Page 75 of Raising the Duke’s Unexpected Twins

At that, Olivia smiled a little, and when Nicholas rose, she reached up for him, and Cordelia couldn’t help but stare in awe at the ease in which Nicholas reached down and picked her up, swinging her into his arms.

“Mrs. Browning.” He turned to the nanny. “I know that you have just begun and that you have come at a rather stressful time. Feel free to take a few days away, if you like, since I know that Cordelia will wish to remain by Tim’s side while he recuperates.”

Mrs. Browning shook her head. “No, thank you, Your Grace. If it would be all right with you both, I’d like to stay and assist if I can, if for nothing else than to allow you to rest.”

He nodded. “You are very welcome to stay, of course. Cordelia?”

“Yes, of course,” she said, still trying to understand Nicholas in all his confusing, beautiful glory. “You are welcome. We would be glad for the help.”

Mrs. Browning got to her feet with a smile. “Then, I will ask cook for beef tea for Tim. Medicine always works better with a little food.” She curtsied and was gone, leaving Nicholas and Cordelia on their own with the children.

Cordelia’s heart was beating fast as she rose, looking up to meet Nicholas’s eyes.

“Thank you,” she said, and on a foolish impulse, she leaned forward and kissed him on the cheek.

He blinked in surprise, but then he took her hand. “You are welcome, love. I am happy you’re letting me do this. I will watch over, young Olivia, won’t I, little one?”

Olivia bounced in his arms. “Biscuits, biscuits!” she said, and Nicholas chuckled.

“Sleep well. Do not forget to eat,” he warned Cordelia.

“You won’t let me,” she said weakly, and he smiled, this time, leaning over her hand to kiss the back of it.

“No, I won’t.”

Their eyes met again for a heated moment, as if he was going to say something else, but then he leaned over to press a hand to Tim’s shoulder instead.

“Rest well, Tim. Soon enough we will be back together outside under the sunshine.”

She watched him leave, shutting the door carefully behind him. She took a breath, and took up Tim’s hand again, her heart full of love for the young children in her care, but her heart full of Nicholas as well.

CHAPTER 25

Nicholas arose to the feeling of someone tapping him on the face.

“Nicholas, Nicholas,” a small voice kept repeating, and Nicholas wondered if he’d woken in a madhouse.

When he blinked his eyes open, he turned to see Olivia, bouncing next to him and tapping him. When he saw her, she smiled.

“You were sleeping.”

“Yes, I was. And so should you be.”

“I want to see Tim.”

Nicholas turned on his side to face her. They were in his room, for she refused to sleep on her own, and instead, the servants brought her small bed to Nicholas’s large room instead. It was where they’d been playing, drawing pictures and eating biscuits until Olivia’s eyes had fluttered closed, and they had both fallen asleep. Now, he’d been awoken with a hand to the face, but he was pleased to see Olivia happy enough and not looking pink with fever.

“Very well. We shall go peek at Tim and then we shall have breakfast. You like breakfast, don’t you?” he asked with a smirk as he rose and stretched.

“Yes!” she cried, hurrying to the door.

He raced after her through the door and grabbed her before she reached the step, squealing as he did. The sound cut right to his heart, and he couldn’t keep the smile from his face as he carried her up the steps toward the nursery. He wasn’t sure if a child’s laughter had ever filled those halls before, and it felt like something brushed just a few shadows from his heart. However, as they neared the nursery, both of them grew a little solemn. It was quiet, and Nicholas swallowed, fearful that Tim might not have recovered in the night.

He knocked softly, and when Cordelia answered, his heart ached at the sight of her. She looked tired and drawn and pale.

“Is he well?” he asked in a low voice.

“Much the same; however, he is not worse,” she said with a fleeting smile. I am hoping by this evening that there will be some change.”