Page 13 of The Duke and his Muse
“Caroline?”
“Husband,” she whispered between gritted teeth.
He’d climbed into bed beside her and held her loosely, afraid to move. Afraid she would run from her bedchamber.
She eventually stopped trembling and said, “Be gentle.”
He’d done his best to arouse her with soft kisses and gentle caresses. “This may hurt.”
Overcome with passion for his wife, he’d consummated the marriage and afterwards she had sobbed. At first he thought she was in pain, but she quickly disavowed him of that idea.
“Please leave me now. I should like my maid as I feel unclean now.”
The next day Caroline had acted normally and when he visited her in his bedchamber she said starkly, “Get on with it.”
He’d not been able to stomach touching her again and a few weeks later later left the estate for Wiltham Abbey in Norfolk.
His mother was told the truth- “she loathes my touch”- and the subject was not discussed again. Sporadic letters were received from Caroline, filled with news of the estate and her family.
When he next met the Duke of Cranbrook, he did take the time to consult with the man on his rushed nuptials.
“There were rumors, of course,” the old duke told Graham at a rout in London. “She comes from a distinguished family, but their fortune was gambled away by her brother.”
He’d known he must address his marriage at some point, but he lacked the desire to do so.
Caroline’s funeral had been private, and small, only himself, the vicar, and Caroline’s brother attending. Her brother had not questioned the arrangements, nor disputed the burial plot in the family crypt at the village churchyard.
The man seemed as uninterested in his sibling’s in death as he had been in her life. His lack of care for anything but a lucrative marriage settlement gave Graham more insight to Caroline’s upbringing. Her parents had died when she was very young and she’d been left to an indifferent brother to raise.
The realization made him even more adamant he would bring Daniel up with care. After a few days wait so as not to look too eager, he would send a note to Miss Hayward informing the lady hewouldcollaborate with her on a children’s book.
He felt a lightness he hadn’t felt in a long time. There was no way he would attribute the feeling to seeing the independent lady illustrator again.
Chapter Seven
When the duke’s carriage arrived at her home that day, Jane had a feeling of momentary panic. What might the nearby villagers think of her being visited by a duke if they found out? Her home was only a few miles from Matford, and she rarely had visitors, keeping mostly to herself.
There was nothing for it now. The man was here, and as she waited on the step to her little cottage, she realized he was not alone. After a footman opened the door of the carriage, and the duke descended, he lifted his son from the conveyance.
“Miss Hayward,” the peer said with a bow. “I thought Daniel would like to see a bit of the Calm Wood.”
“It is all around you,” she replied graciously. “Shall we have tea, or would you like to see more of the wood?”
“I think my son and I could use a good stretch of the legs after our journey.”
She nodded in agreement. “Very well. Follow me.”
Jane noticed the duke nod to his coachman. The footman directed the team of horses to a patch of grass near the cottage as she led the way to the other side of the house, the duke holding his son’s hand.
Around the side of the cottage was a small open area surrounded by trees, one solitary oak stump stood in the grassy area surrounded by silver birch trees.
“I assume this is the stump upon which bird pontificates?” The duke asked, swinging Daniel into his arms. “Look, Daniel, this is where your woodland friends live.”
“Lopol?” Daniel asked excitedly.
“He lives here. Perhaps Leopold is off on an adventure with all of his friends.” The duke placed his son on the ground as the boy was squirming to get down.
Daniel ran to the stump on his stubby legs, barely avoiding tripping on the way. She heard an indrawn breath when the boy grasped the side of the stump. Had the sound of relief come from her or the child’s father?
