Page 144 of A Devious Secret

Evie eyed her with concern. “We should get you home.”

“I won’t disagree with you,” Gemma said with a shudder.

“You are cold.” Stephen promptly removed his jacket and slipped it over her shoulders. “This should keep you warm enough.”

“Thank you,” Gemma murmured.

Nathaniel approached her with a solemn look on his face. “How are you faring?” he asked. “I only ask because it is all right if you are not okay.”

Gemma pulled the jacket closer to her body. “I am much better now that I know Henry can’t hurt me again.”

“It is a terrible thing to watch people die in front of you,” Nathaniel said.

“It is something that I do not want to make a habit of,” Gemma remarked lightly.

Nathaniel tipped his head before turning his attention towards Evie. “Will you escort Gemma home?” he asked. “I need to see to a few things before I can return home.”

“It will be my pleasure,” Evie said.

Haddington came to stand next to his wife. “It would be best if we departed before we attract any further attention to ourselves.”

Stephen cleared his throat. “I would like to escort Gemma home, assuming it isn’t too much of an imposition,” he said. “I daresay I won’t be able to get much sleep until I know she is back home with her family.”

“I assumed as much,” Evie remarked.

Stephen gave Gemma an encouraging smile. “Let’s get you home.”

Home.

Gemma came to the realization that home wasn’t a place, but rather, a feeling. And when she was around Stephen, she felt at home.

Gemma felt no need to converse in the coach as they traveled back to her family’s townhouse. And she wasn’t alone. No one had spoken since they had left the docks. Everyone seemed to be lost in their own thoughts.

Stephen’s shoulder brushed up against her and Gemma wished that they were alone. She just wanted to be held by him and hear him tell her that everything would be all right. She would believe him, too.

The coach jerked to a stop in front of the townhouse and it dipped to the side as the footman stepped off his perch. Then the door opened and the footman extended his hand to assist her out of the coach.

Once she was on the pavement, she removed her hand from the footman’s and readjusted Stephen’s jacket over her shoulders. She was pleased to see that Stephen had followed her out and had come to stand next to her.

Lord Haddington’s voice came from inside of the coach. “Shall we wait for you?”

Stephen shook his head. “I will see myself home.”

“Very good,” Lord Haddington said. “We will wait here until Lady Hawkinge has stepped inside.”

Stephen offered his arm to her. “May I escort you to the door?”

“Thank you,” Gemma said as she placed her hand onto his proffered arm.

They walked up the few steps towards the main door and Stephen went to open it for her. Fortunately, it was unlocked.

As they stepped inside the entryway, she saw her aunt rushing out from the drawing room with her arms out wide. “You are home!” she exclaimed as she embraced Gemma. “We have been so worried.”

Gemma returned her aunt’s firm embrace. “I am fine.”

Her aunt leaned back and perused the length of her. “You look awful, Child,” she declared. “You require a bath at once.”

“It is much too late for a bath.”