Lily and the Duke (Sex and the Season #1) - Helen Hardt Page 0,96
my head.”
“I’ll call for a maid to bathe you. Or would you rather have your mother?”
“Neither. I want you to bathe me.”
“I can’t. What would your father say?”
“I wasn’t planning to ask his opinion.” She smiled weakly. “Lock the door.”
“Lily…”
“You said you’d do anything for me.”
“God help me. All right.” Daniel rose and locked the door to his bedchamber. He strolled into the bath chamber and readied a bath. Then he fetched Lily from the bed, removed her nightgown, and carried her to the tub.
“You get in with me,” she urged.
“No, love. You’re too weak. Maybe in a few days.” He lathered her body and her hair with soap and gently cleansed her.
“That feels nice,” she said, closing her eyes.
“Let me know if anything hurts.”
“Everything’s fine. I love the feel of your hands on my body. It’s soothing.”
“It’s soothing for me too. I live for the day that I can hold you and make love to you again. You’re so beautiful, Lily.” Daniel held her and rinsed her hair. “I want you to sit in here and soak for a while. It will help the pain.”
“Mmm. I wish I had my clove oil.”
“Hold on a minute.” Daniel left the bath chamber and returned a few moments later holding the small amber vial. “Here it is.”
“Just a few drops in the water.”
Daniel obliged and then brought in a chair and sat beside the tub. When Lily started yawning, he lifted her out of the tub, dried her gently with a soft towel, and dressed her in a clean nightdress. He helped her brush her teeth, he combed her hair, and placed her back in bed.
“Daniel…”
“Hmm?”
“I’m sorry about…the red dress.”
Daniel pressed his lips to her cheek. “I love the red dress. But from now on you’ll wear it only for me. Promise?”
“I promise.”
“Good. I love you, my beautiful Lily,” he said, and kissed her gently on the mouth.
“I love you too, Daniel. Always.”
CHAPTER 19
Cameron Price wasn’t sure whether he should be honored or angered when the Duke of Lybrook demanded his presence at Laurel Ridge Estate in the middle of the afternoon. He couldn’t afford to waste the precious hours of daylight that were better spent tending his farm, preparing the ground for planting, which would begin within a fortnight. Yet here he was, being led by a stiff butler to the private study of the duke himself.
“Mr. Cameron Price, Your Grace,” the butler said.
“Thank you, Crawford. Please come in, Price.”
The duke sat behind an ornately carved mahogany desk. He gestured to a pair of lush leather chairs. “Have a seat.”
“Thank you, Your Grace.” Cameron sat, inhaling the zesty aroma of the fine grain cowhide. This had to be the most comfortable chair he had ever sat in. “I’m a bit confused as to why you summoned me.”
“I can imagine. First, how is your family?”
“They’re fine. Thank you for asking.”
“I understand you met my future wife several days ago.”
“Yes. We were all quite sorry to hear about her accident and very glad to know that she’s on the mend.”
“No more so than I, Price, which brings me to why I have asked you here. I would like to hire you.”
Cameron jerked in his seat. “For what purpose?”
“I would like to commission a waltz for Lily, for our first dance as man and wife.”
“I’m flattered, Your Grace, but I hardly think I am qualified.”
“You’re a published composer, are you not?”
“Well, yes, but, my work is more… That is, I’m not sure…”
“I’ll be the judge. I happen to have copies of both of your pieces here, one of which, I believe, is a waltz?”
“Yes.”
“It has a haunting quality that I like.”
“For a wedding waltz, though, you’ll want something more joyful?”
“Yes, of course. I want it written for Lily.” The duke let out a breath. “This is difficult for me to say, since you and I don’t know each other very well, but I need you to know the circumstances so that you can compose the right type of music. Lily came into my life and taught me how to love again. She showed me beauty and kindness and laughter. I want the music to portray those feelings. It will be my wedding gift to her.”
“That’s a tall order, Your Grace.”
“Which I’m sure you’ll be able to fill. Now, what is the going rate for commissioning a piece of music? One hundred pounds?”
“Your Grace, I don’t think…”
“Two hundred then.”
“That’s too much.”
“Nonsense. I’ll pay you a hundred now, and the rest upon completion.”