Page 48

Lady Hartfield opened her mouth to protest, but Jonathan raised a hand, silencing her.

“Now,” he said firmly.

There was a moment of tense silence before Lord and Lady Hartfield, their expressions a mixture of shock and indignation, turned and left the room, their footsteps echoing down the hallway.

Jonathan turned to Ciara, his expression softening. “Are you all right?” he asked quietly.

Ciara nodded, her eyes glistening with gratitude. “Thank you, Jonathan. I… Even after all these years, I never know how to handle them.”

Jonathan simply nodded, his emotions swirling. He felt a fierce protectiveness for Ciara, a need to shield her from any pain. The intensity of his feelings overwhelmed him, and he found himself at a loss for words.

“I… I’ll leave you to compose yourself,” he said, his voice thick with emotion.

He turned and left the room, his heart pounding.

The realization of how deeply he cared for her was terrifying. He tried to make sense of it all, reminding himself that it could have simply been a desire to protect a woman who was in distress, but he knew better than to be a fool and believe such a silly lie.

The truth was that he cared for his wife. Which was something he would never have anticipated.

CHAPTER 23

Acouple of days later, the tension that had hung in the air after the visit from Ciara’s parents began to lift, replaced by a sense of anticipation as word arrived that her husband’s cousin Rebecca and her husband, Lord Kirdale, along with their children, would be visiting. Ciara found herself looking forward to the distraction and the company of someone who might, in time, become a friend.

The Kirdales arrived in the early afternoon, their carriage pulling up to the grand entrance. Ciara stood at the top of the steps, a genuine smile on her face as she watched Rebecca step down, followed by her husband Archie and their lively brood.

“Ciara, my dear,” Rebecca called out, her eyes sparkling with warmth. She hurried up the steps and surprised Ciara with a tight embrace. “You look lovely,” she added, once she released Ciara.

“You look even lovelier,” Ciara returned the compliment.

“That is because I am taking such good care of her,” Lord Kirdale said with a wink as he passed by his wife and greeted Ciara.

“Lord Kirdale,” Ciara replied with a smile, “that must be it. How wonderful it is to see you again.”

“Yes, you were fortunate enough to have met only me before, without these two whippersnappers,” he joked with a charming grin. “And please, call me Archie. Lord Kirdale sounds like I’ll be a grandfather all too soon.”

“If we are fortunate, my love, you shall be a grandfather one day, but not yet.” Rebecca leaned over to him, kissing him on the cheek.

Ciara knelt down to greet the children, who were full of energy and excitement. “And who are these young ones?” she asked with a smile.

Rebecca smiled. “These are Margaret and Henry.”

“Hello, Your Grace,” Margaret said with a curtsy, her brown curls bouncing.

“Hello, Margaret,” Ciara replied, her heart warming at the sight of the children. “And hello to you as well, Henry. I think Your Grace is far too formal for family. Ciara will do just fine.”

“Ciara,” Margaret beamed at the name while Henry, the younger child, blushed and smiled.

“Come, let’s go inside,” Ciara urged. “Jonathan is in his study, but he is also eagerly anticipating your arrival.”

Inside, the Kirdales were shown to the parlor where tea and refreshments had been laid out. The children immediately made themselves at home, exploring the room and peppering their parents with questions. Jonathan joined them several minutes later, and they were all seated together, catching up.

As the adults settled into their conversation, Ciara found herself naturally gravitating toward the children. Margaret and Henry had captured her attention with their bright eyes and inquisitive natures.

Margaret looked up at Ciara with a shy smile. “Ciara, do you like stories?” she asked, her voice filled with hope.

Ciara smiled warmly, kneeling down to be at eye level with Margaret. “I adore stories, Margaret. Do you have a favorite you’d like to share with me?”

“Please, tell us your favorite, Ciara,” Henry requested softly, his voice barely audible. He was a shy little boy, so Ciara appreciated his comments even more when he had the courage to voice them.