Page 60 of Raising the Duke’s Unexpected Twins

He then said goodbye and left, feeling three gazes on his back as he walked out of the house to call for the carriage, without the papers he had earlier assembled.

CHAPTER 20

Cordelia tried to smile as the children looked out of the carriage windows on their way to her mother’s house. She’d refused the assistance of a maid, knowing she was capable of caring for the children of herself, and now her mother and sisters could help.

But the ache in her heart was weighing her down, and she hoped it didn’t show on her face.

“Come, let’s play a game,” she said, drawing their gazes and pulling a coin from her bag and hiding it in one hand. She held out her fists to each of them, and with widened eyes and a theatrical voice, she said, “Can you find where the coin is?”

Delighted, Olivia and Tim touched a hand, and when Cordelia revealed it was empty, they hurriedly touched the other. Shrieking with delight when they found the coin, Olivia yelled, “Again, again!”

Chuckling to herself, Cordelia put her hands behind her back and hid the coin again. She entertained them all the way to her mother’s, glad for the reprieve from thoughts of Nicholas.

It is a waste to think of him when he is so horribly stubborn. And he thinks that I have made him a romantic hero? As if I have ever asked him for romance or expected it! It was I who wished for the white marriage. But he seems to think that I am throwing myself at him! I was merely trying to thank him!

She had a feeling it was more, but it didn’t help to put words to it. That only gave it power, and she had to discover the truth of what it was first. Her thoughts could have gone on in the same angry fashion, but they’d arrived at her family’s home, and when the footman opened the door, he helped the children out. Cordelia hurried after them as they’d already tried to crawl up the stairs themselves.

“Be careful!” she cried, letting them practice as she hovered.

“Help me, please, Cordelia,” Olivia said, reaching for her hand and smiling up at her.

Cordelia swallowed and hurriedly grabbed Olivia’s hand. “But of course! Would you like help, Tim?”

He nodded, reaching for her hand too, and then together, they rose on the steps, Cordelia’s heart nearly bursting.

“You will have fun here, I think. Lots of games, and we will come here often too.”

“Promise?” Olivia asked, and Cordelia laughed.

“I promise.”

The door opened, and her mother and sisters were there to greet them, crying out with delight and cooing over the children.

“Good afternoon, Cord! And how are these little sweet things doing?” Danae cried, rushing to pick Olivia up.

Emma followed behind, a little more hesitantly, but she scooped Tim up into her arms, and they led the way into the house.

“Come, my dear, there is plentiful tea in the sitting room.” Her mother gripped her hand and smiled. “We were not expecting you, but you’ve come at just the right time.”

“I am sorry to intrude, but I had to get out of the house for a little while.”

Her mother frowned but said nothing more. Cordelia allowed herself to be led inside, and she handed her bonnet to a footman she’d not seen before.

In fact, the foyer had undergone a number of changes, and she could hear the sound of work going on somewhere else in the house.

“What is all this?” she asked in wonder.

Fiona beamed. “You will see all around you the generosity of your dear husband.”

“Dear husband? Nicholas did this?”

“Why yes!”

“But I thought he paid the debts and that was all.”

“Oh no,” her mother laughed. “Your dear husband provides an allowance, and he has agreed to fund all refurnishing and renovation himself. Now that all the debts are paid, what little money had left from your father is now being invested by once again⁠—”

“My dear husband,” Cordelia said in awe, watching as the walls by the staircase were being repainted a lovely dark blue. “I don’t know what to say.”