Page 32 of Married to the Forbidden Duke
“By a pretty one? Of course…” He looked at her in such a way that felt as though it would make her shiver, but she rallied herself. “I think that is the nature of humans, is it not?”
“I wouldn’t know,” she said primly.
He smirked at her. “Liar.”
The gravel in his voice scraped across her skin, and she turned back to Helena, already feeling her face flushing. “You must ignore him,” she said, her voice a fraction too high. “He has no gentlemanly bone in his body.”
Helena peered at her curiously. “I could neverimaginespeaking to a man in that way.”
“With him, all it requires is for me to not care in the slightest about his opinion,” she stated matter-of-factly. “But you area woman capable of independent thought and your opinion should be just as respected as that of a man’s.”
“If not, more so,” the Duke added, interrupting their conversation once more. “If I had sisters, I am convinced they would be more worldly wise than I.”
“Hardly a challenge,” Alice snipped.
“Perhaps.” He gave a slow, easy grin that made her heart dip alarmingly. “But if you were in need of any more fictional men to prove our worth, you would be more than welcome to visit my personal library, Lady Helena. I know the Duchess would be more than happy to receive you.”
“We would be better placed visiting a circulating library,” Alice said, turning her back firmly to her husband. She froze, remembering her leg. Perhaps once she could have visited a circulating library with ease, but no longer. “Or at least,” she faltered, unable to believe she had forgotten, even for a moment, her affliction, “youwould be better placed doing so. I have no wish to venture out.”
She could feel the Duke’s attention on her, even when Lord Denshire called his attention to something else, and to her relief, he said nothing. She cursed herself for not thinking ahead.
“Are you quite all right?” Helena whispered, touching her arm.
“Yes, quite. I just—” She forced a watery smile. “Sometimes I forget my limitations. You know, I used to be a great rider before I lost the use of my leg.”
“Then you must find a way of riding again,” Helena chimed with touching enthusiasm, and a strength of will Alice hadn’t thought her capable of. “I am certain the Duke would help you. I heard about his efforts for the Dowager Countess of Rutland. Everyone knows of it.”
“Everyone?”
“Well.” Helena blushed again. “That is to say, my brother knows of it.”
“And he, famously, is everyone.” Alice smiled to ease the sting. “I think…” She couldn’t believe she was admitting this aloud, but she also knew that this was the truth, little as she liked it. “I think he will help me.”
“Then you should ask him!”
“We shall see,” was all she said as she reached down to massage her sore leg once more.
CHAPTER TWELVE
Alice couldn’t fault the Duke’s behavior on the way back from the opera. He had found her a drink at the intercession, had teased her about books and the library, even going as far as to offer out his own to her and Helena, and then all but carried her back to the carriage.
Really, she should be feeling grateful that he had been so caring.
In truth, she felt as though some part of her was shriveling up inside.
Shehatedbeing an object of pity. But worse, she hated having to rely on anyone—especially notthisman—for help because she couldn’t do it herself. Such simple things, like navigating steps and climbing into the carriage.
She could still feel his arm around her, and she shivered.
“Are you well?” he asked into the darkness.
“You can stop playing the role of a perfect husband now,” she said wearily, tipping her head back against the seat. All the exertion made her leg ache more than ever, and she wished she could have a normal life again.
What a vain, pointless hope.
Nothing about her world would ever be normal again.
She just felt sotired.
