Page 74 of To Have & To Hold

Nathaniel shrugged, pretending to read once again. “I do not have one.”

Charlotte gasped dramatically. “Everyone has a favorite color. Even if you are not aware of it.”

Nathaniel shook his head. “I assure you I do not, and I have managed perfectly well without one.”

“You must choose.”

“Charlotte…” Nathaniel groaned.

“What if your life depended upon it?”

Nathaniel finally looked up from his book. His sister was leaning over the arm of the settee, seemingly in anguish.

“My life?” he asked, uncertain whether he was more entertained or exasperated. “What possible circumstance would ever arise in which my continued existence rested upon selecting a favorite color?”

Charlotte flung her head against the back cushion with a sigh. “Please humor me.”

Nathaniel leaned back in his chair, crossing one leg over the other. “Some days, it feels as though I exist merely to humor you.”

Emilia's warm laughter floated across the room.

There was no denying that this entire display was utterly ridiculous, and Nathaniel could end it by simply choosing a color—any color.

He looked around the room as though inspiration might be found somewhere among the furniture and draperies. But he could not focus on anything other than the realization that he truly had been living in a dull gray existence, and the spark that Emilia’s laugh ignited in his soul let in enough light for his world to be flooded with beauty again.

Emilia looked up, sensing his gaze, and Nathaniel smiled as their eyes met.

“Red,” he said confidently.

Charlotte's smile melted into a satisfied smirk and Emilia’s lips parted inshock.

“I have grown exceedingly fond of the color red,” he repeated, setting his book aside.

A rosy blush spread slowly across Emilia's cheeks until it reached the tips of her ears. Charlotte quickly rose to her feet, and Emilia's head spun toward her.

“I have just remembered!” Charlotte exclaimed, much too loudly. “There is something I must speak to my maid about.”

Nathaniel narrowed his eyes in suspicion. “What sort of something?”

Charlotte frowned thoughtfully. “Oh, I shall not bore you with the details.”

Before either of them could speak another word, Charlotte swept from the room, pausing briefly in the doorway to wink over her shoulder. “Carry on.”

The door closed behind her. Emilia's eyes remained fixed upon it, her lips still parted as though she meant to speak but could not quite summon the words. The firelight danced in her golden eyes, and the flush still warmed her cheeks. Never had he seen anything as breathtakingly beautiful as her.

“I disagree,” Nathaniel said softly.

“What?”

He rose and crossed the room to where she sat. “You said that pink does not suit you.”

Her pulse visibly fluttered at the base of her throat. Nathaniel lowered himself to one knee until his eyes were perfectly in line with hers. He lifted his hand slowly, allowingher every opportunity to pull away from him before lightly brushing his fingers across the deepening blush on her cheeks.

“But I think it suits you perfectly.”

Emilia's breath caught, and she sat perfectly still. Nathaniel's hand followed his gaze as it moved to linger on the copper curls framing her face.

“Though, I confess, I remain rather partial to red.”