Page 30 of The Wise Daughter
He waited for a reaction, anything to hint at how she received this.
After too many unsteady heartbeats, Nora tilted her head, watching Locket nuzzle Aaron’s hand. “She does seem to like you.”
“And I like her.” He made a point to look into Nora’s eyes, hoping to conjure another blush or smile, but instead, under her scrutiny, his own face started burning.Blast it!Since when did a duke blush?
“Your Grace, I have a question for you.” She slowly drew closer, sending his heart into an unexpected canter. “Are you certain you trust Ruthers?”
Oh.This was not the sort of question he had expected or wanted. “Absolutely. Why do you ask?”
“Because I believe he was hiding something from you.”
Aaron blinked. The very idea that Ruthers would keep a secret from him was ridiculous.
“When we walked in,” she continued, “he slid something into the horse’s stall with his foot as if he didn’t want us to see what it was. He hid it first in those pails. Did you not notice?”
He hadn’t. He didn’t like that he hadn’t.
“I also think his exaggerated tones might have been due to his surprise at seeing you.” She paused, then added, “Why do you allow him to address you so informally? How do you know he respects your title?”
Aaron thought this an ironic question. “I’ve given you leave to address me informally.”
She flashed a quick but sharp glare. “We are not talking about me.”
He laughed awkwardly, not understanding her stubbornness. “Ruthers and I have long been on friendly terms. I know I can trust him. He was most likely kicking some scrap of wood out of the way.”
She shook her head. “There wasn’t any wood on the floor.”
“I don’t know what it was, but I promise, you can trust him. Please, Nora, this is important. I want you to know who to turn to for help if ever you cannot find me.”
She reached for a brush and began running it down Locket’s neck. “I will take that into consideration, Your Grace, but I cannot promise to confide in anyone until I have proved them. My trust is earned.”
Her words were like a brisk slap. He knew what she meant.Heneeded to earn her trust. He already trusted her because of all she had done for him, but what had he done to earn her trust? Perhaps nothing in her eyes, but as far as he was concerned, he had welcomed her into his home and promised to provide her with everything she could possibly need.
Promises, he realized, were worthless to her without actions. His chest began to tighten. How far would he have to go? How long until he proved himself to her?
“And who has earned your trust, Nora? Has anyone besides your horse?”
Her hands stilled, and he instantly wished he could take back his rash words.
Her blue eyes, blazing with intensity, locked on him, her lips quivering. “When my mother died, I had no one left to trust. My father succumbed to a fearsome gambling habit. He sold our land. He mortgaged our manor and reduced the staff. I worked alongside my maid until she was dismissed. When my father faced the choice between selling our home or going to prison, he sold our home. One can only bear so many humiliations and betrayals until trust suffers.”
They stood staring at one another. Her speech made him feel like an utter, insensitive fool. Did he really expect her to trust him so quickly? Yet, even still, his arms tensed with a desire to prove himself worthy of her.
“I’m sorry for all you’ve suffered, Nora.”
She folded her arms around herself. “Does it not change your mind about our arrangement?”
His chest ached with her question, but he observed her and tried to understand what she was really asking. “Do you wish for me to change my mind?”
She lowered her eyes. “I only want you to be fully informed about the nature of my family’s downfall. If you wish to connect my name to yours, I would rather you learn what happened from me than from backbiting gossips.”
She hugged herself tighter, making him wish that his arms could be there to comfort instead.
“Hearing your confession builds my trust in you, Nora. I don’t care a bootstrap’s worth about opinions or rumors in West Riding or London or St. James's Palace.”
“You don’t?” Quicker than he would have thought possible, she dropped her guard as clearly as if she had dropped her shawl.
“Not at all.”
