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“It was at a ball my brother threw in our home, and it had been love at first sight.” Arabella decided to be as true as possible. She already felt poorly because of the lies he’d told his family and, by extension, the lies she had told her own family. “He’d been so handsome and funny…”

“Edward? Funny?” Emily asked incredulously. “I’m sorry, but funny is not a word I’d use to describe my brother-in-law. He’s always so serious.”

Didn’t she know it? But Arabella would never say that.

“He was. It wasn’t a hard decision to marry him when he’d proposed.” She smiled.

“I’m very happy you’re his wife, Arabella,” Emily said all too seriously. “Be patient with him, all right?”

Arabella wondered then if the woman knew something but decided against asking. She nodded.

“Good.” Emily squeezed her hand. “Let’s put the nannies out of their misery and tackle my heathens.”

They shared a laugh and went to wrangle the children, who’d started a game of tag.

By the time lunch rolled around, Arabella was fatigued, and not long after, she felt exhausted and her feet were killing her. But the children were making plans to play more games.

Sometime after lunch, their mother had disappeared, so she’d had to handle them all alone, and now she craved alone time more than anything.

She pounced on the perfect opportunity as soon as she saw Edward.

“Let’s play a new game,” she whispered to the little ones. She pulled them to the other side of the tree and crouched down. “Let’s try to scare Uncle Edward.”

The two giggled, but she put her fingers to her lips.

She spotted Edward turning into the garden and gave the two her signal, sitting back to watch them work.

When they launched themselves at him, she laughed.

His eyes found hers while he had Noah in his arms, and she couldn’t help how fast her heart beat in her chest.

His eyes were bright, and he had the biggest smile on his face. Bigger than she’d ever seen him wear.

He truly was unfairly handsome.

Seeing him with the children in his arms made the pang she’d felt earlier return, and now more than ever she wanted to be alone.

“Darling,” she called to him, startling him.

“Ara mine,” he answered when he caught himself.

“How—”

“How—”

They laughed again as they interrupted each other. He watched her once their laughter subsided, and she had to put a hand on her chest to calm her racing heart.

“Are you two about to kiss?” Beatrice asked suddenly.

The two of them started and turned to look at the two heathens, who were smiling brightly.

“No, little one. Although if your auntie does kiss me, I won’t mind.” Edward smiled, patting her head.

Arabella knew he was joking, but her silly heart somehow didn’t seem to and beat even faster.

“Uncle Eddie, will you come play with us?” Noah asked suddenly. “Auntie Ara wanted to teach us a new game.”

Arabella’s eyebrows rose in panick as her eyes met her husband’s.