Page 43 of Miss Ridley and the Duke
“Confound it,” she cursed, making Philip’s lips quiver in amusement while he fought not to smile in the face of her unhappiness. His sweet wife was spirited, and he loved it, but this was not the appropriate time to display that.
“To be fair, my darling, I am not even sure if Brendan knows of your marriage to me yet, based on your lack of correspondence.”
Her face cleared as she thought about what he said. “You are right. I did not inform him. Why would I think he would inform me?”
“Precisely. I think over the coming months, we should rectify the matter. I assume the baron has something to do with the estrangement.”
“Either that or he just grew tired of his vexing sister.”
“Delightfully vexing, my sweet, so I suspect the baron’s hand in this.” Annabel looked unconvinced. “Either way, Brendan’s feelings do not factor. If my duchess wants her brother to pay her attention, then he will be required to comply. Besides, what man would turn up his nose at a connection with an all-powerful duke?”
Annabel’s mouth curled into a smile. It gladdened Philip to see her recovering her good cheer. “I lo—appreciate you, husband. You make me feel … seen.”
He smiled in response.
Annabel rose with a regretful sigh. “It is time for me to study.”
She leaned over to pat his arm before walking away and Philip gathered his papers to read his mail, surprised to find a letter from Mrs. Thorne, since he had just visited her recently.
Reading through the missive containing unexpected news from the esteemed matron, he mentally calculated whether it was feasible to drive to Halmesbury and be back in time for his plans with Annabel.
* * *
“Philip?”
“Yes, sweet?”
“I—how was your day?”
Annabel had hoped to tell him the truth about Richard, but as she rested in his comforting embrace, she could not bring herself to ruin the moment. She had thought of little else for the past two weeks. Earlier that day in the orangery, his concern for her connections had increased her guilt about hiding the truth. She also wrestled with another secret she was hesitant to confess: I love you, whispered her thoughts. And you married me by mistake. Your cousin did not corrupt your late bride with his rakish ways.
The warring emotions in her mind made peace elusive, save for the rare tranquility she found in Philip’s arms.
“Excellent,” he replied. “Mrs. Thorne is pleased with the progress at Halmesbury Home. The children are thriving under her guidance. She mentioned something important we should discuss over breakfast—too detailed for tonight.”
“I love y—that you are such a good man.”
He hugged her warmly, the strength of his embrace reassuring her. “And I love you are meeting with the tenants to discuss the school.”
“Education is a passion of mine,” she confessed. “I taught one of our young maids to read after giving her a copy of Sense and Sensibility for her birthday. I did not realize it would embarrass her. Mrs. Harris explained Caroline could not read, so I carved out time daily to teach her. It felt wonderful to make up for my mistake.”
Philip smiled down at her. “I agree—reading is a gift everyone should experience. It opens the world.”
Annabel hesitated, then asked, “Speaking of gifts, I was wondering...you know, that way you make me feel cherished and seen? How might I do the same for you?” Her cheeks flushed at her boldness, but her sincerity won out.
Philip chuckled, tucking a stray curl behind her ear. “You already do.”
She laughed softly, the weight of her secrets momentarily lifting. Their shared warmth enveloped her like a cocoon, a space where love might take root, even amid so much left unsaid. Without making the decision, her lips formed the words she had had contained in her heart. “I love you, Philip, I love you so much!”
Philip stilled in shock as Annabel cringed in dismay
I love you? I love you so much?
She had been bottling up too many secrets, and one of them had come spilling out of her mouth.
Chapter Seventeen
“Everywhere I see bliss, from which I alone am irrevocably excluded.”
