The Matter of a Marquess - Jess Michaels Page 0,70

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, “You have 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.”

He wrinkled his brow. “That isn’t true. Is that why you’ve been acting so strangely since this afternoon?”

“I’m not acting strangely,” she said, but she turned her face so he no longer was able to look her in the eye.

“Yes you are,” he insisted. “We made love—”

“Nicholas!” she said, a harsh whisper. “The walls have ears.”

“Then they certainly heard you keening my name,” he said, frustration rising to the surface. He moved a bit closer and lowered his voice. “When we made love and afterward when the truth came out, I thought we were starting something…new. Turning a corner. But after you came to my brother’s study with your letter, I feel the change in the air between us.”

She worried her lip and he could see her fighting herself. Fighting whatever she wanted to say.

“Please,” he said, coming around the table and catching her hand. “Didn’t we let enough misunderstanding come between us