Page 27 of My Favorite Mistake
Noah broke off, unable to continue, but his meaning was clear. After all, his uncle had sacrificed his own happiness to make sure Noah wasn’t born under a cloud through no fault of his own.
“It’s all right. It’s all right, now, ya hear?” Nick gave his nephew a squeeze. “I’d do it all again.”
Noah nodded, scrubbing at his nose as he stepped back. His father placed his hands on his son’s shoulders.
“Well,” Nick said, offering Fanny his arm, “I guess this is—”
“Bloody hell!” Nat cried. “We almost forgot!”
Nick frowned. “Forgot what?”
Nat was scanning the Ardingly carriage. “Where’s your trunk?”
Nick ducked his head. “I think it’s been loaded already. We won’t worry about it. I don’t want to delay the departure.”
“Oh, no!” Nat crowed. “I see it over there. Hasn’t even been loaded yet.” A wicked gleam came into his eyes. “It won’t be any trouble at all.”
Noah, who had suddenly perked up, hurried over to the trunk. “C’mon, Uncle Nick. Let’s have the key.”
Was it her imagination, or were Nick’s cheeks flushed? “There’s no need to open that just now—”
“Give it here,” Nat said, reaching for his brother.
A brief scuffle ensued, in which Nick made a half-hearted attempt to fend off his twin. “Ha!” Nat cried, pulling his hand from Nick’s pocket and holding the key aloft. He strolled over to the trunk and handed the key to Noah. “We’re not about to miss this.”
“Miss what?” Fanny asked, turning to Nick. “What are they going on about?”
Nick sighed. “I was hoping to give this to you later. Inprivate,” he added, casting a glare at his brother and nephew.
“Why, Nick Cradduck! Did you get me a ring?”
“No. I will do,” Nick added hastily.
Fanny frowned. “If not a ring, then what is your brother going on abou—hearts alive!”
The words up and abandoned her. Because the thing Noah Cradduck was pulling out of his uncle’s trunk was made of yellow silk the color of sunshine, with a dashing white fringe. Even after sixteen years, it was as familiar to Fanny as the day Nick had thrust it into her hands.
“It’s my parasol!” she cried, clutching his arm. “You saved it!” She accepted the splintered pieces from Noah with a nod of thanks.
“He surely did,” Nat snickered. “Wouldn’t let us get rid of it. He’s kept those broken pieces in his trunk for the past sixteen years.”
“And they’ve been busting my balls about it for the duration. But I didn’t care.” Nick smiled at her. “I knew I’d have the chance to give it back to you one day.”
Fanny waggled her fingers up near her temple. “Did youknowknow?”
“Not like that.” He reached up and tucked one of her curls back in place. “It would be more accurate to say I hoped.”
Fanny slid the parasol open and managed to give it a twirl in spite of the broken handle. “Well, I love it just as much today as I did sixteen years ago. Thank you.” She looked at him, her heart in her eyes.
Nick was smiling softly as he gestured to the broken shaft. “I’m sorry it’s still broken. I’d have got it repaired before I left, except it wouldn’t have fit inside my trunk. But as soon as we get to the Ardingly estate, we’ll have someone repair the shaft.”
“Oh—actually, I’d like to take it to London to be mended.”
Nick tilted his head, his expression quizzical. “Surely they have carpenters in Sussex.”
“They do, but I want to have it done up the same way as this one,” Fanny said, gesturing to the parasol dangling from her wrist. “One of her ladyship’s sisters is married to Archibald Nettlethorpe-Ogilvy. You know, of Nettlethorpe Iron. And he made this one up just for me with an iron rod inside.”
“What the bloody—” Nick glared at Fanny’s current parasol. “You mean to tell me there’s an iron rod inside that thing?”
