They Broke the Duke's Bastard, Now She Is His Only Heir novel · Chapter 12 of 24

Chapter 12: The Door

I woke at dawn with his arm over my waist and my cheek on his chest.

For a moment I did not remember where I was.

Then I remembered all of it, and I lay still and listened to him breathe.

He woke quietly.

"You're awake," he said into my hair.

"I'm thinking."

"About what?"

"About a door."

His arm tightened.

I turned on my side to see his face.

The morning light lay across the long pale scar that ran from his wrist to the crook of his left arm.

I touched it with one finger.

"Tell me," I said. "I'm asking."

He was quiet for a while.

"I was in the gallery to watch you dance," he said. "I'd come to the Midsummer lanterns four years, always at the back. That night I was in the front, because I had finally found the nerve to send you flowers after."

I swallowed.

"I never got any flowers."

"I know. They were left on a table in the dressing room, and I think your sister threw them in the fire."

My throat closed.

"When your knees went, I saw you fall," he said. "I saw that you didn't get up. I saw Lady Odette in the wings, not moving, and I knew something was wrong. I did not know what. I ran for the Wardens' physician, who was waiting at the stage door."

"Doran..."

"The Duke's guards were already there. Twelve of them. They said the Duke had ordered the hall closed, and no one was to go in or out."

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