Page 45 of A Wicked Duke's Redemption
“Is that truly knowing?”
“There is more than one way of knowing about a place,” Violet replied.
He smiled. “Just so. You know; I am surprised that you have not already decided that you intend to read to me. After all, I cannot leave this settee.”
“Is that an invitation?” Violet asked, her face brightening. “You never did readPride and Prejudicefor me.”
Leo smiled ruefully. “I suppose I did not. Perhaps the novel will become considerably more interesting if I have your sweet voice reading it to me.”
Violet stood; her eyes bright. “I shall fetch it.”
“Very well.”
She hesitated at his side, and something strange came across her face. Leo could not say what it was, but it was as if she had changed in some significant way in seconds. Slowly, she sank to her knees beside him and tilted her head a little. Leo’s pulse quickened. “Violet…” he murmured.
She smiled; the gesture nervous. “I just wanted to—to say that I am happy here, and I am happy that you are not badly injured.”
“As am I. And I want you to be happy. Someday, Violet, I shall take you to see all the places in the world.”
“Thank you,” she breathed, moving impossibly close to him.
She was only a hairsbreadth away. He tilted his head, waiting to see if he understood her properly. Violet breathed softly, and Leo leaned forward. He easily crossed the distance between them and pressed his lips against hers. The gesture was quick and light. He knew it had to be, for even as he drew back, the memories of that heated kiss in Violet’s bedchamber stirred like a tempest in his mind.
Violet straightened and ducked her head, as if she were suddenly shy. “I shall fetch the book.”
Chapter 21
Nathanial Jones and Thomas Burke, Leo’s valet, had helped Violet’s husband into his bedchamber. He spent the next few days there with his foot propped on a pillow.
Violet dutifully applied the salve and the compress three times a day, and then she resumed the task of readingPride and Prejudicealoud. Leo made for a rather interesting audience, scoffing when he found events or characters too unbelievable and loudly voicing his disagreement whenever Mr. Darcy did something unpleasant.
It was endearing, seeing him become animated about the novel, which Violet thought was quite excellent. As those quiet hours passed, Leo’s foot slowly healed. About a week after the snake bite, Violet went to his bedchamber and found him standing and dressed. His valet was gone.
“Are you all right?” she asked.
Leo frowned, looking at his own foot with an expression which seemed somewhat doubtful. “I think I am. My ankle feels a little stiff, but that could be because I have not walked much in the past few days.”
“You should be careful.”
He smiled; his blue eyes alight with amusement. “Thank you, my dearest physician. I shall be. I was thinking that I might benefit from taking some air in the gardens. Would you like to join me?”
“We could have breakfast there,” Violet said. “That would not be terribly taxing on you.”
“Precisely,” Leo said. “We may approach my recovery a little at a time.”
He offered his arm, and Violet placed her hand at the crook in his elbow. Her husband seemed steady, and he did not need to lean on her for support. Still, she did not fail to notice how Leo limped a little. They entered the foyer together, Nathanial descending upon them in an instant. “We will take breakfast in the gardens,” Leo said without preamble.
Nathanial bowed. “Of course, Your Grace.”
Violet bit the inside of her cheek, her thoughts lingering on the interaction. She and Leo left the manor and headed towards the gardens. The sky was blue and cloudless, and the air bore just the faintest chill of autumn.
“You look displeased with me,” Leo noted.
“Do I? It is not intentional.”
“But you do not deny it,” Leo said.
“It is a little thing,” Violet replied. “I was only thinking about how curt you were with Nathanial Jones. He has been in your employ for a long time, has he not? I feel as though you could be kinder to him.”
