Page 40 of If You Were the Only Girl in the World
“The Somme, Fremont?”
He did not answer only winced.
“Tough go, there. Good of you to hold out. I am proud of you both. You know my uncle, the Duke of Seton. And please allow me to introduce my wife. Doctor Katrina Langston.”
Both men introduced their womenfolk, who promptly curstied to her.
It was Katrina’s turn to blush. She’d never expected such an honor and she couldn’t say she liked it either.
“My lady,” said Wimberly with a deferential nod.
His friend Fremont repeated it.
The four women followed and summoned stiff smiles.
Katrina put out her hand. “Wonderful to meet all of you.”
None of them seemed comfortable with her familiarity. She’d have to learn how to put them at ease because she was certainly not used to such folderol and wouldn’t encourage it.
“Returning soon to your posts?” Nate asked. Katrina had the impression he was smoothing over the problems presented by the etiquette neither the soldiers and their ladies nor Katrina embraced.
“Today, sir. Dover. Then Calais.”
“I see. Best of luck to you both. Return to us, please.” He said his goodbyes and ushured the three of them toward the entrance.
“That was touchy,” the duke said as they strode toward the large touring car. “The English don’t know how to take the approachability of an American woman. After nearly forty years, Lily still has challenges with it. And you will learn you’re own way forward, Katrina.”
“I hope it happens soon! I never thought about being curtsied to.” But she’d deal with that later. At the moment, Katrina had eyes only for the little boy who squirmed with delight in his aunt’s embrace as he watched his father approach the vehicle.
Nate stopped before the bright royal blue six-seater and opened wide his arms. “Everett! I’ve missed you!”
The little boy squealed. Ambling to the side of the topless limousine, he stretched wide his chubby little arms and yelled, “Kisses. Kisses! For Papa!”
Their reunion touched her with its tenderness. How Nate had managed to establish such affections with his young son and yet live miles away, astonished her. His efforts had cemented him in the heart of his boy. So too had much of it been engendered by the lady who was the boy’s great aunt but who had acted more as grandmother and mother to him.
With a solemn satisfaction, that lady sat in the front seat, her gloved hands folded in her lap, watching the two greet each other. Her long black hair, swept over her brow with traces of grey, was dressed up under her broad-brimmed purple silk hat in elaborate Gibson Girl style. Her oval face was lined with traces of her years and her grin was fresh and real and fervent for those before her. The delight in her pearl blue eyes ranged over all but landed on Katrina with special fervor.
“They will be at that for a few more minutes,” she said as her husband opened the car door for her. She stepped down and extended a hand toward Katrina. “I’m so happy to meet the lady who has changed our Nate’s solitary existence. He’s been too long alone.”
“Thank you, Ma’am.” She did not know how to address this grand lady who was a duchess.
“I am Lily to you, my dear. Always that.”
Katrina loved the informality. “Oh, that’s wonderful. I am Katrina. Always that.”
Nate struggled with his wiggling little boy. “And this lady, Everett, is my wife. And that means she will be your mama.”
His chubby face frowned and he nodded.
Nate raised two brows to Katrina. “We will go slowly with that concept.”
Everett hugged his father tightly aorund the neck but examined Katrina as if she were a new and baffling toy. He blinked, his long brown lashes covering his couriosity for only a second until his gaze fell to the teddy bear.
“Mine?” he asked her.
She nodded, holding it out for him to take. “Yes. For you.”
He gazed at the bear as if the stuffed animal were a curious new creature. He reached out and cuddled the animal close. “Kiss the bear.”
