Page 112 of The Duchess' Replacement

Eli rolled his eyes. “Isn’t the honeymoon period over? My God man.”

Sarah laughed. “May I remind you both that this is a highly inappropriate conversation to have in the presence of a lady.”

Eli and Charles looked at each other.

“Well, when a lady shows up, we’ll stop. Won’t we Charles?” Eli quipped with a smirk.

Sarah guffawed and swatted at him. “Oh you! You’re incorrigible.” She eyed her husband. “You let him talk to your wife that way?”

Charles raised his hands in his defense. “I’ve learned the hard way that my wife is more than capable of holding her own and if she wants to give someone a proper dressing down, who am I to stand in her way?”

Sarah grinned and took her husband’s face in her hands. “And that’s why I love you.”

Eli gagged. “Enough. We’re talking about me, remember?”

Charles turned Sarah in his arms and once again wrapped his arms around her middle. “Go on, then.”

Eli cleared his throat. “I’ve decided to go back to London when Nora heads back.”

Sarah jumped out of Charles’s arms. “Oh how wonderful! Er um, for you!”

Eli pursed his lips and furrowed his brow. “By all means don’t hide how you truly feel.”

Her smile grew at his jest. “I’m sorry, you’re right. You will be missed. You bring a certain energy to this home.”

“Yes, one that we can do without for a while.” Charles muttered.

Sarah waved him off. “Pay no attention to your brother. Why this sudden change? I thought you were going to spend a few months with us while you sorted some things out.”

Eli’s head wavered back and forth. “Yes, but I find the country life just isn’t for me. I miss the hustle and bustle of the city.”

Sarah cast a doubtful look in her brother-in-law’s direction. “Hustle and bustle, huh?”

Eli scoffed in mock offense. “Are you insinuating I will go back to my nefarious ways?”

Sarah shook her head at his dramatic ways. “I said no such thing. We just want the best for you, that’s all. I just hope all the hustle and bustle isn’t too tempting for you.”

Eli’s features turned solemn for a moment. “If I’m honest, I can’t say that same thought hadn’t crossed my mind. However, call it insight, or maturity,” Eli ignored Charles’s snort, “but that way of life just doesn’t entertain me like it used to. Perhaps seeing how I misjudged you made me realize there are good women out there that deserve more than what I was giving them.” A mischievous smile crossed Eli’s face as he leaned in towards Sarah.

“After all, you are the one that got away due to my grave miscalculations.” He batted his eyes causing to Sarah to giggle.

Charles snarled and pulled his wife to his chest. “That’s enough. You had your chance, brother. She’s all mine now.”

Sarah reached around her husband and tightened her hold on him. “Sorry, Eli. I’m afraid your brother has captured my heart.”

“Hello?”

The three turned to see Nora stepping through the doorway.

“Here you all are. Mrs. Bates has been looking for you all. She wanted to let you know that dinner will be ready soon.”

Nora walked up to the painting Sarah was working on.

“Oh, Sarah, it’s gorgeous. I love the blur of the hanging branches in the foreground. You should definitely display this where people can see it.” Nora’s eyes soaked in the painting as Sarah walked over to a stack of paintings next to the doorway.

The other day her and Charles went through all the paintings in the room that were stacked against the wall. They picked out their favorites and had them hung around the house but there were a few that she held back.

“Nora? Charles and I were going through some of your mother’s paintings and we thought that perhaps you would like a few of them to take back to London with you. That way you’ll have a piece of her with you.”

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