Page 73 of To Steal a Kiss

She felt something unwind inside her as she realised it was the perfect arrangement. Lucia would be the antidote she needed to the loneliness of leaving her brother, and the perfect companion for when she was feeling bitchy and less than charitable with the world, especially the male portion of it.

“In fact… how do you feel about coming to live with me?”

Chapter 21

At last, a stroke of good fortune. Thank the heavens for Matilda Hunt. She has saved us. I am blessed at least in having such a friend even if curses fall at my feet like raindrops. Lord, I am so tired of putting on this face, of pretending to be something I am not.

Yet … I do not know what I truly am, nor who.

I suppose I never shall.

―Excerpt of an entry from Senorita Lucia de Feria, to her diary.

29th June 1814. Baker Street, London.

“Ready?”

Nate looked down at his wife and covered the hand that was clutching at his sleeve with his own.

“You’re creasing a very fine piece of tailoring, love,” he said, smiling at her to settle her nerves.

“What? Oh,” she said, crestfallen as she stared at where her fingers grasped at his arm. “I do beg your pardon.”

He saw the effort she took to unfurl her fingers and stopped her.

“Clutch away,” he said, leaning down to kiss her, though they were in full view of the street. “I’m here. I won’t leave you. You’re not alone. You never will be again.”

She gave a sigh, and he saw some of the tension leave her shoulders.

“You always know just the right thing to say,” she said, leaning into him.

“Are you sure you want to do this, Alice? I can just as easily go in by myself—”

“No!” she exclaimed, shaking her head with vigour. “No, indeed. I’m not such a feeble creature that I would allow you to face my parents alone. I… I’m just n-not looking forward to it, that’s all.”

“Shall we wait a bit then? Come back later,” he offered, even though he knew she’d not put it off. Alice was far braver than she gave herself credit for.

As predicted, she shook her head, russet curls dancing.

“No. Certainly not. We’re here now, so… let’s get it over with.”

Taking a deep breath, she shot him a rather fraught smile, which made his chest ache with pride, and they walked the final distance to her parents’ front door and climbed the steps. Nate had to admit to feeling a little anxious himself. He’d been cast as the villain of the piece before now, rightly or wrongly, but he’d never ruined anyone, or married them, which in Alice’s case might amount to the same thing in some people’s eyes—her parents’, for example. Still, he couldn’t bring himself to regret it. Certainly not on his behalf, at least. He was a selfish bastard, that’s all there was to it. She was his now, and he was never letting her go.

As they were shown into an elegant and richly furnished entrance hall, it was clear enough that the servants had gathered what was going on. The butler was thin lipped with disapproval, and a footman and two female servants just had to cross the hall at that moment, wide-eyed with interest.

“You dare come here?”

Nate gripped Alice’s hand as her father appeared in the hall from one of the front rooms. He was not a tall man, but he was broad, with a double chin, thick neck, thicker waistline… and currently a face like thunder. How lovely, delicate Alice could have come from this glowering, red-faced fellow, Nate could not fathom.

“Mr Dowding,” Nate said, reminding himself that he had stolen the fellow’s daughter, and he had every right to want to string him up by his privates. He’d do his best to keep things civil, for Alice’s sake. “I understand that you must be upset—”

“Upset!” the fellow roared, his chin quivering with indignation. “Upset does not quite cover it, sir, and now… now you have the temerity to come here and—”

“I love him, Papa,” Alice said, letting go of Nate’s hand and stepping between them. “And I despise Mr Bindley. I tried to tell you how awful he was, but you wouldn’t listen. So, I made my own choice. I’m sorry if you don’t like it, but it is done now. Nate is the man I chose. He is a good man, a kind one. He’s also exceedingly rich,” she added, a comment which Nate was aware she made only to soothe her father. “He owns Hunter’s, you know.”

“Of course I know!” he retorted, getting redder in the face with every moment. “The young jackanapes has denied me membership these past two years.”

“Well,” Nate said, smiling a little. “I could hardly deny my father-in-law membership, now, could I?”