Chapter 4
It seemed like hours had passed by the time Cordelia turned back around. Nicholas’s jaw clenched. This time, he feared what her response would be, and the look on her shocked face did not bode well for him.
To his surprise, she burst into laughter. He blinked a few times, unsure how to reply.
“I say, woman, I have provoked many a reaction from you over the years, but none that have surprised me as much as this one.”
She covered her mouth with a gloved hand, tears streaming down her cheeks. He hoped that these tears were from mirth, rather than the sheer distress he’d seen in her eyes as she’d rushed to leave.
“You are not serious,” she told him once she had gained control of her laughter.
“Yes, you do keep telling me that,” he answered, needing to gain a bit of ground again after that. “But I assure you, I am quite serious.”
Her eyes met his and narrowed. Normally, she avoided eye contact with him if she could, especially when he made her blush, but now she seemed to be studying him.
When she said nothing, he added, “I have had a meeting with Mr. Wolsley.” At that, her brow quirked upward, and her smile dropped. “When David and Helen first had the children, he took me aside and spoke to me of his deep distrust of the children’s grandfather.”
She blinked, listening intently, keeping her gaze on him.
Realizing he was the one who was now unnerved, and not wishing to speak more about David than he had to, he turned away and began to pace in front of the fire instead.
“I already knew of their tense relationship and to what lengths his father would go to get what he wanted. There was never any love lost there.” He paused, staring into the flames, his mind filled with memories.
The screaming matches, the beatings, even in front of Nicholas who would come for school holidays occasionally.
His chest tightened at the thought of his dear friend, whose voice he would never hear again.
Putting a hand on the mantle and grasping a fire poker, he began to stoke the fire, needing to fill the heavy silence with something.
“He told me then that if anything ever happened to him and Helen, then he did not want his father involved in any way. Instead, he preferred me to handle all matters, just as apparently Helen preferred you to have the children.” He nodded at Cordelia who moved away from the door and took a seat in front of him, rapt in attention.
“When the solicitor called upon me, I assumed he was there to ask questions about various matters with David’s estate.
I had always assumed that David meant I should make decisions about things like the children’s education, where they should live, that sort of thing.
” He took a breath and returned to poker to its place.
“I confess I was surprised to learn that I was the one who had inherited David and Helen’s entire fortune, entire estate. ”
Cordelia breathed in sharply. Something about the sound made a little something flutter in his belly.
Foolish man. It has only been ages since the last time you bedded a woman. Now anyone would do. Even this vicious minx. Especially if she goes about using phrases like ‘toying with my food’.
“Say something, please,” Nicholas said to Cordelia. “Twice in one evening, I find you at a loss for words. It is a rare occasion. A record, I think.”
A little look of her usual obstinance appeared on her face at his jibe, but then she sighed.
“You say this so casually, when this money would make all the difference in the world to these children. Have you come to gloat of your new wealth and make jokes about marriage?” She rose, looking furious but also tired.
They had never spoken of their shared grief, but he could tell it weighed on her, no matter how lovely she had attempted to make herself that evening.
“It seems that our friends made some rather strange calculations in their will.”
Nicholas frowned at her until he understood what she meant. He’d been curious at her odd response, but it seemed she did not fully understand.
Such an innocent young lady. She does not even realize.
Smirking, he put his hands behind his back and walked towards her. Her hand darted out to hold the back of the armchair, as if him approaching made her feel unsteady on her feet.
“I see you do not actually understand, Miss Debrett. I believe that our dear friends were attempting to be quite clever. Apparently, they wanted both of us to be involved in their children’s lives, as their godparents, of course, but in these specific ways if they passed before their time.
” He shrugged. “I must say I feel a little insulted that David did not think I could manage on my own. But alas – this is their plan.”
Cordelia pursed her lips in thought as if she was trying to speak but couldn’t quite muster the words. Nicholas’s eyes drew to her mouth briefly but thinking better of it, he returned his gaze to her eyes.
“So, you are saying that they left the money to you and the children to me, just so we would…” she began.
“Get married and help each other raise the children, yes.”
Cordelia’s eyes widened and she let out a breath. Putting her hands on her hips, she turned away to pace closer to the rows of bookshelves. He watched with humor as the feather in her hair truly began to bounce in earnest.
“Why on earth would they think to do such a thing? It feels so devious. So unlike them!”
Nicholas agreed. “However, my old friend was one for tricks, and I so often was able to find out his plans before he could fully trick me. Therefore, I know he found real enjoyment when he was able to surprise me with something.”
Nicholas sat and watched her pace. He could practically see the wheels turning in her mind as her steps increased.
“This is madness. Helen never spoke once to me about thoughts of me marrying you.”
“Nor David to me about you, although I’m afraid to tell you that I’m not all that surprised. Your Helen was a matchmaker through and through.”
Cordelia paused and faced him. “But surely it was only for the sake of the children. She did not really think that you and I—” Her hand motioned between the two of them, and before continuing, her cheeks reddened deeply.
His grin widened, and he lifted a brow, awaiting what delightful thing would cross her lips next. “Never mind.”
He chuckled softly. “Whatever their intentions, we know our friends loved us. We always had a good time when we were all together, did we not?”
Cordelia stopped mid-stride, her back to him. She spoke over her shoulder.
“Yes, I suppose we did.” She didn’t resume her pacing but instead turned around and walked over to him. “I never dreamed Helen could think of such a plan. They like to tease us still, from wherever they are now.” For once, her voice was soft when speaking to him, her eyes full of a distant look.
“Yes, they do. In some ways, it makes it seem as though they are still with us.” He smiled softly, matching her own.
“Nicholas, you cannot be serious about marriage, however. You are a rake of the tallest order, as I am so often wont to remind you!” Her voice rose once more, and she threw up her hands again.
“You who have so many women to tease and flirt with and so little time! I cannot believe that you would be willing to settle down for the twins.”
Her use of his Christian name gave him a surprising jolt of pleasure.
“Again, I am quite serious about this offer. I know my reputation does little to help itself, and it is true I had not thought of marriage for some time, if at all, but I am the children’s godfather, and I want to be a part of their lives.
I want to be the one to help care for them, as their father was so very important to me.
I should say – I have no intention of using the money David has left me for my own purposes, if that is what concerns you. ”
She frowned. “You will not?”
“No.” He shook his head and rose. A little breath of surprise escaped her as she realized how close she’d been standing to him when he rose from the chair. He could smell the faint scent of her perfume again.
Rosebud.
“Everything will belong to the children,” he continued. “If they are to be under your protection, then it does not make sense for us to live apart. And the only way to do that properly and without compromising your reputation, my dear, is to marry.”
Cordelia worried at her bottom lip with her teeth, her eyes staring anywhere but at him and taking a step back.
“You are concerned about something else?” he asked, a light teasing tone in his voice.
He knew what she was thinking of, and he desperately wanted her to be the one to say the words, but he was certain she’d die first. “You obviously need a husband, as you were looking for one this very evening in a gown that is…” he glanced at it again, tilting his head.
She blushed. “You study me as if I am some exotic plant or animal that you do not understand.”
She does not understand how true that is.
He shrugged. “It is only that this gown is not very…you.”
Her eyes widened, and she stamped her foot, making a fresh grin come to his lips.
“How on earth do you know what is ‘me’ and ‘not me’, Your Grace?”
“Ah, so it’s Your Grace again, is it?”
“What are you talking about?”
“Only moments ago, you spoke my Christian name as if it was the simplest thing in the world, as if we were very dear friends – or more.”
He didn’t think he’d ever tire of watching Cordelia blush under the onslaught of his teasing.
“I only mean that in my presence, you often pretend to be the soul of virtue, and your gowns match with high necks and lace covers. But today, you wear a gown that shows just the shape of you. It is rather enlightening.” His eyes flashed as he grinned at her.