Page 57 of Raising the Duke’s Unexpected Twins

Cordelia was taken aback and then suddenly embarrassed that somehow, she’d expected him to come to bed with her. She wanted to shake herself.

It is only an arrangement. Even if there are kisses and other actions between us, it is only that. It is all for the children. There is nothing more between us than that.

Somehow, she managed to put a smile on her face. “Of course, Nicholas. I understand.”

And without another word, she took to the stairs, feeling his gaze on her back, but she did not turn around. Once upstairs, she went to see the children, hopeful that a glance at their sleeping, calm faces would set her to rights and would put her back into focus.

Inside the room, the embers in the hearth remained, and a maid was sleeping in a far corner. She smiled at a sleeping Tim, who had a thumb in his mouth, and when she turned to Olivia’s bed, she saw her looking up at her calmly.

“Oh, dear Olivia, what are you doing awake?” Cordelia asked with a smile, coming to her side and kneeling by her bed.

Olivia now no longer burst into tears at every moment and had even started to reach for Cordelia’s hand from time to time.

“You were gone,” Olivia said, and Cordelia nodded.

“Yes, your godfather and I were at a ball. But I would’ve much rather been here with you.” She tapped Olivia on the nose, making the young girl smile. “What did you do?”

“Lots of games! Tim lost and cried.”

“Oh dear.” Cordelia clucked her tongue, tucking Olivia in more firmly. “Well, he shall have to learn to be a good loser, won’t he?” Olivia nodded. “And what did you eat?”

“Jellies and ham and cake!” Olivia said, and Cordelia put a finger to her lips.

“Sounds delightful, but we mustn’t wake Tim. I wish I could have eaten such a feast.”

She leaned down and pressed a kiss to Olivia’s cheek, so unbelievably grateful that they were no longer with their grandfather but here with her, safe and happy.

“Will Grandfather be coming to take us?”

A shiver ran through Cordelia. “Why do you ask that, Olivia? Do you miss him?”

Oliva frowned and shook her head. “No. He yells.”

Cordelia was relieved. “No, he will not come. This is your home now. It shall be a happy one, I hope.” She smiled, wondering if hope would be enough to carry them all through.

“Good night, my dear,” she said with another kiss to Olivia’s cheek, and this time, Olivia kissed her back.

Cordelia nearly burst into shrieks of delight or into tears, but instead she stood and waved. “Good night,” she whispered, hurrying from the room before she allowed herself to cry in front of the children. And she wasn’t sure why the tears were coming exactly. Was it that she was relieved Olivia was no longer afraid of her? Or was it that she was afraid she felt more for Nicholas than was wise, and he certainly did not feel the same way?

CHAPTER 19

Cordelia woke to sunlight streaming in through her window, and she was glad that Anna had not woken her, for she felt deliciously rested. Smiling to herself, she thought about the evening before, and even if she was embarrassed, a blush covering her cheeks even then, she was somehow happy.

She had allowed herself a moment to relax, letting pleasure in, and had taken Nicholas boldly into her mouth as well, bringing him to heel at last. It had been exhilarating and refreshing at the same time. She hardly recognized herself anymore. And even if he had fled her once they’d returned home, he seemed to rather enjoy her company. She thought of his behavior at the ball and with her family, when he’d pulled her close after rescuing her from the handsy Lord Dempshaw.

He is almost likeable…but he can’t seem to think anything more of himself than being a charming, handsome, devilish man.

It was infuriating, but Cordelia would somehow figure out why he resisted it. The evening before had already been full, but then Olivia had spoken to her in the night, and Cordelia now woke with some semblance of hope, however feeble, that things were going to work out. She turned over in bed with a smile still on her face, her hands under her cheek when she stopped, her eyes widening.

“Father’s watch,” she whispered, slowly sitting up in bed and rubbing at her eyes to make sure she was not still in some sort of dream. “I cannot…” She paused, staring down at the beautiful, beloved watch she had seen so many times as a child, a watch that had stayed on her mother’s bedside every day since her father’s death.

It was no dream. It was there. She wondered very briefly how it had appeared there and then she knew.

Nicholas.

“But how?” she asked herself, hurrying out of bed and pulling the bell for Anna.

This was a mystery she had to unpickle, and excitedly, she picked up the watch and brought it to her chest, tears filling her eyes. It was back, and she could return it to her mother, and things could be as they once were. They would have one last piece of their father. Anna arrived, and Cordelia refused tea, but only wished to be dressed and to go to Nicholas at once.