Page 16 of Claiming His Lost Duchess (The Dukes of Sin #8)

Red curls caught the moonlight streaming through the window. Blue eyes, wide with surprise, stared up at him. In her small hands, Sophia clutched what appeared to be several biscuits from the cook's secret stash.

“Papa?” she whispered, her voice small and uncertain.

Graham felt something inside his chest crack open at the sound of that single word. Papa . His daughter – his sweet, perfect daughter-was standing in his kitchen in her white nightgown, looking like a little angel caught in mischief.

“What are you doing down here, mo leannan ?” he asked gently, crouching down to her level.

Sophia's lower lip trembled slightly. “I was hungry, and I remembered Cook giving me biscuits earlier. I didn't want to wake Mama because she looked so tired.”

Graham's heart clenched at her thoughtfulness. Such a small child, already so attuned to her mother's needs. “You should have rung for a servant, sweetheart. It's dangerous for little girls to wander around dark houses at night.”

“I know,” Sophia said, hanging her head. “Am I in trouble?”

“No, darling,” Graham said, unable to keep the smile from his voice. “But next time you're hungry, you must promise to ask someone for help. There are sharp knives in kitchens, and stairs that could trip you in the dark. It would break my heart to see you get hurt.”

Sophia nodded solemnly. “I promise, Papa.”

There it was again, that word that made his heart swell with indescribable joy. He had a daughter. He could hardly believe that this beautiful, intelligent, sweet-natured little girl was his child, and she was calling him Papa as naturally as if she had known him her entire life.

“Come here, mo chridhe ,” he said, opening his arms.

Sophia launched herself into his embrace without hesitation, her small arms wrapping around his neck with complete trust. Graham closed his eyes and held her close, breathing in the clean scent of her hair and marveling at how perfectly she fit in his arms.

“Can I keep one biscuit?” she asked hopefully. “Just one?”

Graham chuckled, taking one of the treats from her small fist. “Just one. But we'll share it, shall we?”

He lifted Sophia into his arms and made his way back through the house toward the nursery he’d had put together expertly for her comfort, stopping only to light a single candle to guide their way.

Sophia chattered quietly about her day, telling him about the books she had read and the games she had played with her dolls.

“Mama taught me to read very early,” she confided as they climbed the stairs. “She said it was important for girls to be clever, not just pretty.”

“Your mama is very wise,” Graham agreed. “And you are both clever and pretty, just like her.”

Sophia giggled. “Do you think Mama is pretty, Papa?”

“I think your mama is the most beautiful woman in all of England,” Graham said honestly.

“But she gets sad sometimes,” Sophia said, her voice becoming more subdued. “She tries to hide it, but I can tell. She looks worried a lot.”

Graham felt his chest tighten with concern. “What do you think she's worried about, sweetheart?”

Sophia was quiet for a moment as they reached her chambers. Graham set her down gently and began turning down her bed covers.

“I think she's scared you might think that you do not want us anymore,” Sophia said in a small voice. “She used to get the same worried look when we did not have enough money for food. I think she was scared something would happen to me.”

The innocent observation hit Graham like a physical blow. Of course . Joan's protective behavior, her reluctance to trust him with Sophia, her constant vigilance – it all made perfect sense now. She wasn't afraid of him specifically; she was afraid of depending on anyone other than herself.

“Sophia,” he said gently, tucking her under the soft covers, “I want you to listen to me very carefully. I will never, ever leave you or your mama. Do you understand? No matter what happens, no matter how worried she gets, I will always be here to take care of both of you.”

Sophia's eyes were very serious as she nodded. “Promise?”

“I promise,” Graham said, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead. “Now, get some sleep, mo leannan . Tomorrow we'll ask Cook to teach you the proper way to ask for midnight snacks.”

Sophia giggled sleepily. “Goodnight, Papa. I love you.”

The words hit him like lightning, filling every corner of his being with warmth and purpose. “I love you, too, my sweet girl. More than you could possibly know.”

As Graham made his way to his own chambers, his mind was spinning with new understanding. Joan's fears weren't about him – they were about survival, about protecting the most precious thing in her world from potential abandonment.

He would simply have to prove to her, day by day with every passing moment, that her fears were unfounded. That he was not going anywhere, that he would move heaven and earth to keep both his girls safe and happy.

It might take time, but Graham had spent five years searching for Joan. He could certainly spend however long it took convincing her that she was finally, truly home.