Page 38 of A Season for Smugglers (Deception and Discipline 3)

Mrs. Moore’s cheeks turned a bright red that outshone her hair, then she clapped a hand over her mouth before pulling it away to speak.

“My apologies, my lady—” she started to say, but Lily shook her head, holding up her hand.

“No, no, please do not worry yourself. I am not upset at the familiarity, just curious.” Lily prided herself on being observant, and from what she could see, there was no reason to be jealous. The more she saw of Mrs. Moore and her reactions, the more she was certain there were no romantic feelings between the woman and Nathan and never had been.

“They… after their mother died, God bless her soul, the boys spent a lot of time with my mother,” Mrs. Moore explained. “They were like the big brothers I always wanted.”

“And you were the little sister we never wanted,” Nathan said, appearing in the doorway with a smile on his face. Lily was even more intrigued. It was a sad smile, but a smile nonetheless. Clearly, the bond between the two of them remained.

“Then you should have left my mother alone,” Mrs. Moore retorted, causing Lily to giggle. Straightening, Mrs. Moore brushed at her skirts and graced Lily with a small smile. “I should go. Would either of you like a tray sent to your room?”

“Yes, please. Send them here. Lily and I can eat together.” Nathan nodded his head toward a small table that was set up with two chairs in front of her window.

“I will have it sent right up.” With another smile for both of them, only a trifle strained, Mrs. Moore whisked away.

ChapterEighteen

Nathan

Now that he was at Brentwood Manor, Nathan did not know what to do first. He had rushed out to the coast with all haste, but there was really nothing he could actively do until the morning. Devil was in the stables, settled down for the night, it was too dark to visit the spot where Sebastian’s body had been found, and he did not know where to begin questioning people.

Still, he did not regret coming out in a rush. This way, he could get started first thing in the morning rather than having to travel for part of the day.

“Would you like me to handle the funeral arrangements?” Lily asked, her tone subdued as she nibbled on her chicken. The supper Valerie had brought them was substantial, but neither his nor Lily’s appetites appeared to be.

“Yes, thank you.” Nathan looked at his own half-finished plate, his stomach turning over. Someone would need to handle the preparations, and if Lily took it on, he could focus on finding his brother’s murderer. “I will send word to the vicar in the morning. I believe Reverend Darvill is still installed for the Brentwood parish.”

“What else would you like me to do?”

Even though she was trying to be helpful, the question made Nathan’s chest squeeze. There should not have been anything for her to do. They should not even be here. Yet they now had an estate and manor house to run. The number of things they had to do, in addition to seeking justice for his brother, was monumental.

Nathan had not been trained for any of it because he was never supposed to be the earl.

“Familiarize yourself with the house, I suppose,” he said, rubbing his forehead. While his head did not ache, it felt tender, as though it could start at any moment. “Val can show you most things. Damn, I’ll have to introduce you to the neighbors at some point.”

“We’ll be in mourning, so they will not expect a big to-do,” Lily pointed out, and the band around Nathan’s chest loosened a touch. “I will likely meet most of them at the funeral. A larger gathering will have to wait.”

Though he was very knowledgeable of his expectations as a guest, the rules of hosting social gatherings were not familiar, but they would be necessary now that he was the earl.

Suddenly, his marriage to Lily seemed even more fortuitous rather than being an unfortunate necessity. She knew the ropes. She’d been in London for her Season, looking for a husband among theton, andwould have been trained to run a household. Hopefully, that would help get them through the coming days while he learned what he was supposed to be doing.

When his friends arrived, he would have a multitude of questions for them. Rex was already a marquess, and Elijah would be one day. Both of them had been trained to the positions, so he would have to utilize them while he had them at hand, though he doubted they could remain overlong since their hunt for the traitor would take them back to London.

He already wished he could go with them.

* * *

Lily

Nathan was a thousand miles away in his thoughts. Biting her lip, Lily tried to decide what to do. Neither of them was hungry, despite their travels today. Being alone in her bedroom made her particularly aware of the activity they could be engaging in, but she was unsure whether Nathan would want to.

If how to behave as a wife had been a mystery to her, how to behave as a wife and countess to a grieving husband was even more so. Making arrangements for a funeral was probably within her capabilities, though she had never had to do so before. Mrs. Moore and the curate would direct her.

Hopefully, her mother and father would join them soon. Lily had hastily scrawled a note for them before leaving London, telling them of the earl’s death and that she was accompanying her husband to Talbot lands.

“How do you find your room? Is it adequate?” Nathan asked, looking around as if he had just noticed where they were.

“Oh, yes. It is lovely.” Plenty of space to spread out in. She was looking forward to reading in the window seat. Hopefully, the view was pleasant.

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