My Bratty Wife
Chapter 198 - Hundred And Ninety Eight

Chapter 198: Chapter Hundred And Ninety Eight

The knock came again, three distinct raps this time. Knock,knock,knock. It echoed slightly in the quiet room.

"Who’s there?" Ryan called out, his voice calm, not moving from his position with Suzy settled comfortably on his lap.

"It’s Davis, your grace," a familiar, respectful voice replied from the hallway.

Suzy’s eyes widened slightly. Instinctively, she tensed and tried to push herself up, intending to get off Ryan’s lap before Davis entered. But Ryan’s arm held her firmly, gently but undeniably keeping her in place. He leaned his head closer to her ear, his breath warm against her skin.

"What are you shy about?" he whispered, a teasing smile in his voice, though his eyes still held that deeper warmth as they met hers. " I’m sure they have heard your screams a million times so what’s there to hide from?"

Suzy shot him a glare, narrowing her eyes in a silent warning. This isn’t appropriate ! her look clearly said.

Ryan simply ignored her pointed stare, his smile widening just a fraction. He raised his voice slightly and called towards the door, "Enter."

The door opened, and Davis stepped inside. He was dressed impeccably as always. He took in the scene – Ryan in the chair, Suzy perched on his lap in her nightgown, her hair still tousled from sleep – with only the slightest pause before his expression settled back into polite neutrality. He gave a small bow. "Good morning, your grace. Good morning, your grace."

Ryan nodded a greeting, his hand moving in slow, soothing circles on Suzy’s lower back as if it were the most natural thing in the world. The gentle, continuous touch sent little sparks through her, making it hard to maintain her glare. "What is it, Davis?" Ryan asked, his tone relaxed.

"Mrs. Madelyn asked me to inform you that she has prepared a special breakfast this morning, your grace," Davis reported dutifully. "And also, I received word that Lord Evan and Lord Byron are on their way here. They should arrive within the hour."

Ryan’s brow furrowed slightly in confusion. He looked from Davis back to Suzy. "They are on their way?" he asked, sounding genuinely puzzled. "Why?"

Then it struck Suzy like a forgotten appointment. The letters! In the worry and intimacy of the past couple of days, she had completely forgotten to mention them. She turned more fully towards Ryan on his lap, feeling a little flustered. "Oh! Ryan, I’m sorry, I forgot to tell you. Byron and Evan sent letters yesterday. They... they intend to see you. To know how you’re really doing after... well, after everything."

But as she spoke, trying to explain, Ryan seemed only half-focused on her words. His gaze was fixed on her face, his expression soft and captivated. His fingers had found a loose strand of her auburn hair near her temple, and he was gently twisting it, then smoothing it back. He pushed another stray curl away from her cheek with a tenderness that made her breath hitch. He looked like he wanted to say something entirely different, something unrelated to his arriving relatives.

Suzy, caught up in her explanation and her own dawning suspicions, unknowingly cut him off before he could speak. "Evan especially seemed concerned," she continued, frowning slightly. "He wants to make sure you are as healthy as everyone says. Which makes me wonder... I don’t know how he knew about what happened so quickly, unless perhaps he was the mastermind behind it all."

A slow smile spread across Ryan’s face, erasing his earlier distraction. He seemed pleased by her sharp thinking. "Exactly what’s running through my mind now," he murmured, his eyes gleaming with appreciation. He shifted slightly, propping his elbow on the armrest of the chair and resting his head against his hand, allowing him to stare directly into her eyes. The look was intense, full of open admiration. "You keep reminding me," he said, his voice soft but clear, "of how incredibly lucky I am."

Davis, meanwhile, stood near the door, looking distinctly uncomfortable. He shifted his weight from one foot to the other, his gaze drifting towards the window, clearly feeling like an intruder on a very private moment. He didn’t know whether he should speak or just disappear.

Suzy felt a blush rise again at Ryan’s intense stare and words, but her practical concerns resurfaced. "But how did Byron find out?" she asked, looking back towards Ryan, though his gaze hadn’t wavered from her face. "I made sure the staff knew not to let word get out into the public."

Ryan considered this for a moment, his fingers still gently stroking her back. "Maybe Mr. Bradford told him? Or perhaps Mrs. Madelyn reached out to him directly, thinking he should know," he suggested calmly. "It doesn’t matter too much how. When he comes, I’ll ask him straight out."

Davis cleared his throat softly then, seizing the small pause in conversation. He directed his question respectfully towards Suzy. "Your Grace, should I call Irene to come and help you get ready for the visitors?"

Before Suzy could even form an answer, Ryan replied smoothly, his voice leaving no room for argument. "That won’t be needed, Davis." He glanced briefly at his aide, then his eyes returned to Suzy, a possessive glint in their depths. "I’ll take care of it myself."

Suzy turned her head sharply to stare at him, her mouth falling open slightly in shock. Did he really just say that in front of Davis? Why is he acting this way?

Davis simply registered the instruction. He gave another polite, efficient bow. "Very good, your grace." Without another word, he turned and quietly let himself out of the room, closing the door softly behind him, leaving Suzy still sitting on Ryan’s lap, stunned by his last remark.

The soft click of the door latch echoed in the sudden quiet. Suzy immediately turned her gaze fully on Ryan, her eyebrows raised, a clear look of annoyance mixed with embarrassment on her face. "Really, Ryan?" she began, her voice tight. "In front of Davis?"

Ryan had the decency to look slightly apologetic, though a playful spark still danced in his eyes. He offered her a small, sheepish smile. "Sorry," he murmured, though he didn’t sound entirely regretful. "Couldn’t resist. You looked so startled."

Suzy just shook her head, deciding not to argue further. With a determined movement, she pushed herself off his lap and stood up, smoothing down the front of her simple nightgown, even though it was wrinkled from sleep and sitting. "Right," she said firmly, turning away from him. "Let me take my bath."

He didn’t try to stop her this time. He just sat back in the chair, watching her with that same warm, appreciative smile playing on his lips. He nodded slowly. "Alright," he agreed softly.

Suzy walked towards the bathing room adjoining the bedroom. Just before she reached the door, she paused. With a soft movement, she slipped the thin straps of her nightgown off her shoulders. The soft silky material slid down her body, pooling in a whisper of fabric around her ankles on the floor. Without looking back at Ryan, she casually used her bare foot to nudge the discarded garment aside.

Ryan watched her every move as if he was hypnotized, his smile fading slightly, replaced by a raw intensity. His hands gripped the wooden armrests of the chair, his knuckles turning white for just a second. He drew in a slow, controlled breath, his gaze fixed on the smooth skin of her back as she stepped through the doorway into the bathing room. He wanted, very badly, to stand up, to follow her, to close the distance between them. But he forced himself to stay put, respecting the boundary she had set, his yearning a palpable thing in the quiet room as he waited for the sound of pouring water.

Some time later, Suzy emerged from the bathing room wrapped in a large, fluffy white towel. Steam still clung softly to her damp skin, and her dark hair was slicked back from her face. She stopped when she saw what Ryan had done while she was bathing. Laid out carefully on the large bed was an outfit: a beautiful dress of rich, emerald green silk that shimmered slightly in the morning light, delicate white gloves folded neatly beside it, and a pair of low-heeled shoes in a matching shade of green.

Ryan had pushed himself out of the chair, despite the obvious care he took with his injured side, and was standing near the bed, watching her reaction. A soft look was on his face, a mixture of anticipation and deep affection. "I thought this color would look stunning on you," he said quietly.

Suzy felt a warmth spread through her that had nothing to do with the bath. He had chosen it for her. She walked towards the bed. As she reached for the undergarments laid out beside the dress, Ryan stepped forward.

"Allow me," he murmured. He picked up the corset, his fingers brushing against hers as he took it. Suzy turned her back to him, letting the towel fall to the floor. He handled the laces carefully, his touch gentle against her skin. Just before he began to tighten the laces, he leaned forward, pressing a soft, warm kiss to the bare skin of her upper back, just below her hairline. Suzy closed her eyes for a moment, savoring the feeling. He worked carefully, pulling the laces snug but not uncomfortable. When he tied the final knot, he pressed another kiss to the same spot, his lips lingering for a second longer this time.

She slipped into the beautiful green dress, the silk cool against her skin. Ryan’s eyes followed her movements, his appreciation clear. When it came time for the shoes, he automatically bent down, reaching for one of the green heels.

"No, Ryan, don’t!" Suzy protested quickly, placing a hand on his shoulder to stop him from bending further. "Your wound. You shouldn’t strain it like that."

He straightened up slowly, a flicker of frustration crossing his face, but he nodded in understanding. "You’re right," he conceded, though he looked disappointed not to be helping her. Suzy sat on the edge of the bed and slipped her feet into the elegant shoes herself, fastening the small buckles.

Next came her hair. Ryan picked up a silver-backed brush from the dressing table. "Sit," he commanded softly, gesturing back to the stool in front of the vanity mirror. Suzy obeyed, and he began to brush her damp hair with long, slow strokes. His touch was careful, untangling the knots gently. He gathered her dark locks back from her face and secured them at the nape of her neck with a simple, matching green ribbon, tying it into a neat bow. His fingers lingered for a moment against her neck before he stepped back.

Then it was her turn. Ryan still wore the clean t-shirt he’d put on earlier, but his formal shirt lay draped over the chair. Suzy picked it up. He stood patiently while she held it for him, guiding his arms into the sleeves, careful of his bandaged waist. She began fastening the buttons up the front, her fingers working methodically. She adjusted his collar, smoothed the fabric over his shoulders, ensuring he looked perfectly put together. Her touch was as careful and focused as his had been.

They had, quite literally, dressed each other. When they were both finally ready – Suzy elegant in her green dress, Ryan looking sharp despite the bandage hidden beneath his shirt and waistcoat – they stood for a moment, regarding each other.

Ryan offered her his arm. "Duchess?" he asked, a small smile playing on his lips.

Suzy took his arm, her hand resting lightly on his forearm. Together, they walked out of the bedroom and headed towards the main staircase, ready to go downstairs for breakfast and await the arrival of his family.