Page 21 of Married to the Forbidden Duke
Already, she had requested the kippers replace the eggs and bacon. She’d expected him to call for more food, but he had not done so.
“I would rather not resort to such things, but I will if it ensures your well-being,” he spoke into the measured silence.
“You have high opinions of this doctor,” she murmured.
“I have heard he’s the best of the best. He may have some exercises you have not tried before. And if not?” He gave an elegant shrug. “At least we will know for certain and will have exhausted every avenue.”
Alice did not want to feel anything approaching gratitude toward him, so she rationalized it in her head. Of course, he would want a wife whom thetonwould not look down on, and he would want assurances that any children they bore—not that she would be allowing that if she had any say in the matter—would be healthy.
Nothing about this had anything to do withher.
When she glanced up, the Duke was watching, and she gave him a sweet smile.
“I shall see you at dinner, Your Grace,” she said, ignoring the small flicker of irritation that passed across his face.
Good—another way she might prove herself to be a thorn in his side.
With that, she exited the breakfast room, a slice of toast in her hand and the fish cut up across her plate.
Alice did not particularly care for kippers, either.
When the physician arrived, as promised, he looked every inch the part of a grand London doctor, dressed almost entirely in black with small spectacles perched on the end of his nose. He entered the room where she sat and bowed.
“Your Grace. Felicitations on your recent nuptials.”
Alice inclined her head. No part of her believed this would actually work, but it seemed hope had not truly died within her after all, because she found herself wondering ifthis timemight be different.
One could dream.
“Will you explain your symptoms to me?” he asked after settling before her. “And the manner by which this happened?”
She explained about the accident, then described her symptoms. The pain, her wasted muscle, the trouble she had walking. Asshe did, she gestured to her walking stick, which lay—as always—propped beside her.
“I see…” he murmured, face utterly inscrutable as he listened. “May I see?”
Alice reached down for the hem of her skirts, bringing them up to her knees. The physician sat on a small stool before her, and he picked up her leg, placing it gently on his thigh as his fingers probed the muscle.
“Well?” she asked weakly, holding back a groan as the stiff muscle objected to his exploration. But at the same time, this was a good pain—a deep ache that suggested relief once it was over.
As he found a particularly tender spot, she let out a soft noise. Not quite a moan, but not far away.
The physician did not so much as blink, but there was a sound from the doorway, and when Alice looked up next, it was to see the Duke’s eyes on her. She hadn’t even known he had returned home from wherever he went to, and it hadn’t occurred to her that he would endeavor to be around for when the physician visited.
She sucked in a breath as the Duke’s hands flexed on the doorframe. His eyes were dark, his mouth in a grim line, and he drew in a long breath through his nose.
“Thank you for coming to see my wife,” he muttered, unnecessary emphasis on the wordwife, considering they had been married so recently. He strode to sit beside her on the sofa, and the room immediately felt too close.Claustrophobic. “Is there anything that can be done?”
The doctor took her ankle and rolled slowly. “Difficult to know for certain at this juncture,” he said brusquely, so focused on his task, he didn’t seem to notice the Duke’s glower.
Alice certainly did, though she did not understand what he meant by it whenhehad been the one to invite the man over.
“There is hope, however. She must do exercises to build up resilience in the muscle once more. And regular massages will increase blood flow.” He demonstrated what he meant, digging his thumb into her calf, and her eyelids fluttered.
“I understand,” the Duke stated curtly.
“I also recommend plenty of red meat,” the doctor added. “To build up her strength. This leg may never have the strength of the other, but in time, she may be able to walk some distance without assistance.”
Alice’s breath caught in her throat at the thought. “And ride?” she quickly asked.
