Page 22 of The Duke's Lesson in Love

ChapterNine

Gill sat up in bed with a start.

There was that bloody whimpering cry again. He rubbed his temples to soothe the throbbing, glad he had not indulged in the second glass of brandy.

“Mamon Sadie!”

Bloody hell.

Tossing the covers off, he pulled on a pair of loose slacks and ran to Edwin’s room. He stopped short at the stillness of the room. Perhaps he had misheard. Gill rubbed his forehead again, vowing to stay away from his liquor cabinet. Since meeting the governess, he allowed himself to indulge as a way to quell his desire for her.

But no more.

He gave his affections free rein in the past and had paid the price. He had Edwin to think about. The child adored Miss Fields, even called her a version of mother.

Gritting his teeth, he lit the candle on the nightstand, resolving himself to put Edwin’s happiness first. If that meant staying away from her, he would.

It was likely his fault that she’d chosen to sleep in the servants’ quarters instead of beside Edwin. All because he wanted her near, to have her gentleness close. Gentleness he had not indulged in for almost six years. Part of him blamed her too. Blamed her for leaving Edwin’s side because she feared him. Was avoiding him more important than the child’s comfort?

He knew the answer because she fled his company again at dinner.

How could he trust her not to abandon his son?

His decision made, he touched Edwin’s damp forehead. The child was curled onto his side fast asleep, but he was weeping from an episode of night terrors. The first time Gill witnessed his son’s distress was the night of the botched kidnapping at the clothier. Sitting on the bed, he scooped the child into his arms. His heart beat wildly when the child’s small arms slid around his waist.

His valet peeked into the room from the adjoining door. “I alerted Miss Fields, Your Grace. Would you like me to remain?”

“No Monroe. There is no use in both of us being wretched tomorrow.”

“Very well, sir.”

Arranging two pillows against the headboard, he scooted backwards with Edwin clutched in his grasp. “It is all right,” he whispered when Edwin whimpered again. “You are safe. No one is going to take you from me ever again.”

The declaration was as much to soothe his son as it was to reassure himself. Never again was he abandoning Edwin the way his parents had abandoned him.

There was a gentle knock on the bedroom door before it was pushed open. “How is he?”

“Calm,” Gill said.

Sadie sat at the edge of the bed and brushed back the boy’s hair from his forehead. “I am sorry I was not here,” she whispered, not meeting Gill’s eyes. “Do you know what frightened him?”

“I assume it was the incident at the dress shop.”

She looked at him, her glance traveling down his bare chest. Then, shook her head and averted her gaze. “I had hoped he felt secure enough not to have those dreams visit him tonight, Your Grace..”

He sighed. “We are alone. Surely you can call me Gill.” Instead of agreeing, she straightened her shoulders and paced at the foot of the bed. It was her way, he realized, of keeping the wall between them. There was only one reason a person needed to protect themselves… because they were emotionally involved. The pull between them affected her as well. In the center of his chest, a warm, tingling sensation grew into an unquenched ache each time they were near.

Swallowing past the rising hope, Gill followed her pacing with new eyes. The floral robe she wore was knotted tightly at her waist, accentuating the flare of her hips and the full curve of her breasts. Two thick French braids fell on either side of her shoulders, showcasing her high cheekbones and the slender slope of her neck. It was the first time he saw her braids without them being tightly pinned to her head to form a crown.

Other than glancing at Edwin, and the single time she held his gaze upon entering the room, she did not look at him again, yet she was flushed. She tugged on the front of the robe in an attempt to cool her heated skin and he wished nothing more than to add to her agony.

It was not fear of him that kept her resistant as he suspected earlier, she was attracted to him.

“No,” she finally said, “It is improper to address you thusly.” She wrung her fingers. “But what shall we do about Edwin? Before our journey, his last night terror was after the incident in the park.”

“The first attempted kidnapping outside the orphanage?”

“Yes, he dreamed he was being taken. After a couple nights though, he slept soundly. The poor lad is taking longer to recover this time.”

---