37
Kalina
Waking up alone in her bed, deliciously sore all over, Kalina reached out to touch the indent her husband’s head had made in the pillow beside hers.She wished she knew how long he stayed.
She wished he would stay until the morning.
Things had been going rather well last night until they’d run into her parents.The joy that she’d felt upon seeing them again, even her father, had not been matched by her husband.Especially not when it came to her father.Which she could not blame him for.
Part of her was happy she’d been able to see her parents, and it had made her realize how much she missed them and her brother… but part of her wished that Nathanial had not seen them.Though at least he was not angry withherafterward.At least, he had not seemed to be.If anything, he’d been more passionate than ever before.
After Margaret helped her get dressed, Kalina made her way down to the dining room, joining the rest of the family in the meal.Nathanial smiled when she came in.All three of her sisters-in-law brightened.
It was a lovely meal as she received a recounting of everything the girls had done the day before.All of them were making progress on their lessons, especially Fiona, who seemed to have finally settled in with the idea of learning.She was enjoying working on her reading now that Miss Temple had found a book on animal husbandry for her to practice with.
Nathanial promised Julianna a trip to Newmarket for the next day to pick out a horse, which Emma and Fiona could come along as well.Kalina made herself smile at Nathanial’s offhand comment that she could choose a horse as well.
Absolutely not.
But perhaps she could choose two… and a gig… She did not want to ride a horse, but learning to drive two of them might be easier for her.If nothing else, she could hang back with Emma, who also did not seem particularly enthused by the idea of having her own horse.
Fiona, of course, was already demanding one for herself.Nathanial’s lips twitched, but all he told her was,we’ll see.
After breakfast, the family scattered to their separate diversions.Nathanial brushed his lips over Kalina’s before going to his study to work.The girls had their lessons.For once, she did not have any events to attend during the day… she could have opened the door to visitors and announced herself at-home…
Instead, she decided to visit her family.
It felt almost odd to return to the house she’d lived in at the beginning of the Season.The house had not changed, but she had.The home no longer felt likeherhome.Perhaps because she had not been there long enough for it to feel so, but that did not explain everything.She had been at Hereford Hall for even less time, but that was where she thought of when she thought ‘home’ now.
“Your Grace.”Darcy, her parents’ butler, bowed low when he opened the door.Kalina wanted to tell him not to, but she also knew there was no point.He was very proper, and the way his eyes shone with pride as he straightened told her that he was happy to be able to address her as such.“Welcome back and best wishes on your recent nuptials.”
“Thank you, Darcy.”She smiled at him.“Are my parents home?”
“Your mother is in the kitchen, speaking with Chef Julliard.”
“Thank you.”Kalina did not require an escort in her parents’ home, and Darcy just bowed, letting her go on without him.As she was walking down the hall to the back of the house, sudden pounding footsteps alerted her to her brother’s presence even before he called her name.
“Kalina!”
Turning, she beamed widely as her brother appeared and practically threw himself at her for a hug.When Darcy had said only her mother was home, she’d assumed Ashwin would be with her father, and she was thrilled to see her little brother.She hugged him back tightly.
“Ashwin.”
“How are you?”He pulled back and looked at her closely, looking her over with intent scrutiny in his dark eyes.It was a look that was very reminiscent of their mother.
“I am good.”
“You are?The duke is treating you well?”The question was asked with all the somber seriousness and protectiveness of a man, not a youth.When had her little brother become so grown up?
“He is, I promise.I am very happy with both my marriage and my husband.”She did not even have to lie; she was very happy.She would be even happier if her husband’s feelings for her grew, if he fell in love with her.But even without that, she was happy right now.“I am looking forward to introducing you to his sisters.”
Ashwin snorted and rolled his eyes.
“More sisters.Just what I always wanted.”Despite the sarcasm threaded through his voice, she could hear the fondness in his tone.Laughing, she reached up to tousle his hair.
And she did have to reachup.
It was rather disconcerting to be gone for such a short time, then have a revelation about how big her little brother had become.Somehow, with all the excitement of the Season and her focus on her father’s mission, she had not noticed until now.
