Page 66 of The Duke's Pet

He was quiet for a moment, just gently stroking her upper arm that was out of the sheet. “What do you dream of in the day?”

“I don’t understand.”

“Real dreams. Your wants and desires for the future.”

She ran her finger over two freckles on his left collarbone. “Myfuture?”

“Of course, your future.”

“I can tell you what I didn’t dream of, and that was finding myself at The Rose and Thorns.”

“No, I’m sure you didn’t. Though it did lead you here.”

“True.”

“So what would you like to happen? In the years ahead of you.”

“I suppose what every woman wants.”

“Which is?”

“A kind husband, children, and...”

“Go on.”

“And to be able to read and write, so I can teach my children.”

“We’re working on that.”

She nibbled on her bottom lip.

“What else?” he asked. “I sense there is more.”

She propped onto her elbow so she could see his face; she wanted to judge his reaction. “I’d like to achieve something, over and above wife and mother duties, more than just surviving.”

He traced his finger down her nose, then over her lips to her chin. “Tell me about this achievement.”

“For a while I thought perhaps it would be to set up my own shop, selling the baskets I weave. Or perhaps become a governess and see children blossom from my teachings.” She paused. “Not that I know much to teach them.”

“But I can see you have great capacity to learn.”

“Thank you.” She smiled. “And then yesterday, with my drawing I started to think I’d like to spend more time studying nature. I grew up outdoors, I understand the seasons and its effect on the land. If only I had the chance I could write about that, or document it as you do in pictures.”

“I like all of those ideas, but what I like most is...”

“What?”

“That you have ambition, drive. It’s most important for the future of society.”

She smiled but then it dropped.

“What is making you sad?”

“It’s all well and good having ambition and drive but without a vessel for it, it’s going nowhere.I’mgoing nowhere.”

“Don’t say that.” He pushed back the sheets and blanket. “We are all going somewhere.”

He stood with his bare behind facing her.

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