“I insist. My mother and I have helped a great many of our tenants through illness. I might know a few tricks that will help for the time being.”
Her readiness to accompany Mr. Keller to his home, offering her support without hesitation, only deepened Leonard’s admiration for her. Internally, however, a surge of worry gnawed at Leonard’s thoughts. He couldn’t shake the sense of unease at the idea of Sally venturing into a potentially hazardous situation. What if this cough was contagious and she caught it? What if she died? He wanted to protest but before he could, Sally turned to him.
“Please, hurry and send the physician. I will see you this afternoon when I return,” she said and turned to Mr. Keller.
As they prepared to part ways, Leonard’s concern spilled over. He called out to Sally, needing to express his apprehension. “Sally, wait,” he said, stepping closer to her. Once he was close enough to smell her perfume he lowered his voice. “Please, promise me you’ll be careful. This cough could be quite serious.”
“I know. Look,” she withdrew a scarf from the little reticule and waved it so that the sun reflected off the silk material. “I will tie this around my mouth. I know how to keep myself protected.”
Sally’s reassurance eased Leonard’s worry momentarily, but the fear still lingered. As she tied the scarf securely around her mouth, Leonard couldn’t ignore the pang of protectiveness swelling within him. This thin cloth could surely not keep out the dreadful diseased he’d born witness to, could it?
“Thank you, Sally,” Leonard murmured. He didn’t want to show himself as too worried as that might in turn add to Mr. Keller’s burden. So, he spoke quietly, only for her to hear. “Please take care of yourself.”
With a nod of understanding, Sally bid farewell and departed with Mr. Keller. Leonard stood there, watching her retreating figure with admiration and concern. In that moment, he realized with a start that his feelings for Sally were evolving, deepening into something he hadn’t anticipated. As the weight of his attachment settled in, Leonard couldn’t help but wonder where this unexpected journey with Sally would lead them.
CHAPTER17
Sally
Two weeks later …
Sally’s fingers moved neatly across the fabric in her lap, weaving delicate threads into intricate patterns.
“I cannot believe how quickly you can work,” Joanna said beside her, placing her own work in her lap with a sigh. “My fingers are already bleeding again!” She held up her right hand which indeed bore wounds from her battle with the embroidery needle.
“You ought to stop, you’ll only spoil the fabric,” Sally replied, and Joanna raised her eyebrows.
“I see, that is what you really worry about. The material. Not the fact that I might die of an infection from stabbing myself by accident,” Joanna replied in jest.
“You have known for years that you are hopeless when it comes to embroidery. Why even bother? It is not as if you do not have anything else to do now that you are Duchess. There is always something that needs tending to,” she said and chuckled as she placed her own embroidery aside. “I sound as though I have been Duchess for years, rather than just over a fortnight.”
“You do, but I dare say you are much better suited to it than I. If I didn’t have my mother-in-law, I am sure the entire household would be in utter chaos and we’d have to eat bread and dry cheese every night for dinner because I forgot to make the menu,” Joanna admitted.
“You do have two children” Sally pointed out and then nodded at her stomach. “And a third on the way.”
Joanna beamed and glanced toward the window from where the joyful laughter of Leonard and Kenneth mingled with the delighted giggles of Joanna’s son Peter, their playful antics echoing through the air. Sally stole a glance through the window, her heart swelling with affection as she watched the scene unfolding in the garden. Leonard, fully immersed in the mock sword fight with Peter, wore a playful grin that tugged at her heartstrings. He’d fashioned his sword out of a branch he’d collected earlier and advanced toward the eight year old Peter who bravely battled back while Kenneth sat on the low stone bench, little Louisa on his lap. She watched as Leonard advanced toward the boy again but then dramatically fell to his side as the boy touched him lightly with his make-belief sword.
As Leonard lay on his back, all four limbs splayed out dramatically, she let out a little laugh. He’d make a wonderful father to their children one day, she knew it already.
No! What am I thinking? This isn’t real. I must not make a cake of myself…
Oblivious to her sudden dark thoughts Joanna looped her arm through her sisters. “You seem much happier lately, Sally,” Joanna observed, her gaze shifting to her sister with a soft, knowing smile.
“We got along quite well these past two weeks,” she admitted, not wanting to allow herself to think of the dark thoughts that had just clouded her contentment. “Leonard took me riding through the estate, showing me all the tenants’ lands. It was quite the adventure, I must say.” She chuckled softly, the memory of Leonard’s patient guidance bringing a fond smile to her lips. “He showed me how to gallop without sliding back and forth.”
“Kenneth had to show me that also,” Joanna chimed in. “If only father had let us learn when we were younger.”
“Indeed. Leonard is quite a good teacher. We even dined together,” Sally continued, hearing the warmth and satisfaction of the memories as she spoke. “It was... pleasant, to say the least.” She paused, a thoughtful gleam in her eyes. “I never imagined our relationship would take such a turn, but I must admit, it is rather enjoyable spending time with him.”
Joanna nodded in understanding, her own smile widening at the genuine contentment radiating from her sister. “It sounded like you found a newfound harmony,” she remarked with quiet happiness. “Who knew, perhaps that unexpected bond between you and Leonard will continue to blossom in the days to come,” Joanna’s beaming smile lit the room. “I always knew there was something special between you and Leonard,” she declared.
Sally’s hesitation was palpable as she mulled over Joanna’s words, her fingers tracing the delicate patterns of her embroidery. “I am not entirely convinced,” she admitted quietly, her gaze drifting to the window where Leonard and Kenneth had moved on to playing a game of hide and seek. “It is rather hard to discern if things truly changed between us, or if this is merely a temporary shift because I confronted him about his neglect. I told you, our agreement was to spend our honeymoon together so that all of the ton would believe our marriage is real. That honeymoon is over in less than a fortnight.”
“You should trust in what you’re feeling, Sally,” Joanna urged gently, her eyes reflecting support. “Leonard seems more like himself lately, and that is a promising sign. Perhaps that is the beginning of something truly wonderful.”
Sally wanted to believe her sister, but the more time passed the less certain she became. She knew she’d grasped the tasks of a duchess already, and she knew the ton believed their love was real. The scandal sheets had been writing about them ever since the night of her mother’s birthday ball. However, the reports had gone from reveling in the scandal of it all to being downright positive about them. They’d gone to Almack’s not a week ago and the following day the papers had raved about how glowing they both were. Likewise, their visits to the theater and the opera had been reported. The world believed they were truly in love – and she couldn’t stop herself from wishing it was real.
As she watched Leonard outside, her heart ached for what they had created to be more than a play, an illusion. She wanted him to love her truly, with all his heart. She wanted him to be her husband in more than just name. For the truth was, she had begun to lose her heart to him – but that was a circumstance she could not admit to anyone, not even her sister.
