She shook her head. For such a long time she’d felt so alone. Her mother and brother loved her, but they didn’t understand her life because she’d been careful to shelter them from her problems. After all, they had too little funds themselves to assist, thanks to her father’s wretchedly bad management. She couldn’t add her own issues to the fires burning at their feet.
But here in this house she had been embraced by Nicholas’s family and their friends. Even if they discouraged him from the match, they still welcomed her and folded her into their circle.
“Your help means…” She choked back tears. “It means the world to me.”
Nicholas’s lips parted and he moved to her, seemingly not caring that the others saw him. He took her hand, lacing his fingers through hers, and just held it as he stared down into her eyes. All his support was there, all his goodness, his heart. Because of who he was, he would sacrifice anything to save her. To help her. Maybe even to love her.
She should tug away, but she didn’t.
“I think we’reallhappy to help,” Robert said. “Now I’ll go speak to Katherine and we can spread the word amongst our guests that we must return to London for a family emergency.”
“I’ll send word to Barber and speak to Selina,” Derrick said. The two men exchanged a quick look with Nicholas, and then they left him and Aurora alone.
“They’re too kind,” she whispered. “No one should…should sacrifice so much for me.”
She hoped he understood the double meaning of those words. He didn’t break eye contact with her, though. He traced his thumb along her cheek gently, then across her lip, and her breath caught. God, what he could do so easily. Make her want physically and even more deeply than that.
She blinked and pulled away a fraction.
“What can I do?” he asked.
She shrugged. “You are doing it. Your family has been kind enough to help me thanks to you.”
“I want to do more,” he said, and moved toward her. His hand found hers again, he lifted it to his lips.
She shook her head even though it was nearly impossible. “You’ll risk yourself if you do any more, Nicholas.” His brow wrinkled with confusion and she pulled away a second time. “I should go fix the hair you ruined so sweetly earlier.”
That brought a smile to his face, and she returned it. “Then I’ll see you at supper?” he asked.
She nodded and cast him one last look as she exited the room. She had to do what was right, both for Imogen by helping her and for Nicholas. Even if that meant pushing him away to protect him. They’d survived nine years parted. Surely they could survive a little longer.
Nicholas had no idea why Aurora was pushing him away, but he felt it as keenly as if she’d stood with both hands on his chest, shoving with all her might. She sat at the opposite end of the table, hardly touching her supper and never looking at him.
The dismissal, for that was what it felt like, stung like she’d slapped him. And it brought back those same feelings of abandonment and pain he’d felt nine years before.
“—don’t you think, Aurora?” the Duchess of Northfield was saying.
Aurora blinked and jerked her head up. “I-I’m sorry. I’m distracted and I’m being very rude.”
Nicholas watched Adelaide’s face softened a fraction. She was very kind. All of them were so very kind. “You aren’t. I think, though, that since we are amongst just friends, perhaps it would do us all some good to confront the topic we’re all dancing around out of politeness. I’ve learned that being direct often helps.” She reached out and touched Aurora’s hand. “My dear, how can we help you in London?”
Aurora blushed, her embarrassment plain. But then she sighed. “All I want to do is find my friend. And I know I have a great deal of help. Just knowing you are on my side is enough.”
Adelaide smiled. “I think I can do a bit more. Mr. Huntington, it might interest you to know that I have a few contacts in the underground, myself. I’ll reach out to them if that would be of help.”
Nicholas nearly choked on the wine he’d just sipped and as he dapped the dribbles from his chin, he said, “Youhave connections in the underground, Your Grace?”
Graham chuckled as he met his wife’s blue eyes. “My wife contains multitudes, my friends. You never know what she might do and I think it’s wonderful.”
Adelaide giggled at the cryptic compliment, but her expression grew more serious as she looked again at Aurora. “Truly. We will fix this. As a group. As a family. It’s what we do.”
The last of the plates were cleared away then and the table rose as a group. Normally they would be entering the parlor for after supper drinks and entertainment, but because the party was leaving for London early the next morning and it had been such a last-minute decision, tonight they were retiring early to prepare.
So farewells were said and the couples walked away together. Finally it was just Nicholas and Aurora in the dining room. He thought that might have been the design of their friends.
“Aurora,” he said softly.
She flitted her gaze to him. “I think you’ll remember that I’m nothing but trouble after today.”
