Then he closed the door and returned to Emmaline whose color was beginning to return to her cheeks.
“Are you unwell, my love?” he asked, dropping down before her once more.
He was relieved when she shook her head. “Perhaps just a little too much wine.”
Though he hoped not, Alex suggested, “Perhaps you might return to bed then? I have business I must attend to.”
“Oh, of course,” Emmaline said, looking quite disappointed. Alex felt it too. He would have happily returned to bed with her never to leave again. “You must attend to your business. Do not concern yourself with me.”
Alex reached out and took her hand in his once more. An odd feeling of nervousness fluttered in his chest. “If you are not unwell, perhaps you might join me?”
If he had believed her shocked earlier, he was certain of it now. Her eyes were so wide that Alex felt he could look into her very soul had he tried.
The smile that broke onto her face as her eyes eased caused Alex's heart to swell with love for her once more.
How did I ever grow so lucky?
His heart pinched then. If only she had been quite so lucky in him.
“I would be honored to join you,” she said, squeezing his hand in a way that brought him great relief.
He stood and pulled her gently to her feet, guiding her close so that he might kiss her forehead. Resting his lips against her skin, he said softly, “Good as there is something I wish for you to see.”
Perhaps afterwards, you might not judge me so harshly for my demons,he thought with a long, deep sigh.
It was not the nicest place to go to but when they arrived at the St. James Orphanage for Wayward Children, Emmaline seemed to take it all in stride.
She did not turn up her nose at the filth of the place or refuse to engage with the poor little orphans that came rushing to greet them. In fact, Alex thought that he saw admiration in her eyes when she looked at him.
And for once, he looked upon himself less disagreeably, seeing himself through her eyes as all of the children crowded around, tugging on his coattails and begging for a moment of his time.
As the latest two, a boy of no more than six and his little sister, a girl of no more than three, rushed off with the bag of sweets he had brought for them, she turned to him and said, “Do you come here often?”
“Here and places like it,” Alex admitted.
“Every third Wednesday of the month?” Emmaline asked, linking her arm with his in a way that made him feel warm and welcome.
He nodded, smiling in a sheepish manner.
“Then I suppose I must write it into my own calendar and come with you,” Emmaline suggested, shocking Alex immensely.
He squeezed her hand on his forearm and said, “You do not have to make such a commitment. I merely visit those I sponsor regularly about the city in order to be certain my charity is being used in the correct manner.”
His tone was harder than he had anticipated, feeling as if some of his devil's demeanor was returning to him. It was an annoyance of his, his need to become harsh in order to protect himself when he was beginning to feel vulnerable. He always felt vulnerable around Emmaline. Yet she was the only person in the world he did not wish to be devilish around, at least, not in the way he ordinarily was.
“Is it not a duchess’s duty to support her husband?” Emmaline asked. The smile she afforded him made him want to grip her face in his hands and kiss her hard. He barely refrained as another group of children, a pair of girl twins and an even smaller boy, arrived at their feet.
“Alex, Alex, will you play with us in the garden again?” the little boy asked, tugging on the knee of his trousers.
Alex's cheeks grew hot. The lack of formality exposing his softer side was not something he ordinarily allowed others to see.
Releasing Emmaline's hand, he dropped down into a crouch before the children and said, “I shall be happy to do so on one condition?”
All three looked at him hopefully.
It was the ragged little boy who grew anxious and demanded, “What’s a condition, Alex?”
Alex turned a smile up to Emmaline and slipped his hand into hers once more. “You must allow my wife to play, too.”
