Page 24 of Raising the Duke’s Unexpected Twins

“You have some visitors,” he said, and without saying anymore, he left the room, and Cordelia hurried after him to the open front door. To her surprise, she found Mr. Wolsley yet again on her doorstep, this time with two children and a nanny in tow. Delighted and relieved, Cordelia rushed out towards the children and hugged each one in turn before she rose again. The children had accepted her hugs but had not let go of the nanny’s hands.

“But Mr. Wolsley, you confuse me. I thought I was meant to collect the children myself.” She led them in the house, and the young footman hurried out the door to assist the coachman with the trunks.

Mr. Wolsley removed his hat and dabbed at his sweating bald pate with his handkerchief. “You are right, but in returning to the will, I noticed that Lord Riverton was adamant that the children should be delivered to you, in the company of their nanny of course. And well,” he gave her a stiff smile, “You likely know their grandfather was not willing to bring the children himself. I dare say he would have given you plenty of,” he coughed politely, “trouble when you arrived.”

“Ah, yes, of course. You are probably right.” Cordelia wanted to hug the man, but she stayed where she was. All that dread was now for nothing, but she was grateful. “You are most welcome. I shall call for tea.”

“No, thank you, Miss Debrett. I will be going now, but I do wish you all the luck in the world.” He bowed to her and left, leaving Cordelia in the foyer with the two children, still holding hands with their young nanny.

They were looking around them, both intrigued but nervous as well. Praying for strength, she smiled at the young woman. She had honey blonde hair and brown eyes, looking just as uncertain as Cordelia felt and as exhausted. Her face was pale, and dark circles shadowed her eyes. She looked exhausted, though whether from tending to the twins or something else, Cordelia could not tell.

“You are most welcome…”

“Jenny, Miss.” She curtsied but never let go of the children’s hands.

“Lovely to meet you, Jenny. And I already know these two young ones.” Smiling, Cordelia bent down to be on the same level as the children’s eyes. Olivia had dark curls and had a thumb in her mouth, looking up at Cordelia with her large dark eyes. “You know me, my dear. I am your mother’s dear friend.”

“Borceelia,” she said with the thumb in her mouth, but she stepped back a little from her, looking shy.

“That’s right. Good morning to you, Olivia,” she said. “And you, Tim.” She patted the young boy’s head of dark brown curls, his brown eyes shining with unspent tears. They were only two, and yet Cordelia was certain they felt the loss of their parents or at least were terribly confused as to how their lives had suddenly changed. “We shall have tea and play all the sorts of games that I know you like.” She reached out for the children’s hands. “Jenny, please make yourself at home. We have no housekeeper, but you can find whatever you need in the kitchen. I will take the children to the sitting room.”

“Very good, Miss.” Jenny knelt and kissed each of them. They fought her a little as she tried to pry their hands from her own, but in the end, they gave in. “Thank you, Miss.” Jenny curtsied, but before she could leave, Cordelia stopped her.

“Are you all right, Jenny?”

Briefly Jenny put a hand to her stomach, and Cordelia wondered if she was going to be ill.

“Yes, Your Grace. Just tired from the journey and helping the children pack.”

“Of course. Please, feel free to rest.”

“Oh, and Your Grace, these should help you.” Jenny handed her a cloth bag, and Cordelia took it, a little confused. She smiled at the young girl who curtsied again and then was gone, looking relieved.

Turning to the children, she said, “As for you two, I wish you to tell me all about your carriage ride. I know it must have been very exciting. So much to see.”

To her delight, Tim began to speak quickly about it, and they both took her hands, Olivia only a little more reluctantly, as she led them to the sitting room.

“And Olivia? What did you think about the carriage ride?” she asked once Tim was done.

“Bumpy,” Olivia said, and then her bottom lip began to tremble, and she plopped on the floor and burst into tears.

“Oh, dear Olivia! I’m sorry. You must have had a long and rough journey.” She knelt down in front of her and took Olivia’s hands in her own, but Olivia kept crying.

Tim sat down next to her and stared at her. Thinking, Cordelia turned to the cloth bag, and she opened it, revealing a cloth duck and a cloth lamb. Her heart squeezed, and she stared at them for a little while, thinking of Helen. Helen had made them herself for the children before they were born.

“Duckie!” Tim cried, reaching over and grabbing the duck from Cordelia’s hands. He squeezed it tight to him. Cordelia took the lamb and passed it gently into Olivia’s hands.

She stopped crying, looked down at the lamb and pulled it close, putting her thumb in her mouth. Cordelia breathed a sigh of relief.

“Now, I think it time that we have some cake.”

* * *

“Cordelia, you must sit down! We must complete your hair!” Danae complained as Cordelia tried to get up once more when she heard one of the children crying. She’d just come from spending time with them, reading them their favorite books, when her sisters had found her and dragged her to her bedroom to sit in front of the dressing table mirror. Danae pressed her hands firmly into Cordelia’s shoulders and glared at her. “Jenny will handle them. She is the nanny after all! And you are to be a bride.”

Cordelia sighed, but she finally allowed her sister to help her prepare. It was her wedding day, and yet it did not feel like what she had thought one would feel like. What felt like an eternity later, Danae slid one more pin into place and then leaned over her, and they locked eyes in the mirror. “You are beautiful.”

Cordelia breathed out slowly, looking at her dark hair having been curled and pinned up with baby’s breath tucked throughout. “Am I?” she breathed, nervous, wondering what sort of future she could possibly expect. It had been a week since she’d seen Nicholas, and that very day she was to marry him. In just a few hours.