Page 90 of The Dark Duke's Virgin

“Isabella!” Miss Dunn cried. “Careful!”

Frederick could not help but laugh at that. After what she had just been willing to do…

“Sorry!” Isabella gasped, pulling herself back. “I did not think—I am just so glad you are all right.” She paused where she stood, tears in her eyes already, a look that suggested it was taking all the self-control she possessed not to fall on him again.

“It is fine,” he chuckled, his eyes flicking to Miss Dunn who could not have looked more guilty. He cleared his throat. “Now that you are here, I suppose I ought to ask what happened. I confess, I do not remember much.”

“You have Lord Fernside to thank for that,” Miss Dunn said quickly. “Soon after you passed out, he arrived with the constable from Bellend and five locals for support. Seeing the state that you were in, they were quick to transport you back to the village. I confess, for a while there I did not think…” She sniffed, her chin beginning to wobble. “I did not think you would make it.”

He took her hand. “But I did make, and while I should probably thank George in time, I cannot help but think that you are the reason.”

“Me?!”

“Yes, you,” he laughed. “I do remember you knocking your father over the back of the head with a revolver. Unless I am mistaken.”

She grinned. “Perhaps.”

“Speaking of which…?” He looked at Miss Dunn.

“Oh, he is being taken care of,” she said with a coy smile. “Arrested, is my meaning, and he is waiting to be charged with shooting you and…” Her smile grew. “… and the murder of my mother.”

It was as good news as Frederick could have hoped to hear. For two years now, Miss Dunn had been running, fear being the cause. But now that her father was behind bars, Frederick hoped that her days of running were behind her. And if that was the case…

“Ah, Miss Dunn, although the timing might seem a bit inappropriate, I was wondering—thinking, really, that I might ask you something.”

“Yes?” she asked, leaning forward as if she knew the question.

“When my mother goes back to her estate, which I assume she will shortly now that I am awake—and I want you to know that there no pressure on you whatsoever but… well…” He could feel his face turning red with nerves which should not have been the case, for he knew the answer already. Surely, he did! “If you might consider—if you would like to stay here with me and Isabella.”

She tilted her head. “Are you asking what I think?”

He smiled. “I think you know exactly to what I?—”

“There he is!” Frederick’s grandmother suddenly appeared in the doorway. “Why did nobody tell me you were awake!” She rushed into the room, but showing far more constraint than Isabella had managed, she came to a stop by his bed. “You’re awake! And alive!”

“Good observation, grandmother.”

“And a fool!” she continued. “Caroline has told us what you did and…” She shook her head. “… you could have been killed!”

“But I wasn’t.”

“Luck!” she said, crossing her arms. “Pure luck is what it was. Honestly, if you had gotten yourself killed, I don’t think I could have forgiven you.”

“Grandmother!” Isabella protested. “Father was just asking Caroline something.” She looked eagerly at Miss Dunn. Hopeful. Brimming with excitement at the answer that was forthcoming.

“Oh?” his grandmother said, looking between them. “And what was it, exactly?”

Miss Dunn was smiling. Laughing in fact. “Esther, although I have thoroughly enjoyed being your companion these past two years, I am afraid that I must leave you finally.”

“And why is that?”

Miss Dunn looked at Frederick, love in her eyes that he returned in kind. “I have decided to stay here is why. I get the sense that His Grace might need me even more than you do.”

“Yay!” Isabella cried and clapped her hands.

“Well, it’s about time,” his grandmother sighed, smiling also, even tearing up.

“I could not agree more…” Frederick beamed, and his smile grew when he caught the look Isabella fixed him in. Reading said look, knowing what it meant, Frederick felt a sudden impulse. “Grandmother, might you take Isabella outside for a short while?”

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