Chapter Twenty-Seven
The soft golden rays of morning sunlight danced across Nathaniel’s eyelids as he slowly blinked awake.
The night before still seemed like a dreamy haze, too impossible to have been real.
In a single moment, he had felt his life come crashing down around him, yet, somehow he was here now—his heart fuller than it had ever been, his burdens lighter despite the weight of the secrets Emilia had entrusted him with, staring at the woman who rivaled the sunrise streaming through the windows.
Nathaniel gently shifted Emilia in his arms, pulling her closer to his chest. The morning light danced across her red curls, and he pressed a kiss against her hair. Emilia laughed softly, and her arms wrapped tightly around his where they were draped over her waist.
“Good morning,” he whispered against her ear. Emilia turned in his arms until she could look up at him, her eyes still half closed and a sleepy smile on her face.
“Good morning, Your Grace.”
Nathaniel laughed, his heart nearly bursting out of his chest. “I am afraid I must insist that you only call me Your Grace from now on.”
Emilia’s eyes brightened, “Oh, is that so?” She shifted until she was looking directly into his eyes, amusement dancing across her face. “What about my dear?”
Nathaniel furrowed his brow in mock consideration, “I suppose that is acceptable as well.”
Emilia hummed in agreement, “And my love?”
Nathaniel’s breath stuttered. He leaned in close, brushing a soft kiss against her nose. “Always, my love.”
Emilia smiled again, and tipped her head up to meet his lips.
Out of every kiss they had shared, Nathaniel found that each one that came next was his favorite, but he could not imagine any that would rival this moment—the soft morning light silhouetting her face, and the sleepy sparkle in her eyes.
Though he had the rest of his life to memorize the feel of her kiss, he suspected he would never tire of the privilege.
Emilia settled against his chest, intertwining her fingers with his. Nathaniel closed his eyes, sighing contently.
“If I did nothing for my entire life but hold you in my arms, I would be the most accomplished man on earth.”
Emilia tilted her head up to look at him, the joy in her smile was unmistakable.
“Would the title of duke not be considered your greatest accomplishment?”
Nathaniel brushed his thumb gently across her cheek. “Of all the blessings the Lord has entrusted me with, there is none that I treasure more than you.”
Emilia’s eyes softened as they freely roamed his face. Slowly, her lips changed from the warm, content smile to a slightly mischievous grin. “Has anyone ever told you how beautiful you are?” She asked, propping herself on her elbow.
Nathaniel laughed outright, the ease of it familiar and no longer foreign. “No, I do not believe they have,” he said, rolling on his side to match her posture.
She hummed thoughtfully, “Well, that is a terrible shame.” She lightly brushed her fingers over his forehead, rearranging the curls that fell over his temple. “It is an injustice that must be remedied immediately.”
Nathaniel held his breath. Her words perfectly echoed his own from that morning in the boat. So much had changed since that moment—the things his heart had scarcely even dared to hope for were now not only within reach, but fully embraced in his arms.
“Your eyes are like the surface of a glassy sea,” her thumb traced the faint lines beneath them. “They change with the slightest shift in the atmosphere, and as hard as you try to keep your feelings hidden, I can always see the storms brewing in your mind.”
She traced the line of his jaw as her hand moved down to rest on his shoulder.
“Your strength is admirable, not only physically, but the strength of your character.” Her hand moved to rest over his heart.
The pounding in Nathaniel’s chest intensified as the heat from her skin seeped through his nightshirt.
“For of all the breathtakingly beautiful things about you, none compare to your heart.”
Nathaniel’s throat tightened, as Emilia looked at him as though she could not quite believe he was real.
“You are patient. You are gentle. You are brave, and endlessly selfless.” She smiled softly. “If holding me in your arms is the greatest accomplishment of your life, then cherishing your heart will be mine.”
Nathaniel’s eyes burned with tears and his throat tightened. He could do nothing but look at her. No words he would have spoken would have been able to convey the love he held for her.
Slowly, he leaned down and kissed her again. His eyes closed as he tried to memorize everything about this moment—the feel of her lips on his, how she smelled of roses even in the morning, and the feeling of loving someone so completely and being loved in return.
A sharp knock sounded at the chamber door, and Nathaniel sighed without breaking their kiss. Perhaps if he ignored it, whoever was on the other side would go away.
There was another knock against the door, and this time it was louder.
Nathaniel rested his head against Emilia’s with a groan. “I am going to dismiss every member of our staff.”
Emilia laughed. “You know you can not do that.” She gave him a teasing grin. “Who will fetch your tea?”
“I shall fetch my own tea.” He leaned again. “It will be a small sacrifice to make to remove these continual interruptions.”
Another knock.
Nathaniel closed his eyes with a groan.
“Go away, Briggs!” He shouted at the closed door, and Emilia’s eyes widened in horror.
“My apologies, Your Grace,” The butler’s calm voice was muffled through the heavy oak door, completely unfazed by the duke’s outburst. “Lieutenant Talbot is refusing the tray that was sent to his chambers. He is insisting upon taking breakfast in the morning room.”
Nathaniel let his head fall back against his pillow in defeat. The temptation to lock himself in his chambers all morning with his wife was strong. But no matter how perfect and peaceful this moment with Emilia was, it would never last if they did not face the storm brewing just outside the door.
“You may release him,” Nathaniel groaned. “I will be down shortly.”
“Very good, Your Grace,” Briggs called before his footsteps retreated down the hall.
Emilia watched Nathaniel, her eyes full of concern. “I am so sorry, Nathaniel.”
Nathaniel pinched Emilia’s chin between his thumb and forefinger, exhaling a sigh. He knew it would be futile to tell her not apologize, so he simply looked into her eyes, soothing her fears with a smile.
“Let us ready for breakfast,” he brushed his lips against hers. “I believe it is past time I properly met my brother-in-law.”
∞∞∞
Lieutenant Talbot was the picture of relaxation as he lounged at the duke’s breakfast table. He leaned against his elbows, his beaming smile far too close to Charlotte’s as he relayed what sounded like an absurdly dramatic story from his time in the royal navy.
Nathaniel’s stomach soured the moment he entered the room and saw the pair. Charlotte was completely enraptured by the man, and her eyes sparkled as she hung on his every word.
Hopefully the lieutenant knew how lucky he was to be so dearly loved by Emilia, because that was the only thing keeping Nathaniel from dragging him out of Rosemore Hall by his wrinkled collar.
“I see you have finally decided to make an appearance,” Charlotte chirped once she pulled her eyes from Alexander and noticed Nathaniel and Emilia in the doorway.
Alexander’s expression immediately sobered as he assessed them both warily. Nathaniel offered his own icy stare in return.
He understood the man’s inclination to distrust people, but that did not mean he was willing to overlook the events of last night without a little effort on Alexander’s part.
“Charlotte,” Nathaniel turned to his sister, maintaining the intensity of his gaze. “Were you not instructed to take breakfast in your room this morning?”
“I was,” Charlotte replied as she took a dainty sip of tea. “I simply chose not to.”
Nathaniel’s whole body tensed. Emilia tightened her grip on his arm to steady him.
“Charlotte,” Emilia’s voice was calm. “Would you please give us a moment?”
Charlotte’s eyes widened in horror. “You wish me to leave?” She exclaimed. “After I have only just discovered that you have a brother, who attempted to break down our door in the dead of night? This is most tragically romantic thing that has ever graced the halls of Rosemore!”
Alexander chuckled as he buttered a piece of bread, as if he wasn’t the very reason the entire household was now in an upheaval.
“There is nothing romantic about being a fugitive.” Nathaniel’s tone was clipped and he regretted the words the moment he said them. They had the desired effect of wiping the grin from the lieutenant’s face, but the color had drained from Emilia’s cheeks as well.
Thankfully Charlotte seemed to notice the tension that had descended upon the room. She reluctantly stood from her chair, making a show of her walk towards the door.
“I will allow you some privacy,” she said as she reached Emilia’s side, leaning in close to whisper something in her ear.
The moment the door closed behind Charlotte, Alexander let out an unamused scoff. “Come now, do you not think you were being a little too harsh on the girl?”
Nathaniel allowed his temper to cool before responding. He led Emilia to the table, pulling out her chair before turning to face her brother.
“Let us imagine, for a moment, that a man breaks into your home and threatens you.” Nathaniel placed his palms on the table, leaning his weight against them, his gaze pressing into Alexander’s.
“The next morning you come downstairs to find him having breakfast and conversing with your youngest sister. How would you respond, Lieutenant?”
Alexander huffed, the hint of a sneer curling at the corner of his lips. “I think we both know the answer to that question, Your Grace.”
“Then you should consider yourself lucky that I possess considerably more restraint.”