Page 85 of A Family Bargain with the Duke

Dinner that evening carried a warmth Louisa had nearly forgotten a house could hold, Kit signing his way through an animated account of Rosalind’s opinions on her newly repaired stall, Eleanor babbling happily in her chair between them, banging a small wooden spoon against her tray with evident satisfaction at the noise it produced.

“He says,” Louisa translated, laughing, “that Rosalind considers the new stall door entirely inferior to the old one, and has made her displeasure known by refusing to enter it for the better part of two days, and that Mason has taken to calling her ‘the Duchess’ behind her back, on account of her particular standards.”

“I am not certain whether to be flattered or insulted on Rosalind’s behalf.” Julian snorted.

“Flattered, I should think. She has excellent taste, by every account.”

“A remarkably peculiar horse.” Julian did a poor job of hiding his grin.

Kit’s hands moved again, quick and pointed, and Julian answered before Louisa could translate, his own signs slower but entirely correct.

“Oh my, she is not peculiar. Her taste is beyond reproach Julian said with a flourish.

Kit’s whole face broke into delighted surprise, and he signed back rapidly, too fast for Julian to follow, glancing toward Louisa for help.

“He says you are improving remarkably, and that Rosalind would likely approve of you now, provided you continue bringing her the good apples rather than the bruised ones from the bottom of the barrel, which Mason has been doing for years and ought to be ashamed of.”

“I shall make a note of it and speak to Mason soon. A horse’s dignity is not to be trifled with.”

Eleanor banged her spoon again and babbled, as though adding her own opinion to the matter, and the whole table dissolved into laughter, Kit’s shoulders shaking with silent mirth.

“She agrees with you, I think,” Louisa said, wiping her eyes.

“She agrees with everything, provided it is loud enough to accompany her spoon.”

“A woman of simple but firm convictions.”

“I’m beginning to suspect that she takes after you in that regard.”

Louisa caught Julian staring at her, the warmth and love in his expression making her breath catch, however many times she had seen him look at her exactly that way.

“Careful, Your Grace. I might start thinking that you are flirting with your wife at the supper table, in front of the children.”

“I have been flirting with my wife at the supper table for longer than either of us has properly acknowledged, Louisa. I merely used to disguise it as conversation about drainage.”

Kit’s hands moved again, curious now, and Louisa found herself flushing as she translated.

“He wants to know what we are discussing so quietly.”

“Tell him,” Julian said, “that his guardian is besotted with his wife, and that he ought to grow accustomed to the sight of it.”

Louisa signed it, and Kit rolled his eyes with theatrical disgust before returning his attention to his plate with a small, satisfied smile.

She found Julian in his study later that evening, the children long since settled for the night, the fire burning low in the grate.

“I thought I might find you here.”

“I was waiting for you, rather than merely sitting here by accident.” Julian rose from behind his desk and crossed to the small cabinet beside it, pulling open a drawer she had not noticed before.

“I have something I have been meaning to show you.”

He withdrew a single folded page, worn soft at its edges as though it had been unfolded and refolded a great many times. Then he handed it to her without a word.

Louisa unfolded it and found Kit’s drawing of the four of them together, herself with Eleanor cradled in her arms, Kit close at her side, and Julian beside them all, exactly as it had looked the morning she’d first found it propped against his inkstand.

“This is Kit’s drawing. You kept it.”

“I could not bring myself to put it away, not once I understood what it meant.” Julian’s voice had gone quiet, almost reverent. “I looked at it a hundred times these past months, Louisa, and told myself it was merely a child’s sentiment, nothing more. In truth, I think Kit saw the whole of it before either of us were brave enough to.”