Page 10 of A Devious Secret

Nathaniel leaned in and pressed his lips against Dinah’s. “I will be home for dinner,” he said as he leaned back.

“I will be looking forward to it,” Dinah responded.

Her aunt spoke up. “Dear heavens, you two must learn to behave when we have company,” she chided lightly.

“Gemma isn’t company. She is family,” Nathaniel pointed out. “Besides, I always am looking for a reason to kiss my wife.”

“I think it is admirable,” Gemma said. “Baldwin used to do the same thing.”

Nathaniel gave her a sad smile. “I do miss Baldwin.”

“As do I,” Gemma murmured.

Her aunt picked up her teacup and took a sip. Then she said, “You may go, Nathaniel. We have much to discuss with Gemma.”

Nathaniel chuckled. “I shall be on my way, but not before I steal another kiss from my wife.”

“You can’t steal what is freely given, my love,” Dinah said.

Gemma went to sit down and reached for her teacup. She was happy for her cousin, but it hurt to see a couple that was so in love. It made her yearn for what she once had.

Once Nathaniel departed from the room, Dinah sat down next to Lady Montfort and said, “I do hope our displays of affection do not upset you.”

“Not at all,” Gemma lied.

“I wanted to thank you for your most thoughtful gift for our wedding,” Dinah said. “You are a very talented painter.”

“I will admit that painting helped me through some of the darker days that I had after Baldwin died.”

Her aunt’s eyes held compassion. “You have had a rough go of it, but you will make it through this most difficult time.”

Gemma wanted to believe her aunt, but she didn’t think she would ever be happy again. Her heart was shattered and there were too many pieces to pick up.

Dinah picked up a biscuit off the tray and took a bite. “I understand that you enjoy riding.”

Gemma perked up. “I do, and I brought my horse with me.”

“Wonderful,” Dinah said. “We shall have to go riding together.”

“I will be looking forward to it.”

Aunt Edith perused the length of her. “I hope you do not mind but the dressmaker will be arriving shortly to measure you for some new gowns.”

Gemma winced as she was forced to admit, “I’m afraid I do not have the funds to pay for additional gowns.”

“I said nothing about you paying for them,” her aunt said. “This is my gift to you.”

With a shake of her head, she responded, “That is much too generous.”

“Nonsense,” her aunt asserted. “It is the least I could do for you, considering your father is a dunderhead.”

A giggle escaped her lips, which was something that had not happened in a long time. “My fatherisa dunderhead,” she agreed.

Her aunt nodded in approval. “I had hoped that he would have come around, but he is still the same hardheaded man that I knew growing up.” She shifted her gaze to Dinah. “I am not sure if Nathaniel told you, but Lord Winsley is my brother.”

“He did, but I have not had the pleasure of meeting him,” Dinah said.

“There is no pleasure, especially if he is with his wife,” her aunt responded. “That woman got her claws into him and has refused to release her hold on him.”