Page 65 of Her Lion of a Duke
“If you need rest after everything that has happened of late, we can skip it.”
“No,” she replied. “I insist. I will be fine by tomorrow. I feel unwell from all the traveling. That is all.”
“Is it?” he pressed. “I know that you are pleased with how well the visit went, but it must have been difficult all the same. Do not push yourself too hard, Cecilia. We all need time.”
“I know, but it is only a fair. It is an opportunity to enjoy myself, if anything. I would rather be in the village than hiding away in my room, waiting for my tiredness to cease, because I will not be sleeping no matter where we are.”
Leonard simply nodded in resignation, not pressing the matter further.
If Cecilia were being honest, a few days of rest and doing nothing at all sounded wonderful. It had been over a week of trying to please her guest and then trying to mend her relationship with her parents. She wished that she could have a few more days with her husband.
But she needed the distraction. If she stayed alone with Leonard, she risked telling him everything before she could consider her words. She needed time to decide how to explain the unexplainable, and to find the right time to tell him.
She would do it of her own accord, but the how remained a mystery.
The manor was exactly as they had left it. Brutus bounded in triumphantly before unceremoniously flopping down in front of the fireplace in the drawing room and going back to sleep.
Cecilia envied him greatly, for she was not as fortunate. It was midday, and therefore she had to tend to matters all afternoon. She also had to eat lunch, which tasted like dust.
She needed to go to the village fair. She needed the distraction.
CHAPTER 23
Leonard was rather hoping that Cecilia would not want to attend the fair.It was not an unpleasant day, and he had often enjoyed attending, but he wanted to stay home with her.
Everything had happened at once, and he wished to take some time to simply exist. As a duke, however, there were duties that he had to fulfil. So if his duchess wished to attend, he could not argue the contrary.
Once they had arrived, his wish to stay home quickly dissipated. The village had come alive, decorated with bunting and filled with treat-laden tables. Children were playing, and it was impossible not to feel the atmosphere when they were greeted every minute.
“This is wonderful,” Cecilia gasped beside him. “Is it like this every year?”
“It is similar,” he replied, looking around, “though I have never seen them make this much of an effort.”
Cecilia did not seem to understand what he had meant. The villagers had done this for her; he did not doubt that.
The first game was tug-of-war, which Leonard always watched. The strongest men in the village assembled to take part, and it was entertaining to watch the losing team fall into the mud. Onlookers would cheer incessantly, and the winners would receive a bottle of brandy each that Leonard had donated. It was good brandy, and so the game was ferocious.
“Will you be joining them?” Cecilia asked expectantly. “It appears that they are missing a man on one side.”
Leonard looked at the men and realized that his wife was right. There were six on one side, but only five on the other. He looked back at Cecilia, who was gesturing for him to join them.
“I cannot,” he replied. “I do not want to ruin my clothes.”
She raised an eyebrow, laughing.“You have never cared about such a thing. What is stopping you from taking part?”
The truth was that Leonard took great pride in his physique, but he was no laborer. The men in front of him were stocky; they must plough fields or carry heavy materials every day. They were far more fit for the game than he was, and if there was one thing that a duke could not do, it was to appear weak.
“Would it entertain you to see me fall in mud?” he asked.
“Greatly.” She smiled sweetly. “I have never seen you do anything like this, and now that the opportunity has arisen, I am intrigued.”
He smiled, shaking his head, and went to join the men. The team of six looked at him, startled, and he raised his hands reassuringly.
“There will be no consequences if you win.” He chuckled. “Give me everything you’ve got.”
That was all they needed to hear. They took their places, and the game began.
Leonard had expected great strength, but what those around him had not expected was for him to match their level. He pulled hard, his muscles straining against his shirt as he did so. He tensed, leaning back and widening his stance.
