Page 42 of Claimed By the Duke of Ice

“Of course,” Aaron chuckled, reaching his open hand toward Grace’s which were still wrapped around the hand he was about to place on Nathaniel’s shoulder.

“Apologies, Papa,” Grace added, laying a gentle kiss on her father’s knuckles.

“No, no, darling, you’re quite right,” Aaron cajoled then turned to Nathaniel.

“My apologies, my good man.”

“None needed,” Nathaniel replied amicably then turned to meet Grace’s eyes. “I believe my wife is teaching me how to accept such affection. I just need more time.”

Grace’s eyes shone back at him with great affection, and a small smile touched her lips.

“It just takes a little patience and kindness,” she replied softly.

Nathaniel’s thoughts raced back to their first night together, and Mr. Snievely’s words of advice. Kindness and patience, Your Grace. And it seemed, as he looked comfortably around at the smiling faces in the drawing room, that he was right.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

“Grace, can I sleep with you tonight?” Letitia asked, wrapping her arms tightly around her older sister’s waist. “We can have a sleepover as we did before. Please?”

Grace hugged her little sister back, smiling. She was about to say yes, but as she looked up and around the room, she caught her husband’s eyes, hot and glittering, looking at her. Arousal swept through her as their eyes met, and her body flooded with excitement as a small smile touched his lips.

“Letitia, come,” Susan urged before Grace could speak. “Your sister is married now; things cannot be as they were.”

Grace’s cheeks turned pink as she looked up at her mother, who only winked at her as she took hold of Letitia’s shoulder and pulled her gently away from Grace.

“But Mama,” Letitia pouted, looking pitifully back at Grace.

“Mama is right, little sister,” Grace replied warmly, giving Letitia one more hug. “But have no fear. We shall have breakfast together in the morning, I promise.”

“And I am sure you shall love your room,” Nathaniel stated, joining in. “It is the same one I resided in when I was a boy. The walls are painted with birds, animals, and flowers. It is really quite pretty.”

“Oh, I want to see!” Letitia exclaimed, seemingly getting over her initial disappointment quickly.

“Come with me, Miss Letitia,” Mrs. Snievely beckoned, smiling motheringly at the young girl. “I shall show you where it is. And if you’d like, I can bring you some bedtime treats.”

“Oh, that sounds lovely!” Letitia replied, following Mrs. Snievely. Over her shoulder, she called, “Goodnight, Mama; Goodnight, Papa! Goodnight, Grace; Goodnight, new brother!”

The four of them all chuckled as they called goodnight after the youngest Rowley.

“We shall take our leave for bed as well,” Susan said shortly after Letitia and Mrs. Snievely left. “Thank you both so much for having us here, my darlings. It is so good to see you both.”

“Yes, it has been a most wonderful evening,” Aaron agreed. He wrapped one arm around his wife and the other around his daughter and brought them both in for a tight squeeze.

Grace felt a blanket of comfort wrap around her as she nuzzled into her parents’ embrace and then kissed them each on the cheek before they let go of each other. Aaron then went over to Nathaniel and gave him a quick but polite handshake. Susan then followed, only briefly putting a soft palm to Nathaniel’s cheek as she thanked him, and then the two made their way out of the drawing room and toward the stairs.

“Well, dear wife,” Nathaniel asked when they were alone, “how do you feel about today’s events?”

Smiling, Grace turned to him, her arms wrapped tightly around herself, and began to bounce on the balls of her feet.

“It was so absolutely splendid,” she replied happily. “Thank you so much for the patience you’ve shown today. This is exactly what I needed.”

“You are quite welcome,” Nathaniel replied, smiling as he walked toward her. As he did so, his eyes slid hungrily up and down her figure, sending a shiver of pleasure through Grace. “It does me well to see you this happy.”

Grace sucked her bottom lip between her teeth as Nathaniel’s eyes grew more heated. She wanted so much to reach for him, to press her lips against his. To wrap her arms around his neck. But she had learned much in the last weeks about Nathaniel’s condition, and she believed that his reaction was not as intense if he was the one initiating the touching.

“I am very happy,” she agreed, her voice barely above a whisper as she met his eyes. “In fact, I do not even know how I am to sleep tonight. I feel as if I am simply bursting with new energy.”

Something jumped in Nathaniel’s gaze as his smile twitched, and he reached out to stroke a stray hair away from her face. The moment his fingertips touched her cheek, she let out a sigh and felt herself lean forward. Why did his touch have to feel so satisfying?

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