The Heart of the Rose

3

Rose's was having a fitful sleep. She kept thinking she wouldn't be able to do her work tomorrow. She had forgotten the book needed to do her job. In her drugged state, she slipped out of bed and walked downstairs. For some reason it hurt, she began to giggle and sat down on the top stair and scooting down each step.

He heard the giggling and searched for the cause. The doctor was explicit she shouldn't be on her foot for at least a week. He remembered when she needed to get to her room Evan swooped her up and carried her off. He came downstairs to torcher him with the fact the girl was not wearing all the Cumbersome underclothing, she was all natural. Ethan had been sitting by the fire, drink in hand thinking of what it would be like to carry her up the stairs. He imagined feeling her body close to his. Those thoughts needed to be drowned out. He gulped down the remainder of his drink and search out his torcher. She was not standing on her foot she had come all the way down the stairs on her lovely arse. Bloody hell he did not want his thoughts to stray in that direction at all.

"Is there something you need Lady Hillary?"

She giggled, "I needed a book?"

"I beg your pardon? You risked breaking your neck for a book?"

She giggled some more, I don't think that is the part I was at risk of breaking. I think I have bruised my derrière. I need the book so I can do my work."

"What book pray tell do you need so badly that you would risk falling down the stairs?"

"What day will it be in the morning?"

He wasn't sure what the day of the week had to do with what book she wanted but he played along.

"It will be Wednesday."

She giggled again, but he could see she was struggling to think.

"I will be at Lord Kenton's and that means Mary Shelly's Frankenstein."

"What do you bring to Lord Cravens?"

"The Monk by Matthew Lewis I am not sure why that one but that is the one I need there. On Monday's I take Tom Jones by Henry Fielding."

"You have a very eclectic taste in books Lady Hillary?"

Rose giggled, and tried to stand up. She wasn't doing a good job of it. Ethan swept her up and brought her to the library to retrieve her book. He placed her on the sofa and looked for Mary Shelley's Frankenstein.

Rose watched as the Duke searched for the book. He was a handsome man. Too bad she became queasy every time he came near her. She figured it was his cologne, but his bother wore the same scent, and he didn't make her sick. She watched the Duke he had a fine body. He looked wonderful when he reached for the book and his breeches tightened across his buttocks.

"You have a nice derriere your Grace."

He couldn't possibly have heard her right. He was to stun to say anything. Ethan turned to look at her but she was sound asleep. He gathered the sleeping beauty and her book and carried her up to her room where he deposited her and quickly left. He needed another drink her night rail was thinner than a pair of summer bedsheets.

The next morning Rose woke up feeling much better. Her ankle ached but it was only bothersome. She was puzzled when she tried to get out of bed her foot pained her, but it was her derriere that seemed to hurt the most. She must have slept wrong or something. She decided since she couldn't take her daily walk. She would have a nice hot soak instead.

Rose took in the fragrance of her bath and let the hot water do its magic on her body. She didn't know why her buttocks felt sore but she felt like it was brused. She searched her memory to see if she could figure out what she had done but nothing came to mind other than the Duke and his derrière. Rose blushed at the thought of checking out the Dukes posterior. She smiled to herself he had a very nice one. The knock on the door disturbed her less than pure thoughts. The knock brought her back to reality.