Page 29 of To Claim the Long-Lost Lover
“Ready?” Nate’s grin must have been visible from St James Palace, it was so wide. “Dearest heart, I cannot wait to tell the whole world that you are my wife and Elias is my son. And to make a home with the pair of you.” Now there was a disturbing thought. “I cannot take you to my lodgings. We shall have to find a place to live.”
“Yes, and we need to tell Elias, and work out how to announce our marriage to the world.”
“It would also be helpful if I can bring my father around. Which, since his greatest ambition is to have a grandson, is looking increasingly possible.”
“We have some work to do, then, my darling.” She smiled up at him, and he desperately wanted to lean under her very fetching hat and kiss her, but just then Norie screeched, “But I want to go on the bridge!”
Her nurse, who was unfortunately as timid as Libby, was making ineffectual noises, but Elias said firmly, “You cannot, Norie. It is not safe. My mama says it caught fire, and it might collapse if we go on it. Then the fishes will nibble your toes, and you would not like that.”
Norie narrowed her eyes.
“Go on bwidge,” Lavie demanded.
“Go to the tea shop for cake,” Nate suggested, swinging her back up into his arms, and the distraction worked magnificently. “Would you like to join us for cake, Master Elias? You and your family?”
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Elias opened his mouth to reply then shut it. Sarah was pleased to see him remember his manners. “May we, Mama?”
At Sarah’s nod, he managed a creditable bow. “Yes, please, sir.”
“To Fournier’s, then,” Nate said, and shared a smile with Sarah when the boy offered his arm to Norie in imitation of his elders. Charlotte grinned at Sarah and took Drew’s arm.
What a procession they made!
Drew and Charlotte led the way, with Elias and Norie next and then Nate and Sarah with Lavie still enthroned on Nate’s other arm.
The cluster of nursemaids followed with Phillida still in her baby carriage but now awake and chattering in baby gurgles at everything they passed.
The footmen brought up the rear and the guard spread out on both sides of the path.
Quite a sight, if somewhat wasted on the noontime park crowd of children and their nursemaids, off-duty soldiers, and scurrying citizens using the park as a thoroughfare between Westminster and Mayfair.
Fournier’s was a short stroll away. It was still early afternoon, well before the fashionable promenade hours, and the pastry shop had only just opened. Nate commandeered a table large enough for the family, and another for the servants and guard, and suggested that everyone order what they most desired.
They had a wonderful time, and Sarah fell in love a little bit more with this new, more mature version of Nate, as he discussed different types of waterfowl with Elias, fed morsels of sweet cake to his smallest sister, answered question after question from Norie, and gently encouraged Norie and Elias to give Lavie her chance to have her say from time to time, though most of what she said was unintelligible, at least to Sarah.
When the topic turned to horses, Nate disclaimed any expertise. “I have been at sea since I was seventeen,” he explained, “but Lord Andrew knows all about them.”
Norie turned to Drew with her question, and while the children were distracted, Sarah asked hers. “Where did you learn to be so good with children?”
“All it takes is patience and the willingness to listen. Much like medicine, in fact. I boarded with a widow and her eight children in Edinburgh,” Nate explained. “Mrs McTavish tried to keep them out of my way to start with, but I enjoyed them. Fascinating little beings. One doesn’t see many children aboard a warship.”
“Hello,” said a familiar voice. Drew’s sister Ruth had just entered the shop, with her husband Val and his two daughters.
“Have you come to take tea? Join us,” Charlotte suggested, then cast a guilty look at Nate, who was their host. “If you do not mind, Lord Bentham.”
“Lord Bentham!” Ruth exclaimed. “Val, remember Lord Bentham, the volunteer doctor who worked so hard the day of the fire?”
While the two men were shaking hands, Ruth cast a glance around the table. “And who do we have here?” Her eyes caught on Norie, and she looked from the girl to Elias and then back again, before raising her eyebrows at Sarah.
“Lord Bentham’s younger sisters, Ruth. Please allow me to present Lady Honoria, Lady Lavinia, and Lady Phillida Beauclair.” Ruth’s eyebrows elevated still further, and she nodded, smiling at Nate and exhaling with an “Aaah.”
Sarah ignored her, continuing the introductions. “Young ladies, say good afternoon to Lord and Lady Ashbury. Lady Ashbury is Lord Andrew’s sister.” She gestured to Ashbury’s two girls. “And these are Lady Mirabel and Lady Genevieve Ashbury.”
“Please, do join us,” Nate invited, and he gestured to one of the shop servants to bring over another table and some more chairs.
They shuffled around, so that the children had their own table, all except Phillida, who stayed on her brother’s knee. Ruth was clearly bursting with questions, and Sarah was sure Val had noticed the resemblance, though he, too, did not remark on it.
