Bewitching the Duke

Selina went back to her bag and pulled out a sheet of cotton. She folded it into a triangle and then moved to the bed. “Help him sit up.”

Colin reached behind Davie and pushed him up to a sitting position. “Now you get that sling.”

Selina arranged the sling in place and then started to pack up her valise. She pulled out a small bag and gave it to Mrs. Patterson. “Give this to him every four hours for the pain. I’ll come back and check on him tomorrow afternoon. I want him resting for at least a week.”

Colin snorted. “Good luck. No eight-year-old boy is going to rest in bed for a week.”

Selina glared back at him and then smiled at Mrs. Patterson. “At least try.”

“You did a great job tonight, Davie,” he said, squeezing the boy’s hand.

“No, I didn’t,” he mumbled.

“What do you mean?”

“I couldn’t reach Mary’s doll. I tried to jump for it and that’s when I fell.”

Colin saw the disappointment on Davie’s face and knew what he had to do. “I’ll be right back.”

“C-Your Grace, where are you going?” Selina asked.

“I shall return in a moment.” He ran downstairs and grabbed the lantern from the table. He walked outside and held the light up toward the tree in front of the house. Smiling, he climbed up the tree and reached for the cloth doll stuck on a limb.

With the doll in hand, he returned to Davie’s bedchamber. He held the doll behind his back. “Do you think the patient can get up for just a short moment?”

Selina frowned. “I don’t . . .” Her voice trailed off as he turned just enough that she could see what he held. “I think he can get up for a moment.”

“Why?” Davie mumbled.

“The laudanum is making him sleepy,” Selina commented. “You need to hurry.”

“Come on, boy,” Colin said, gently helping Davie out of the bed. “You must return the maiden’s doll.”

“What?”

“Your sister’s doll,” he said, holding out the toy.

“You got it!”

“Yes, but your sister doesn’t have to know that. You can tell her you were able to get it.”

Colin walked with Davie across the hall to his sisters’ bedroom. Meg let them in and smiled when she saw what they held.

“She’ll be so happy! She’s been crying ever since Mama put her in here.”

Davie went over to his sister and sat on the bed. Mary looked up at him and cried harder.

“Mary, it’s all right. Look at what I have for you.”

Mary’s wet eyes grew large when she saw her doll. “You got Molly!”

“Yes, His Grace helped me,” Davie said and then smiled back at Colin.

Colin’s heart filled with joy. It had been years since he thought about children. He’d always wanted a large family, at least he had until Mary died, then his dreams of children died too. But now, he wasn’t certain. Still, the idea of losing another woman he loved still haunted him.

He focused his attention back on Davie. “Come on, boy. Miss White will have my head if I don’t get you back into bed.”

Davie kissed his sister’s forehead and then grabbed Colin’s hand. His heart squeezed as firmly as his hand on the lad’s. He wanted this.