Page 104 of The Best-Kept Secrets
A quick look at the written address and she said, “It is from home. Thank goodness.”
Duke didn’t even pretend that he was paying the least attention to his drawing efforts. He watched Eve for indications that the letter contained bad news or that she needed additional support while reading it. He glanced toward the other two ladies who had received letters to reveal that their husbands were watching them as closely as he was Eve, both men wearing expressions that matched what he was feeling: a desire to be helpful if help was needed and a hope that the letters they were reading contained good tidings.
Eve’s expression lightened as her eyes darted repeatedly across the page. Duke had so little experience with letters from home being anything but discouraging that he was almost more surprised than relieved.
She stood, her letter in one hand and the drawing she’d been working on in the other. “I need to go speak with Nia, assuming she’s awake.” She leaned toward Duke and kissed his cheek. “Good luck with your drawing.”
“You say that as though you don’t think I have the talent to create a masterpiece with ease.”
Her beguiling dimple appeared once more. “Read into it what you must, Duke.”
He watched her leave the room, and he smiled broadly and without feeling the least odd at the uncharacteristic outward show of delight. She was a balm to his soul. Being granted a place in her heart was a remarkable feat.
* * *
“Mother and Father shouldn’t have asked you to keep this from me.” Nia was sitting up in bed, Eve sitting beside her, having just finished explaining their family’s true financial state. “I understand why they did. They want so much for us to enjoy our time with friends. But you should not have needed to bear this burden alone.”
“I wasn’t entirely alone. Duke sorted it out shockingly quickly.”
“During our journey from Ireland, I’d wager. A bond grew between you two. I was so afraid of getting in the way of that. He’s such a good person, and you’re so happy when you’re with him.”
“Is that why you didn’t tell me you were feeling poorly until you could no longer hide it?”
Nia nodded. “I probably should have told you sooner.”
“And I desperately wanted to tell you about all this sooner. Only upon receiving the letter from home granting me permission to do so did I feel I could without breaking the promise I made to our parents.”
“When do you intend to tell our parents about your new position?”
Eve had also told Nia about her arrangement with Mater. “In the letter I will send them next. I need to finish it before Mr. Greenberry leaves for London so he can frank it.”
“How strange it will be without you at Tulleyloch or with us in London.” Nia’s mouth turned down. “Of course, I may not be well enough for a Season next year. Dr. Wilstead said some people don’t recover significantly for a year or more. Some never truly do.”
Eve squeezed her hand. “He does seem optimistic that youwillrecover and recover well. We can accept the possibility of less ideal outcomes without believing those outcomes are inevitable.”
Nia smiled sincerely and genuinely. “I do feel optimistic; I promise I do. Being this tired and weak is not something I am at all accustomed to, and it sometimes feels as though I’ll never escape it.”
“When you are feeling equal to doing so,” Eve said, “we will take rides in the gig with a succession of different horses so you can see as many of the famous Fairfield Whites as possible. And before we leave, we will make good on that hope of yours to actually ride one of those glorious horses yourself.”
“Else the Pack will vanquish Colm on my behalf?” Nia said with a laugh. “Fortunately, I don’t think they will have to.”
“Neither do I. He is as good as gold; they all are.”
Nia leaned against her. “I don’t think we can ever thank Artemis enough for making us part of the Huntresses. She changed our lives for the better.”
“For the absolute best.”
“You’ll have to make certain to send her an invitation to the wedding.” There was mischief in Nia’s voice.
“The wedding?”
“Do not think, Aoife, that I have been so ill that I haven’t made note of the fact that Duke’s devotion to and affection for you has not merely continued since our arrival at Fairfield; it has grown and deepened.”
“There is not, at present, an understanding between us,” Eve pointed out.
“Trust me,everyoneunderstands what is happening between the two of you.”
That was undoubtedly true. “Duke’s parents are terrible.”
