Episode 13

Every morning just as they had always done, Mari and Rose headed to the duchess’s chamber to awaken her and assist with her dressing. They knocked on the door and waited for a customary response—the duchess was usually still asleep, and they often needed to gentle shake her awake due to her heavy slumber. Receiving no reply, they were about to enter when suddenly the duke flung open the door, startling them, and curtly instructed,

“Do not disturb us. Return when summoned.”

Stunned by the duke’s presence—they had never known him to oversleep—Mari and Rose hesitated. It was common knowledge that the duke rarely shared the duchess’s bed, arriving late and departing early, his nocturnal visits were unsuspected by most.

That day, with his diplomatic duties not scheduled until the afternoon, the duke allowed himself to linger in bed, succumbing to the exhaustion of the previous night’s events and the accumulated weariness of many such nights.

After dispatching the maidservants, he returned to the confines of the sheets and wrapped his arms around Olivia once more, drifting back to sleep.

He awoke later, startled by the absence of Olivia in his embrace. Opening his eyes, he found her on the floor, cocooned in a sheet. Observing her there, he inquired,

“What are you doing on the floor?”

Upon hearing his voice, Olivia, overwhelmed with embarrassment from their previous night's intimacies, enveloped herself completely within the sheet to shield herself from his gaze.

Leonard couldn’t help but chuckle at her reaction, finding her akin to a small, quivering creature, trembling and hiding. He approached Olivia and lifted her from the ground. As he tried to remove the sheet she clutched so tightly, Leonard questioned her gently,

“Are you afraid of me?”

Olivia, with a voice hoarse from the night's exertions, timidly replied.

“It's not that. I'm just too embarrassed for you to see me.”

Leonard sighed and resettled her on the bed, forcefully stripping away the sheet and revealing Olivia’s bare form. Her cheeks flushed with embarrassment as she covered her face with her hands.

Finding her irresistibly charming, Leonard studied her body, feeling a pang of remorse at noticing the finger marks on her hips and the kiss bruises that stood out against her pale, smooth skin—he had been too rough.

He drew her hands away to look upon Olivia's face, seeing her beauty unfurled. His desire reignited, Leonard tipped Olivia's chin upward and claimed her sweet lips, coaxing a moan from her. Her voice was a melody that spurred his arousal. Gently, he caressed her breasts while relentless in his kisses. Olivia’s soft moans, the result of the pleasure he provided, fogged her mind. She clung to his neck as his hands roamed her body, careful not to apply too much force.

Olivia felt the dampness of her desire spill over, and as the duke’s finger breached her, pain flared. Instinctively pushing him away, her hand unexpectedly struck his face. Shocked, the duke gazed at her wordlessly.

Noting the red mark on the duke's cheek from her blow, Olivia trembled with fear, tears streaming down her face.

She had struck a man known for his cruelty, a man of feared reputation. Though he was visibly surprised, he remained silent. Olivia feared for her life, wondering if he might kill her for the offense.

Leonard, witnessing Olivia's inconsolable weeping, approached her with softened words,

"I apologize. I did not mean to hurt you. Please, stop crying. I won’t touch you again until you are well."

Hearing the duke's remorseful voice, Olivia lifted her tear-stained face, her confusion evident. His response to her defensive act was one of caring rather than anger, a realization that coaxed more tears of relief from her.

The duke tenderly kissed away her tears and stroked her hair, soothing her in a way she had never imagined from such a fearsome man. Once her sobbing ceased and she found calm, he tenderly asked,

"Shall I summon the physician?"

The idea of someone else knowing of their previous night's activities brought blushes of shame to Olivia. Decisively, she replied,

"NO! I am well; there is no need for a physician."

"Are you certain you're not in pain?"

"I am in pain, but I will be alright. No need for a physician," said Olivia, managing her embarrassment.

Feeling somewhat guilty for her pain, Leonard persisted,

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, and I regret having struck you."

"Well, had you not done so, I would not have ceased and would have taken you again."

Olivia's face blushed crimson. She felt the urge to flee, but her legs ached so severely she doubted she could reach the bathroom without collapsing.

Leonard covered Olivia with the sheet, realizing that if he continued to view her naked form, he might lose control once again. Distracting himself, he tried not to dwell on such thoughts, and inquired,

"You didn't answer, why were you on the floor?"

"It was nothing; I attempted to rise for some water but fell," she answered.

Leonard fetched a pitcher of water and poured a glass for Olivia. She wished for him to leave, yet he seemed disinclined to exit. After drinking, she passed back the glass to him, and he encouraged,

"Rest, you may remain in bed as long as necessary."

Leonard dressed and left the chamber. Olivia felt a release in his absence, but soon after, a middle-aged woman entered the chamber and approached Olivia, stating,

"Good morning, my lady, the duke has requested that I check on your well-being."

Reluctant for the woman to examine her, Olivia eventually conceded, having no choice but to obey the duke's orders. The woman assisted Olivia, who struggled to stand, her hips and legs failing her. Urged to return to bed, the woman then bathed and examined Olivia with a bucket of water and sponge.

After attending to Olivia, the woman remarked,

"The duke is a brute. He’s been far too rough with you. I shall speak to him and insist he refrain from touching you for a good while."

Olivia was surprised by the woman's frankness and her lack of fear in speaking of the duke. After the woman helped Olivia into a nightgown and instructed her to rest in bed for a week, she departed.

Although Olivia disliked the idea of bed rest, standing was out of the question for her aching body.

She was in considerable pain, to such an extent that even rolling over caused her significant discomfort. The pain of her first time had been more excruciating than she ever imagined, and she silently thanked God the duke had stopped that morning—for another encounter might have been unbearable.

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