The Black Duke's Prize by The Black Duke's Prize

Author:The Black Duke's Prize
Language: ron
Format: mobi
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

12

"You may go, Doctor," Nicholas said as Katherine hesitantly entered. "And thank you."

The doctor nodded. "I'll come by this afternoon to change your bandages, Your Grace," he responded, exiting the bedchamber with a bow.

Katherine stared at Nicholas from across the room, her blue eyes wide and her face white. He knew he must look about the same, for even with the laudanum his shoulder and arm throbbed. "Come over here," he finally commanded when she made no move to approach.

It was a measure of how upset she was that she did as he said. "How do you feel?" she asked in a small voice.

"How am I supposed to feel?" he retorted. "You shot me."

Color appeared in her cheeks again. "It was your fault," she returned. "I wasn't going to shoot you at all, and then you attacked me."

"My fault?" he retorted. "You summon me to meet with you, lie to me, threaten my life, and shoot me, and it's my fault?"

She began crying. "I thought you were trying to steal Crestley from me," she said, sobbing, and wringing her slim hands in the folds of her skirt. "I feel so awful. I might have killed you."

"Not with your aim," he muttered, and held out his hand. He hadn't expected her to cry, and it curiously touched him. Women had attempted to use tears on him before, and, when he had refused to react, labeled him hardhearted or cruel. She came forward and took his hand in her own, and he squeezed her fingers. "Don't cry, Kate," he murmured.

"I'm not crying," she answered, sniffling. "I'm only tired."

"Yes, I would imagine you are," he answered dryly, the laudanum beginning to make him feel lethargic. "You've been quite busy this morning." He and Neville had spoken, rather harshly, a few moments earlier, and after what Katherine must have discovered, he was surprised she hadn't really tried to kill him. "Have you been told about my part in these dealings?"

She nodded and wiped at her eyes. "I still want you to stop," she said, tightening her grip on his hand.

"Why?"

"Because I won't pay for my own property."

"I'm paying for it, remember?" he reminded her, his words slurring a little.

"I would be obligated to repay you," she responded. Nicholas found that his eyes were shut, and he forced them open again to look up into her deep-blue ones. "You don't have to repay me," he answered slowly. "It would be my gift."

She shook her head. "I would be obligated to repay you," she repeated. "Are you truly that wealthy?" she asked curiously, cocking her head.

He chuckled, wincing as that jarred his shoulder. "Even wealthier than that."

"There must be another way to stop my uncle," she went on. "Please say you won't buy Crestley, and help me figure out something else," she said softly.

His eyes shut again at the silky sound of her voice. "All right," he murmured, and then was asleep.

When he awoke again the curtains had been pulled back, letting in the afternoon sun.

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