Page 64 of The Odyssean Duke

“I had not noticed.”

“Men never do,” she said.

He had certainly noticed her changes, though. Evelina narrowed her eyes, watching him for a long moment. Stephan traced his thumb over one of her embroidered flowers. “I shall strive to be more observant in the future,” he said.

“Good.”

She stifled a yawn and pulled the bedlinens up to her chin. A shiver shot like lightning through her body, raising gooseflesh over her arms. Evelina sighed and turned onto her side, curling up in an attempt to warm herself.

While her condition was a little improved, she was still not fully recovered. Her fever had lessened, but it was not gone. The aching in her head had stopped, but her skull still felt as if it was full of cotton. Her eyes burned.

“Are you certain that you ought to be worrying about making the place brighter?” Stephan asked. “You do not want to exert yourself too much, or you will not recover.”

“It is not exerting myself,” Evelina said. “Besides, I have a cold—a little, temporary ailment. It is not as if I am a step away from the grave.”

“I would like to keep you away from there,” Stephan said grimly, handing the embroidered piece back to her.

Evelina’s fingers brushed his, and she inhaled sharply. The small contact reminded her of how his hands had felt on her thighs and breasts. Her heart was in her throat. As soon as she was well, they would try their consummation again. Would she be prepared for it?

Evelina looked away, hoping that Stephan would not notice her doubtful expression. She was ill. But what if this illness was just—just something like a shield? Evelina could not deny that a little wave of relief swept over her when she thought about how this little cold meant that she did not need to have a congress with her husband. Not yet.

“How was your day?” she asked, hoping for a distraction. “Did the conversation with the solicitor go well?”

Stephan grunted. “Well enough. Speaking with solicitors is not particularly interesting business.”

Evelina hummed. “I suppose I ought to visit mine, also.”

Stephan raised an eyebrow. “There is no need. Everything is fine.”

“And I would be a fool if I took you at your word,” Evelina said. “A lady ought to always be in charge of her own fortune.”

His lips twitched into an amused smile. “That is why my grandmother detests you so much. You are independent, and it frustrates her.”

“She will have to become accustomed to frustration, then.”

“I suppose she shall.” Stephan glanced at the vase of flowers near Evelina. “The color has truly made you feel better?”

“Yes.”

“I suppose I shall become accustomed tothat,” he said, with a huff. “If it makes you feel better.”

“It does.”

Stephan stood and curled his hands over the back of his chair, gazing solemnly at her for a long moment. Evelina blinked, trying to force back the wave of exhaustion. She had found that the tiredness came in waves. In one moment, she would be awake and well; in the next, she wanted nothing more in the world than to bury herself under the bed linens and sleep.

“Is there anything I can do for you?” Stephan asked gently. “Anything else that will make you feel better?”

“No, I fear that I simply need time and rest, but…” She trailed off, weighing what she wanted in her mind. There was one thing that she would like to have, but Evelina hesitated to ask. Of late, she had found herself perilously close to becomingfondof Stephan.

Evelina told herself it was simply because she was ill, but even she did not believe that was the only reason. She had begun to develop a liking for her husband, even though she did not quite know why, and if she did not proceed with caution, thatlikemight blossom into something more. Something disastrous.

“What do you want?” Stephan’s voice was kind and patient. “I promise it is no trouble whatever it might be.”

Evelina swallowed hard and curled her fingers into the bedlinens, as if by holding that material tightly she might also hold herself—her thoughts, her desires, her resolve—together.

“Will you stay with me for a while?” she asked at last. “Just to talk. I promise that I will fall asleep soon, so you will not be forced to stay with me all night.”

Stephan chuckled and grinned roguishly. “What torment!” he teased. “Being forced to endure the company of a beautiful lady!”