“Invited you to have a nightcap,” Adrian concluded, his blue gaze twinkling with mischief, a stifled laugh rumbling in his chest.
Reaching out to gently pat the little girl until she sank back into a deep sleep, Valerie looked around the full carriage and realized that her life had begun. She had not understood it before, butshe had been in a sort of suspension ever since her mother died. There had been so many things to do, and other people to care for, that she had not really thought of her future.
Instead, her future had been forced to come to her, and she could not have been more grateful.
“I should warn you,” she whispered. “Nora, at least, has not yet learned to spend the entire night in her own bed. So, you must be careful of when you knock upon my door.”
Adrian raised an eyebrow. “Then, I shall get her a dog to hold through the night. I shall get her whatever she needs, so that she does not disturb you in your chambers.”
“You mean, so thatyoucan disturb me instead?” she asked, grinning.
“Naturally.”
She sat back against the squabs, radiating a happiness she had never known she could feel. “Well then, weshallhave to convince her.”
Adrian entered the castle first, Valerie and the children hiding in the carriage to make the surprise all the more dramatic. It had been Valerie’s suggestion, while Adrian had secretly thought it alittle mean. But Cecil and Nora’s enthusiasm for the scheme had convinced him, despite him not being much of a thespian.
They will figure it out in an instant.He was certain of it.
“Your Grace? Is that you?” Jarvis came haring out of the nearest hallway, practically screeching to a halt on the stone floor.
Mrs. Mullens was not far behind him, running out with her hand on her lace cap. “The Duke of Delamere arrived not two hours ago,” she gushed, her eyes searching. “He said for us to put on a feast. Does this mean…”
She trailed off when she saw no sign of Valerie, her face crumpling.
Adrian could not do it. For speaking about him so casually and uncouthly outside the garden door, they likely deserved a light scolding, but dashing their hopes was much too cruel.
“Valerie, you may come in now!” he called back. “She is just tending to the children.”
The housekeeper’s eyes brightened again, her hands clasped. “Children? She has brought her siblings with her? Are they to stay? Oh… oh, this is a happy day indeed!”
“They are to stay,” Adrian confirmed, unable to resist a smile.
The servants of this household, these two especially, had been as loyal to him as friends. They had made the castle bearable at times when it should have crushed him, always reminding him to eat, to sleep, to survive. Indeed, without their tenderheartedness, Valerie would never have been permitted to set foot in this castle to steal his heart.
Mrs. Mullens squealed as Valerie and the two children wandered blearily into the soft glow of the entrance hall, unable to contain her excitement. Even Jarvis seemed agitated, incapable of standing still as the new members of the household made their entrance.
“You could not do it, could you?” Valerie laughed.
Adrian shook his head. “I could not.”
“Do what?” Mrs. Mullens asked.
“I wanted it to be a surprise,” Valerie explained, “so I asked Adrian to go in first to pretend that he had not returned with me. There was an entire speech about my refusal that he was supposed to deliver, but I suppose he is too kind for that.”
The housekeeper roared with laughter. “Oh, Miss Wightman, my poor heart wouldn’t have been able to bear that! You’d have walked in to me standing in a puddle of my own tears!” She smiled across at Jarvis. “I’d have liked to see Mr. Jarvis struggle to keep a calm face, though.”
“Darlings, this is Mrs. Mullens, and this is Mr. Jarvis,” Valerie said, ushering the children toward the servants. “If you need anything, just ask them and they will fetch it for you. Within reason. No asking for ponies or pistols.”
Cecil mustered a shy smile. “It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance.”
“Oh, he speaks so well!” Mrs. Mullens cooed.
“It is nice to meet you,” Nora joined in, not to be outdone.
The housekeeper clasped a hand to her heart. “Oh, such a darling girl!” She offered her hand to Nora. “Now, what do you say we go and bother the cook for something delicious? She is preparing the feast as we speak, but she won’t mind sneaking us a few morsels beforehand.”
“A cook?” Nora gasped, grabbing the housekeeper’s hand eagerly.
