Page 74 of The Duchess' Replacement

Charles sighed.

“I know, without a shadow of a doubt, that she would have brought you here. We all would have. Unfortunately, when she passed, I didn’t have the resources to give you the life you deserved.”

His voice had grown thick and Sarah could tell it took a toll on him to talk about his mother and the events after her death.

Nora brushed a wrinkle out of her skirt. “Would you have kept me if you had the resources?” She sucked on her bottom lip to stop it from quivering.

Sarah’s heart broke at the emotion in the young girl’s voice. She reached over and covered Nora’s hands with her own.

“Yes.” It was all Charles said, but it was enough for Nora.

A smile blossomed across her face.

“There now, enough of that.” Sarah said, hoping to dispel the weight of emotion that had settled over them. “Let’s eat. I’m famished from the walk.”

Charles sat down next to her as she passed out napkins and offered the sandwiches.

“Mmm, I forgot how much I love Mrs. Bate’s jellies. Sarah, you must remind me to ask her for some jars before I return to London. I have gone much too long without these in my life.”

Sarah smiled at Nora’s dramatics. It was nice to sit with family and just be.

Family.

Was she truly starting to feel like this was her family now? She looked over at Charles who was making a silly face at his sister, causing a giggle to fall from Nora’s lips.

A warm familiarity settled within her. Yes. This was her family now. For all that it was, the ups and downs, the confusion, the frustration, it all came together and gave her a sense of belonging. A feeling she has so desperately wanted to feel for a while.

A squeal of laughter rang out from beyond the lake.

“What is that?” Sarah questioned.

“Probably a wild boar getting ready to attack you.” Charles teased.

Sarah furrowed her brows. “You won’t be laughing if that is true.”

Nora scrunched her face as she looked out over the water. “It looks like there are some boys fooling around by the village.”

Sarah looked at the boys. “Are they on the estate?” She looked to Charles. “Is that a problem if they are?”

She was enjoying the mood the day and didn’t want to disrupt it by bringing up town nonsense.

Charles leaned back on his elbows and stretched his long legs. He lifted a shoulder. “They’re just beyond our border, but they know better. They won’t cross it.”

Sarah looked back over to the young boys. After watching them for several seconds she could tell they were being careful to stay a certain distance from the water. She wondered if there was some marker there that she couldn’t see from where they sat that indicated the estate line.

“Eat.” Charles nudged her with his foot. “I don’t want to have to tell Mrs. Bates you ignored her food.”

Sarah brought her attention back to her husband. He seems relaxed and not concerned with the boys at the perimeter. She picked up a sandwich and took a small bite.

She looked over to Nora who’s gaze was lost to the horizon and the boys on the other side of the water. Instead of biting into her sandwich, she was nibbling on her bottom lip.

Sarah wanted to say something but decided against it. If Nora wanted to say something, she would say it.

CHAPTER 20

Sarah stretched out and let out a groan. She had never eaten so many little sandwiches before. Nora was right, Mrs. Bates made the most delicious food.

Everything about this day was perfect. The summer sun was high in the sky but underneath the branches of the willow tree the breeze off of the lake brought much needed cool air.

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