Page 26 of Disguised Desires of a Scarred Duke
“Do you hunt, Mr Black?” Eleanor asked. She nibbled an apple slice in one hand while stroking soft blades of grass with the other.
“Only greasy-haired scoundrels who dare to bother you,” William answered with a wicked grin. “Do you think Mr Phillips will make an appearance at Lord Charter’s estate?”
“I won’t acknowledge him if he does. Surely, we’ve deterred him by now, but I have been wrong about that before. He keeps coming back like an infection. A relentless, festering wound.”
Eleanor pulled a few bright green blades from the warm soil near the coverlet and sprinkled the grass over William’s thigh.
He laughed and left her gift undisturbed while she sprinkled more on his leg again and again. The innocent intimacy of those moments made his desire for her grow even stronger.
As the players on the stage began their introductions, Regina and Edward repositioned themselves at the front of the blanket to sit side by side.
William scooted closer to Eleanor, thankful that their blanket was placed at the back of the lawn, near the shade of trees dotting the banks of a long stream.
“That infection of a man is no match for a former sea captain, m’lady. I promise that festering wound will wound you no more.”
Before he was finished speaking, Eleanor’s head jerked up, and her mouth dropped open.
“You were a …sea captain?”
William realized his mistake a few seconds too late but tried to cover his shock by avoiding Elle’s eyes. Though it did not reveal his noble rank, his experience as a seaman was a detail he hadn’t intended to reveal.
Yet he also found relief in letting Elle know more about who he really was. Or who he had been before his late father’s title trapped him like an anchor stuck on the ocean floor.
“Yes. I was a ship captain for many years. Though that life caused the accident that ravaged my face, I was never happier than when I was at sea.”
Eleanor clutched William’s hand and kept staring into his eyes with her mouth agape. “I’ve had … many dreams of … of ships at sea.”
She could barely speak through her deepening breaths that rose and fell more quickly by the second.
William was confused and grew concerned that Eleanor might faint.
“Miss Whitfield, are you quite well? Do you need a doctor?” He stroked her hand as the loudly spoken words from the stage filled the air.
Hippolyta, I wooed thee with my sword
And won thy love doing thee injuries,
Eleanor pressed her right hand to William’s cheek and traced his scars with a lover’s care. “It’syou. My obsidian-eyed pirate. A brave and mighty captain on the sea.”
William swallowed hard and covered Elle’s hand with his own as the actors continued:
But I will wed thee in another key,
With pomp, with triumph, and with reveling.
William felt the war inside him start up again. He had to kiss her. Hehad to.
But the older boys who’d scowled at him earlier saved the duke from a scandalous show of affection for the lady who was winning his heart despite himself.
“Unhand her, you ugly brute!”
The three boys laughed and made taunting gestures that no lady should have to see.
“Be gone, boys. If you know what’s good for you,” William growled. He kept his eyes on Eleanor, who quickly backed away from him with what could only be embarrassment reddening her cheeks.
Edward turned around and got on his feet just as quickly. “Not this again, Mr Black. And during one of my favourite plays, too.”
“I can handle it, Montrose,” William said, still not meeting the gaze of the youths who were growing more bold.
