Page 22 of A Wicked Earl's Widow
These two had become fast friends over the week, and Althea looked for Nathaniel after breakfast each morning. As all three picked up the tune again, Cyrano added his low yelp to the voices, sending everyone into a fit of the giggles. Eliza suddenly wondered what it would be like to have a family, an entire family. She wanted more children some day.
“Oh, my lady, I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry,” cried Mrs. Watkins, running up to them as they emerged onto the lawn. Her voice was hoarse, her eyes puffy. “I’ve been praying and calling.”
“We found her in the meadow, or I should say Cyrano found her.” Nathaniel reassured the distraught woman.
“I’m just thankful the darling is safe. I’d never have a decent night’s sleep again if anything had happened to that baby.” The governess dabbed at her eyes with a handkerchief and blew her nose. “I’ll go pack now, I just had to know she was safe before I left. I’m ever so sorry, ever so sorry.”
“Mrs. Watkins, wait.” Eliza’s voice cracked. “You forgot someone.”
The portly woman turned. “I understand if you’ve lost trust in me, my lady. If I hadn’t fallen asleep—”
“None of us saw her wander off. She’smydaughter and my ultimate responsibility. I have every faith you will bemorethan zealous watching over her after this. I know I will. It can happen so quickly.”
“Your ladyship is more than generous. I said you were a gift from heaven when you first hired me.” She made the sign of the cross and wiped her eyes again.
“Now, please take Althea, change her clothes, and clean her up. She has dog…kisses all over her.” Eliza wrinkled her nose. “I thought my daughter gave the sloppiest kisses, but she’s met her match with Cyrano.”
“Yes, ma’am. Of course,” cried Mrs. Watkins, tears still trickling down her cheeks as she reached for the toddler. “Come along, child. Give me a hug!”
The pair went into the house, and Eliza felt like one of those air balloons she’d read about, once the flame had been extinguished. Utterly and completely drained.
“Are you all right?” he asked.
She nodded, tears collecting again. This time tears of relief. “I was so frightened. If anything happened to her, I don’t know…” It came full force then, that kind of sobbing that has been pushed back for so long, it will no longer be contained.
Nathaniel’s arms came around her, pulled her close, and she buried her face in his hard chest. Her body shook with a tidal wave of emotion that demanded release. Fear, anger, even the hatred toward her father. The strong, comforting arms around her offered the kind of solace she had always longed for, and she drew strength from his closeness. Eliza let the sorrow and self-pity float away on the salty waves running down her face and neck and clung to this man who was becoming such a precious part of her life in so short a time.
Nate gatheredher close and rocked her back and forth, stroking her shoulders and hair. He murmured soft words in her ear, telling her all would be well, that she was safe with him. Her tears soaked his shirt, and still she cried. He remembered when he’d held Grace like this after her mother had died. She’d needed to purge herself of all the emotions that had cluttered her mind and burdened her soul. Eliza needed the same, and he’d give her as long as she needed. This moment had been building for a long time, years maybe.
Her fingers clutched at his lapels, but the weeping lessened. Her pulse slowed and she hiccupped. Nate looked into her eyes, darkened to indigo with her tears, and had never seen anything more lovely. He wanted to be her hero, her knight in shining armor. Scoop her up in his arms and kiss away her tears. She hiccupped again.
“I must look a fright,” she said, a watery smile curving her full lips.
He cursed his riding coat for not having a pocket. “I’m sorry I don’t have a handkerchief.” He moved his hands to her face and wiped her cheeks with his thumbs, then without thought, ran the pad over her full mouth.
Her eyes widened and he saw the need—and uncertainty—in those violet orbs. Her lips parted and he did what seemed natural. Nate pressed his mouth to hers, the barest brush of his lips. The action heated his blood, pulse racing as he pulled back slowly, and searched her face for a sign of regret. Instead, with tremulous fingers, she reached up and drew his head down, offering another kiss. His hands pushed through her thick mane, silky and sensual against his skin. Her body fit against him like a second half, as if she were something he’d been searching for all his life. The missing piece to the puzzle.
“Did you find—” Grace’s voice broke the spell.
Eliza jerked from his grasp, the low-cut blue and violet flowered dress revealed creamy breasts rising and falling as she panted. Her warmth slipped away from him, and he felt its loss.
“Oh, my. I assumed Cyrano found Althea from the howls, but it seems my brother was just as successful as the hound,” Hannah said to Grace.
“I was only… Eliza began to cry… If you breathe a word of this, I’ll hang you both by your thumbs and—”
Laughter drowned out the rest of his threat. To his relief, Eliza smiled shyly, picked up her skirts, and ran to the house. His two female nemeses flanked him.
“Where did you find Althea?”
“Is she all right?”
“Where is Mrs. Watkins? Poor thing was in bad loaf, wailing and sniffling.”
Nate sighed. “Althea was in the meadow under the rowan, Cyrano is hero for the day, and Mrs. Watkins is appropriately contrite and extremely relieved.”
“And Eliza?” asked Grace, a mischievous gleam in her green eyes.
He grinned. A big stupid grin that he couldn’t wipe off his face.Good God, this is what Kit warned me about.
