threw her a glare before a low growl came from his chest.

“No,” he huffed out. “I am mad because I could have prevented it. All you had to do was tell me.”

“And how am I to tell you if you are never here?” She asked, looking up at him innocently.

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