Page 87 of To Have & To Hold

“I also did not know she was afraid of the dark,” Nathaniel continued. “Nor her aversion to storms. But I can assure you, she will never be denied a lamp when she desires one, and for aslong as I am alive there will never be a night where she need sleep alone.”

Emilia’s eyes began to fill with tears, and Nathaniel held her gaze, every word he spoke now meant for her.

“I know that she apologizes whenever she feels as though her needs and desires are an inconvenience to those around her, even though nothing could be further from the truth. I know that she believes she must earn love, though I hope she is beginning to realize that she does not. I know that she is my sister’s favorite person in the world, which is no easy feat. I know that she believes I care too much for others and shoulder the world’s burdens while she does the same for those she loves, and she never complains or stumbles under the weight of it. I know she is fiercely loyal, forgiving to a fault, and breathtakingly beautiful.”

Nathaniel ended his speech and reached up to wipe a tear from Emilia’s face. He turned his attention back to Alexander, who was still sitting silently in his chair, his own eyes glistening.

“I understand why you feel a responsibility for your sister, but she is no longer yours to protect. She is my wife, and my responsibility. I love her, and she is also the only reason you are not presently tied to a chair awaiting the arrival of the magistrate. Do we understand each other?”

Alexander huffed softly in amusement and nodded his head. “Yes, YourGrace.”

Nathaniel bristled at the sound of the title coming from his lips. “I am going to insist that you refrain from calling me that.”

His heart skipped at the sound of Emilia’s muffled laugh.

Alexander’s brow lifted in confusion, “What should I call you then?”

“Kenswick would be acceptable.” He stole a glance at his wife out of the corner of his eye, love and affection for her surging in his chest and blinding him to all sense of reason. “But I will also answer to Nathaniel, if you insist on being difficult.”

An unreadable emotion passed across the man’s face. “You would allow me to call you by your given name?”

Nathaniel shrugged. “We are family, are we not?”

A genuine smile unlike any Nathaniel had seen spread across Alexander’s face. He stood from his seat, and extended his hand. “Family…” He said the word slowly, as if he were testing its feel on his tongue.

Nathaniel firmly grasped his hand, a sly grin tugging on his lips. “Forbetter or for worse.”

Chapter Twenty-Eight

“Am I intruding?”

Nathaniel looked up from his desk just as Alexander breached the doorway of his study. After breakfast, he had allowed Emilia and her brother some time alone, and took the opportunity to try and gather his thoughts over all that had transpired. He was penning a letter to Fawley when the knock sounded at his door.

“Come in.” Nathaniel gestured to the chair opposite his desk.

Alexander settled in his seat, his hands fidgeting in his lap. “I believe I owe you an apology.”

Nathaniel raised his brow in mocksurprise. “Oh?”

The man rolled his eyes, but seemed to relax. “I have a tendency to act rashly, but my only concern is for Emilia.”

“As is mine.”

Alexander nodded with quiet resolve. “I see that now. You seem to be a good man, Your Gr—”

Nathaniel silenced him with a glare.

“…Kenswick.” Alexander smiled. “But I do wish to understand how exactly you came to be married to my sister. In your own words.”

Nathaniel set his pen aside, folding his hands in front of him. “I understand your skepticism,” he admitted with a grin. “But I assure you, I had no notion of who your sister was the day I saved her from the Thames. She never told me her name, and I never saw her again.”

“Until you followed her, unchaperoned, into a hedge maze.”

Nathaniel winced in embarrassment, he was still scarcely able to believe how the moment that changed his entire life had transpired.

“I believed her to be my sister, Charlotte. That evening, they were wearing nearly identical gowns, and I only caught a glimpse of the skirts as she fled outside into the dark. I followed her for fear of my sister’s reputation. I wanted to ensure her safety.”

Alexander’s arms folded across his chest, but he nodded agreement. “I suppose I can understand that.”