Page 62 of Claimed By the Duke of Ice

“Come,” Susan urged her, walking away from them. “I grow weary of these younger women and their gossip. Let the two of us find space and get to know one another better.”

“Yes,” Tabitha agreed warmly, throwing a kind glance toward Grace and Nathaniel before facing her new friend. “I would absolutely adore that.”

Grace watched, giddy with happiness as the two women walked off, leaving the group of scorned ladies to nurse their wounds.

“Did you plan this?” Nathaniel asked, leaning over to whisper in her ear.

“Not at all,” Grace laughed, “but it couldn’t have gone better even if I had, don’t you think?”

“Truly,” Nathaniel agreed, pulling her close to him. “But now that I have a moment with you again, I must insist you come with me.”

“But our guests,” Grace laughed, letting him pull her toward the doorway.

“Will be perfectly fine on their own for a few minutes,” Nathaniel assured her, chuckling as he pulled her into an empty room. The moment they were alone, Nathaniel wrapped her in his arms and kissed her tenderly. Immediately, Grace felt her body relax, and she returned the kiss with just as much passion.

“Well, perhaps you are right,” she teased when they broke their kiss. “Our guests can spare us for a few minutes.”

Nathaniel chuckled as he shook his head and reached into his inner jacket pocket.

“That is not all,” he assured her, producing a folding of papers. “I have one more surprise for you.”

He handed Grace the papers, and as she opened them and read their contents, she gasped.

“You’re taking me to Scotland?” she asked.

“For our honeymoon,” he replied, smiling ear to ear. “I thought since we were having a real wedding reception, we should have a real one of those as well. It will be for a month, and we leave right after the harvest. If, of course, that suits you?”

“Of course, it does!” Grace laughed, throwing her arms around her husband. “I’ve always wanted to go to Scotland. Oh, thank you, Nathaniel. Thank you so much!”

“Anything you want,” he promised her, pulling her into his arms. “For now, and the rest of your days. I love you so much, Grace.”

“And I love you,” Grace whispered, melting into his kiss.

EPILOGUE

One Year Later

“Mmm, your hands feel heavenly, my love,” Grace purred, sinking lower into the tub. Behind her, Nathaniel chuckled as his fingers continued to massage soap into her hair.

“That is the point, I believe,” he murmured, kissing her ear lobe.

A knock on the door interrupted their would-be kiss, and they both turned to the privacy curtain.

“Yes, what is it?”

“Pardon, Your Graces,” Mrs. Snievely’s voice called from the other side, “but the Rowleys have arrived.”

“They are early,” Grace half-whispered, half-groaned as she sank even further into the water.

“Thank you, Mrs. Snievely. I shall be right out,” Nathaniel called. He waited until he heard the door shut again then tilted Grace’s chin so he could kiss her.

“Go on and finish enjoying your bath,” he urged, getting to his feet. As he did so, he picked up a towel to dry his hands. “I shall go down and receive them. Take your time.”

“Tell them I’ll be down presently,” Grace called after him as he went to the door.

“Of course,” he replied, leaving her to finish. Nathaniel descended the stairs quickly, his gloves now long forgotten. As he reached the foyer, he smiled wide at the Rowleys and held his arms open wide.

“You made it,” he called out to them, accepting Aaron’s large bear hug.

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