Page 72 of To Have & To Hold

Emilia jumped as a hand settled gently upon her arm. She had not even noticed that Charlotte had turned back.

“Are you quite all right?” the girl asked, concern etched into her features. “You look as though you have seen a ghost.”

For a moment, Emilia wondered if perhaps she had.

She forced herself to smile. “I am quite well,” she said, casting one final glance toward the alley. There was no one there. She slipped her arm through Charlotte’s and felt the warmth slowly begin to return.

“Come,” she said, forcing enthusiasm into her voice. “Let us satisfy your sweet tooth.”

Charlotte squeezed her arm and leaned in close to her side. “That is a feat that will likely never be accomplished, Your Grace,” she said with a wicked grin. “But we can certainly try.”

Charlotte pushed open the door of the crowded sweet shop, and Emilia immediately recognized the sound of Nathaniel’s deep laughter floating through the air.

He stood near the back of the shop, leaning against the counter, conversing with a man Emilia recognized from one of the farms they had visited the day before. Nathaniel’s eyes brightened as he spotted them, and Charlotte pushed her way through the room to his side.

“I told you she would eventually find her way here,” Nathaniel said to Mr. Bell, nodding towards his sister. He had obviously been waiting for their arrival.

“You make me sound so predictable,” Charlotte scoffed.

Nathaniel placed an arm around her shoulders with another laugh. “You are anything but predictable.”

Charlotte beamed up at her brother, and Emilia’s heart pressed painfully against her ribs at the affectionbetween them.

“Your Grace.” Mr. Bell gave a slight bow, smiling at Emilia. “It is lovely to see you again.”

“You as well, Mr. Bell.” Emilia offered her hand in greeting, and the man grasped it firmly in his large, calloused one.

“I hope Maria discovered the cookies in the basket we left yesterday.”

The man’s face glowed at the mention of his young daughter. He nodded eagerly. “My wife had to hide them, or she would have eaten every one before dinner. I cannot thank you enough for your generosity, Your Grace.”

“It was a pleasure,” Emilia said sincerely. “I would be happy to bring more.”

“I am sure your cook has better things to do than make my little girl cookies.”

“If she does, then I shall make them myself,” she said adamantly.

Mr. Bell laughed. They conversed for a few more moments, but Emilia could feel Nathaniel’s gaze upon her the entire time. After the man walked away, Emilia turned to her husband, and her stomach swooped at the warmth she found in his eyes.

“You are quite popular,” he said teasingly, stepping closer to her side as they followed Charlotte outside, where she had settled at a small patio table to enjoy her sweet treat.

“Not nearly as popular as you,” Emilia responded, a twinkle in her own eye. “Everyone adores you.”

Nathaniel shifted uncomfortably, dismissing her compliments with a nervous laugh. “They appreciate a duke who takes an interest.”

Emilia stopped suddenly and Nathaniel looked back with a questioning glance.

“You are more than your title, Nathaniel.”

His expression softened, though she could still see the doubt that clouded his eyes.

“You are a good man, with a caring heart and a passion to care for people beyond what most would consider sufficient.” She took a step closer to him, lowering her voice so only he could hear.

“It is not the Duke of Kenswick people adore. It is you. Your friendship, your humor, your generosity, your sense of honor, your laugh, and your smile. Do not ever diminish that.”

Nathaniel’s throat constricted as he swallowed, and though he said nothing, Emilia felt as though she could hear his heart clearly.

“If you could see yourself through my eyes, you would never question your worth again,” Emilia echoed his words to her from the evening of the Langley ball.