Caught in the Storm of a Duke's - Abby Ayles Page 0,50

she soon realized she had no cause for concern.

She was on the second floor and, unless he looked up, he would remain completely oblivious of her presence.

Giving up on trying to avoid whatever concerned him, she fed her eyes with his sight.

Everything about him was regal. He exuded poise and grace. He was simply magnificent.

He walked like a man who owned the world, tall and proud. Yet, as she had come to learn in the past days, he had a heart so tender, so large, so giving.

It was what endeared him to her even more.

Taking great care to be quiet, she watched him walk around the library. She had always been curious about what kind of books he read.

He soon stopped at the shelf that held books on science.

With strong, yet delicate fingers, he plucked the books out one by one, flipping through the pages and checking the covers, before deciding which one to keep or take.

Even this he did as though it was another form of art, just as when he played the pianoforte, or when he rode his giant of a stallion, Eleazar.

She soon lost sense of time, while he took his time in choosing the right book.

As minutes grew into an hour, her eyes began to droop, and, before she knew it, she was fast asleep, traveling into the word of dreams.

***

Stephen spent the entire afternoon in his study, reading. It was not until the room began to grow dark that he realized how much time had passed.

Quickly, he closed the book in his hand and rose to his feet. A quick glance at his pocket watch told him he had just enough time not to be late for dinner.

He returned to his chamber to change into suitable clothing. Thomas was by his side to help.

“You haven’t missed dinner in a week, Your Grace,” he said softly.

“Yes, it would appear so,” Stephen replied, a smile tugging at his lips.

He had known Thomas his entire life and could understand the words left unsaid.

“You also have been spending a lot of time outside your chambers, lately. It is hard not to notice that it is particularly in the company of a certain fair lady.”

“She has been here a long time, Thomas. It is only right that I should act as a proper host—eventually.”

Thomas smiled.

It wasn’t until Stephen had seen him smile some days ago that he had realized that his butler and friend had not smiled in years either.

Stephen had been sad to find that it had taken him so long to see just how deeply he had affected the lives of the people who had chosen to remain by his side in his darkest times.

Now when Thomas smiled, it gave him a kind of joy he could not very well explain. He wished that his old friend would keep smiling until the end of his days.

He had vowed that, no matter what happened, he would not return to the man he had been before Lady Judith’s arrival at Dunham. The cheer that had returned to the house would remain, even after he was gone.

“Is that all it is?” the butler asked.

“What more could it be?” Stephen countered, feigning ignorance.

“Ah … I wouldn’t know, Your Grace. It is why I was asking. Well, if you insist, I suppose it is a thing to be thankful for. You are smiling again, riding again, you’re reading again. It is as though Dunham has finally come out of its own storm. It’s certainly wonderful to see the sun again.”

Before Stephen could find the words to respond, Thomas stepped away from him to give his master’s appearance a final appraisal. As he finished, he gave a curt nod.

“You are ready to go, Your Grace.”

Stephen looked at himself in the mirror. He was pleased by the reflection that stared back at him.

“I would say I am.”

He started to leave then, and Thomas rushed to the door to hold it open for him.

Stephen stopped as he reached it, then turned to his friend.

“Thomas, thank you. For everything. I realize I do not say that often enough. You have been a great friend all these years. I do not take it for granted.”

Thomas’ eyes grew moist and Stephen feared he would make the old man cry. He had barely managed to finish the words without his voice failing him.

Thankfully, Thomas did not cry. He simply swallowed hard and said, “Seeing you smile again is all the gratitude I need. All I have done has been an