Claire awoke at the light touch of her husband’s fingertips, a small groan coming from her at the feel of how stiff her back was. It’d been a long night for the duke’s daughter. Even after she arrived back at the estate and had changed into her white nightgown she couldn’t sleep. She sat in that lonely, dark guest bedroom curled up, listening to the sound of a grandfather clock ticking away down the hallway. She would cry, think on how she was going to accomplish her given tasks, then cry some more.

Eventually the young woman found herself wearily walking down to Nick’s bedroom, feet dragging. Only then, with her body stretched from the chair to the bed and her hand around his, did she finally find rest. With another noise of displeasure at being woken she sat up a few inches, taking a few moments to become alert enough to remember why she was in such an uncomfortable position.

“Oh!” That small word was filled with all the relief and happiness she felt at seeing him awake again. Claire stood, stretching with a small yawn. “Thank God you’re awake. I wasn’t sure…well, you’re conscious now, that’s all that matters,” she smiled, reaching up to make sure her the ribbon in her hair was still in place after sleeping. Her white nightgown came down just below her knees and had elbow length sleeves. Even if she’d wanted to sleep somewhere else the staff had brought all her clothes to this room. 

After the harsh words and instruction she’d been given by those she’d trusted, after the comment made to her at the ceremony, not to mention all that had been said before she even met Nick…it was good to see those gorgeous eyes open again. It felt like her entire world was crashing down, making things that were tolerable before feel like the last straw now. At this point she needed an anchor before she drown in a sea of self-loathing, doubt, and uncertainty of the future. Hopefully Nick could at [i]least[/i] be that for her. Besides, focusing on him rather than her fears didn’t seem like a bad idea.

“How are you feeling this morning? It’s the seventeenth, the day after our wedding so you weren’t out [i]that[/i] long,” Claire assured him, pouring a glass of water from the pitcher beside the covered silver tray of food. “If you want more medication you can let me know. Are you hungry?” she asked sleepily, moving to sit beside him on the bed until she realized what she was doing, jumping back up. What if moving the mattress caused more pain? “I sent everyone else away this morning. I told them I would take care of you, which I will. I know this is the very last place you want to be, so I want to do what I can to get you back out there doing…what you do,” she said slowly, remembering she didn’t know exactly what Nick did with his time.

Claire put the back of her hand to his forehead, smiling weakly. “You don’t seem to have a fever, that’s good news. Oh, Timothy dropped this off earlier this morning,” she continued, pointing to the book . “I didn’t realize you like to read. I can read it to you if you want, I’m quite good at narrating aloud, I think,” she smirked, sitting back down with a deep sigh.

“I’m sorry. I talk a lot when I’m nervous. Fear not, I’ve invited someone over for tea this afternoon so you won’t have to deal with me all day.” The wife of someone who should be able to get her foot in the door when it came to getting information on the prisoner. Her hope was to schedule a dinner that would turn into information on where [i]exactly[/i] her partner in a way turned victim was. “But if you’re stuck here, I want to try and make it as painless as possible, and I’m not talking about the wound,” Claire said, reaching out to affectionately put a hand on his head, burying the tips of her fingers into his hair. “I know we got off to a rocky start. How can I make you happier right now?” The young woman bent to kiss those perfect brown locks, keeping the contact for a few moments longer than necessary. 

She wasn’t saying all this because of his apology the day before. In fact, she honestly didn’t believe a word he had said, and wouldn’t believe anything he told her in the future…but Claire had made a decision after her hysterical crying the night before. No matter what was said or what happened, Nick hadn’t actually [i]done[/i] anything to her, and she needed somebody close, trustworthy or not. Maybe he just needed to be shown a little kindness instead of her assuming he should give it first. Being married to his work wasn’t a crime, especially when it was no helping to support her. Plus his lips…to taste them again wouldn’t be so bad. Nobody else had ever kissed her like that before. So she smiled, bending to make eye contact. "Tell me. I know this isn't the Paris you were looking forward to."