Page 36 of In Need of a Duke
Her heart somehow cracked once more, her chest swelling with the urge to scream. Some other day. Right now, she was tired.
“You have, Ian.”
CHAPTER 9
Ian stood for a moment,brushing back the hair falling across his face, then glanced up at the sky. It was still early morning, and he should be in bed. But he couldn’t sleep.
For the past week, he had risen early, checking in with the nurse, before riding out to the river.
“Ho,” Nathaniel called out as he approached on horseback. “Is this where you have been disappearing?”
Ian shrugged, reaching down to grab another large stone from the dilapidated wall. His hands were rough and calloused, his body sore, and still there was much to do.
“I asked to have it repaired, but they couldn’t start for a few weeks.”
He spoke to his calloused hands, too focused on removing each stone and repairing the stone wall section by section. It would take him the summer at least to fix it before it would be safe for jumping.
Ian merely grunted, not wishing to be disturbed. He tossed down the stone and threw his hands on his hips. “I’ve a lot to do. Enjoy your ride.”
“You can’t be serious, Brother. You’re a duke!” Nathaniel cried incredulously.
“Yes, and this wall nearly killed my duchess.”
“Yours?”
Ian glared at his brother. He never considered himself a possessive arse, but there was time for everything.
“Mine.” His voice took on a menacing edge.
One day.
Charlotte would be his again. He would win her back.
“Repairing a wall will not do that,” Nathaniel said, dropping his voice with concern. “She is back at Stonehurst, recovering, and could use a companion.”
“She doesn’t want to see me,” Ian grumbled. He reached down for the stone once more and lifted it, turning to his left to toss it into the pile. He would need to take the wall down almost to the earth before rebuilding it stone by stone.
“I think she might if you could only act civil and not growl.”
“It’s nearly spring, and the fields are being prepped for planting. There is no extra help at the moment. I may hire someone when I choose to because I’m the bloody duke, but I’m telling you now, don’t say a word to her about this wall.”
Nathaniel laughed.
“You are far too bookish to be working.”
It was precisely his years of studying which gave him the blind faith that he could repair the wall.
“There is a time for everything,” Ian said, returning to his work of picking off each stone. At least fifty feet of the wall would need to be taken down and restacked. Given the wall was at least two feet deep, it was a big project. But considering his wife wouldn’t speak with him, and he was too stubborn to leave, it helped pass his days.
“She needs to know you will stay because you wish to,” Nathaniel said. “I’m not sure being out here all day will help.”
“How long are you planning on staying?” Ian asked instead. He wedged the pickax under a large stone to gain better leverage. “I have everything well in hand.” He grunted, gritting his teeth, to move the large stone to the side. The damn thing wouldn’t budge. His knuckleswhitened under the pressure before the stone moved, allowing a better grip.
“Monty and I will leave this afternoon then,” Nathaniel said.
But it didn’t matter because Ian heard the doubt in his little brother’s voice. And the hurt.
“Thank you,” he said, “for being here.” Ian felt a pang of guilt, first at dismissing his brother so quickly, then realizing he had let another visit pass without telling him the truth.
