Page 19 of Yours Truly, the Duke
With a curious frown she asked, “Are you going to be my papa?”
Good Lord.
“No,” he responded, after almost swallowing his tongue. “That wouldn’t be proper. Your aunt insists that everything be proper.”
“She sure does. Elise told me when Mama was married, her husband was my papa.”
“Well, yes,” he offered, trying to understand her young thought process. “But that was because she was your mama. The duchess is your aunt.”
Her expression turned thoughtful for a split second before she beamed. “So, you’ll be my uncle?”
Wyatt an uncle? Perhaps he should get used to being a husband before he took on the challenge of being an uncle as well, but he didn’t want to disappoint the little girl’s excitement. “Yes, I suppose it does,” he told the bright-eyed lass.
The new duchess appeared calm and more confident than during the ceremony as she came up beside Bella. Elise was clinging to her aunt by holding on to her waist. Smiling down at Bella, his wife handed her the wedding bouquet.
“As promised, here it is to do with as you wish.”
Bella’s eyes glowed with awe as she took the blooms and looked from the flowers to her aunt. “I’m going to press them in your favorite book of poetry. That wayyou’ll always have them to remember this day when you read from it.”
“That would be lovely, Bella. Talk with Miss Litchfield. I’m sure she will know exactly how you should treat them. She’s waiting for you with Charles. You too, Elise,” the duchess added, trying to disentangle herself from her older niece.
“I don’t want to go,” Elise whined, and held on tighter as she gave Wyatt a less than favorable sideways glance. “I want to stay with you, Auntie.”
“We had this discussion the other night, remember? I explained to you that I had to marry, but we’re going to stay right here at Paddleton. All of us as a family. Just like I promised.”
The duchess looked over to Wyatt, as if hoping he could help her in some way.
He remained silent for a moment while he digested what was going on. Fredericka was trying to be compassionate but firm in wanting Elise to obey her.
“Your aunt is right,” he offered with a sincere smile, and then did the only thing he knew to do. He reached down and ruffled the top of her head. She shrank back and pierced him with a sharp look from her distrustful blue eyes while she reached up and smoothed down her mussed hair.
Obviously, she needed more reaffirming than a pat on the head.
Wyatt bent toward her and softly said, “I’m not going to take your aunt away from you. You can go with the others. She’ll be here when you get back.”
Her expression didn’t change, but she asked, “You promise?”
He nodded. “I do.”
The pout remained on her face, but she let go and reluctantly stepped away.
“All right then, good,” his wife said with a sigh of relief and a quick hug to Elise. “I’ll see you later in the day. Now off you go to join Miss Litchfield.”
Bella looked up at Wyatt with her infectious little-girl smile and said, “Good-bye, Uncle Your Grace.” She turned and skipped away, squeezing the mosaic of flowers tightly to her chest. Elise, on the other hand, glanced back several times to scrutinize Wyatt before she disappeared into the corridor with the governess.
Wyatt chuckled, and so did Fredericka. It was the first time he’d heard her actually laugh. He enjoyed hearing the soft sound and liked the way it relaxed her lovely face.
“Thank you for reassuring her. It obviously helped.”
“I know from boarding school that it takes some children longer than others to adjust to changes in their lives. I’m sure she’ll be all right in time.”
“I keep hoping. It’s been over a year since her parents died and not much has changed in her fear of being left alone.”
An unusual feeling stole over him and settled in his chest. He wasn’t sure what it was but felt as if he needed to comfort her in some way. In order to do that, they needed to be alone. “Could we step outside for a few moments before I go?”
“Go?” she asked, a whisper of surprise in her tone as her eyes searched his for answers.
“I have business to attend and must leave within the hour.” Members of the Brass Deck Club had a lot of money wagered on the tournament that started tonight. Money the hospital he’d built needed.
