Page 63 of Claimed By the Duke of Ice

“I swear the ride gets shorter every time we take it,” Aaron replied cordially, clapping Nathaniel on the back. “How are you, son? And where is my daughter? Is she still abed at this hour?”

“She will be down shortly, I assure you,” Nathaniel replied with a grin. “It is my fault she is not ready yet, so lay the blame entirely on me.”

“There is no need for fault on anyone,” Susan said, joining the conversation as she approached Nathaniel. “We are family; there is no need for propriety with us.”

Nathaniel’s grin widened as he accepted his mother-in-law’s hug next, another warm embrace that encompassed him completely.

“Hello, dear brother,” Letitia greeted giddily, frolicking beside him. “Do you have one of those for me?”

“Of course, I do,” he replied happily, moving to hug Grace’s little sister. Behind her, he could see Samuel and Matilda coming in with his nephew Samuel II cooing happily in his mother’s arms.

“Ah, there is my nephew,” Nathaniel praised, moving toward them as soon as Letitia released him. “My, how you’ve grown.”

“Almost twice his age since you saw him last,” Matilda stated proudly, passing her son to his uncle. “He shall soon need a little cousin to play with.”

Nathaniel chuckled as he leaned down with the baby in his arms to kiss Matilda on the cheek then moved to shake Samuel’s hand.

“We are working on that,” Nathaniel said with a smile.

“Ah! You’re here!”

They all turned as they heard Grace’s voice from the top of the stairs, and as she descended, Nathaniel felt his heart overflow with happiness. She had passed up formalities and wore her golden hair in a loose braid down her one shoulder, and she was clad in an average day dress—of course, in cornflower blue. But whether she was in finery or just like this, Nathaniel still found her the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen. And she was all his.

“You made it,” Grace gushed happily, spreading her arms open wide as she made it to the bottom of the steps. Immediately, Letitia ran into her embrace, followed quickly by Aaron and Susan. As soon as she was let go of her father’s bear hug, Samuel and Matilda both swooped in, squeezing her tight.

“I’m so glad we’ve made these visits more common,” Grace continued as she reunited with her family. She then turned toward her nephew, sitting happily in Nathaniel’s arms and gasped.

“But perhaps not common enough! Look at my little ham! He’s gotten so big!” she exclaimed happily.

Samuel II let out a coo followed by laughter as he clapped his tiny hands together and reached for his aunt enthusiastically.

“Should we tell them about our little announcement?” Nathaniel murmured as Grace took the baby from him.

“Let them get settled first,” she whispered back, kissing his cheek as she took the baby.

“What are you whispering about over there?” Aaron jested, holding Susan close to him.

“Never you mind, Papa,” Grace teased, walking toward the back of the house. “Come, I’m sure you’re all famished. I had our cook make that pheasant you like so much, and he has spread a lovely picnic out for us on the lawn. Let’s eat, and we shall all catch up. I want to know everything.”

“Oh, you must share your news about your new offices, Papa,” Letitia insisted as they all made their way outside.

“What’s this?” Nathaniel asked, pulling the chair out for his wife at the outdoor table.

Aaron chuckled as his cheeks grew red.

“Well, it’s all thanks to you, my boy,” Aaron beamed, sitting down after making sure Susan was settled. “Your aid put me back in the market in an astounding way. I have so many people wanting to do business with me again that I had to lease out offices and hire a staff.”

“Papa, that’s fantastic!” Grace exclaimed. In her mind, her father never deserved to be turned on by his counterparts the way he had been, and it was a vast relief to know that the situation had come full circle.

“It truly is,” Nathaniel agreed, “Please, let me know if I can be of any further assistance. I’d like for us to engage in more business in the future.”

“That would be wonderful, son,” Aaron replied, his tone heartfelt as he shared a look with his son-in-law.

“But that’s not our only good news, is it, Letitia?” Aaron continued, turning to his youngest daughter so he could elbow her side playfully.

“Papa, please!” Letitia exclaimed, her face turning red. “It’s too new to tell!”

“Letitia’s had quite a many suitors,” Aaron continued, “but I think our little girl has already made her decision about one gentleman in particular.”

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