Page 52 of The Wise Daughter

Nora placed a finger over her lips, begging Aaron not to make a sound or alert anyone to her presence.

Trembling, she stepped through the hidden door of the study and into the dim candlelight.

The crackle of the fire on the grate hid the sound of her quickened breath but made standing before Aaron uncomfortably hot.

For several seconds, he only stared at her, making her heart pound terribly, but worse than anything, she couldn’t tell what he was thinking.

“Aaron!” she whispered, clutching her stomach. “Please don’t be upset with me for returning.”

“Nora.” He clenched his jaw as emotions warred across his face.

She smothered her wish to run to his arms and beg for a chance to explain any misunderstandings. Even if he was willing to give her the chance, he was swaying like one of autumn’s last leaves. And they were out of time.

“Aaron, there is so much I want to say, but all that matters right now is getting you to safety. I hope you will trust me.”

Hesitating only a moment, she took his hand and led him through the open passageway door, which she closed softly behind them.

When Carver returned, all he would find was an empty room.

Fortunately, Aaron didn’t protest. He didn’t say anything at all as he stumbled trying to keep up with Nora’s quick pace.

She flinched at his loud stomps and thuds against the walls and turned around, unable to see him in the darkness. “Aaron? Are you all right?”

“I don’t think I am.”

She gave a gentle tug on his arm. “Come, we have to hurry.”

“Nora,” he whispered. “I’m afraid…”

She ignored the tremor that shook her and tugged on his sleeve again. “Keep walking, Aaron. I’m afraid too, but we’ll find help.”

“That isn’t what I meant.” His breathing was growing heavy. “I’m afraid I’ve been a fool.”

She didn’t bother disagreeing with him. She was too worried about the noise he was making. Anyone on the other side of those walls would hear them. If they were fortunate, the sounds of the ball would help mask much of their noise.

“Nora, did you hear what he said?”

A chill crawled down her spine. She assumed he meant his conversation with Carver. “Yes. Everything.”

“How did you know to come back?” His words were slowing.

“Keep walking, and I’ll explain.” She urged him into a slow pace. “When we arrived at Raven Manor, I found things, portraits, jewelry, instruments.”

His next breath was raspy. “My mother’s?”

“I think so.” She wanted to tell him that she had also found his mother, but he was in no state to receive such a shock.

Nora herself was still struggling to grasp it.

“I also found letters. I think Carver has been selling things to pay someone to find proof about his mother’s marriage to your uncle.

” She pulled him forward another step. “But there will be time for answers later. Right now, we need to get you out of here. We need to keep moving.”

“I can’t let him hurt you, Nora.”

He leaned against the wall as if he would fall asleep right then, hugging her hand to his center, but still, his brave words warmed her.

“And I can’t let him hurt you, my duke.” With renewed determination, she took his arms and wrapped them over her shoulders, clasping them both in front of her to urge him along as he leaned on her back.

“Yes,” she grunted, “just as heavy as a horse.”

His breathy laugh tickled her neck. “Do you often promenade through hidden passageways saving men from their evil stewards?”

She tried to laugh but couldn’t with his added weight on her. “Oh yes. I save every man I come across who is threatened by his evil steward, and you, my good sir, have the honor of being the first.”

His laughter fell again in warm waves, giving her strength and helping her ignore the tiny creature scurrying past her foot.

At last, they came to the underground tunnel that would take them to the hidden garden.

Their footsteps echoed in the stone tunnel, but noise was no longer a concern.

No one would hear them underground. Aaron’s chin rested softly on her neck, his stubble sending a ripple of flutters through her that made her dream of moments when they were not fearing for their lives.

“Nora, did you mean what you said, when you said you loved me?”

Her fingers fumbled over the latches of the door. The rush of night air washed over her as she pushed it open, cooling her heated skin.

Love. Of course, she loved Aaron. She had never actually said the words to him before, but what did that matter now? She loved him more than she had realized she was capable of loving.

“Of course, I meant it.”

She adjusted her hold on him, shifting her weight to his side as she began urging him up the moss-covered steps and into the garden.

Aaron had to crawl the last few. He might not have stood again if Nora weren’t there on her knees to steady him.

Under the night sky, stars peeked out behind thin strips of inky clouds.

She could just make out his face with beads of sweat glistening across his brow.

“We’re so very close, Aaron, but we must hurry before Carver discovers you’re missing. Just beyond these garden walls awaits an old friend with her carriage. Ruthers is with us too. He really does have quite the story to tell. We can take you wherever we need to go.”

Before she could pull him another step, he surprised her by grasping her arm, an urgent but gentle touch.

“Tell me truthfully, Nora. Did you write a letter to my solicitor, asking for fifteen thousand pounds?”

Nora caught his other arm. “Fifteen thousand pounds? Of course not!”

He nodded and drew his arm around her waist, but she couldn’t enjoy the moment with him swaying like a man intoxicated, which was exactly what he was. Whatever Carver had given him was near overcoming him. She wrapped her arm around his waist in return to keep him from falling.

“I am so sorry, Nora. I panicked when I saw this on my desk.” He pulled a letter from his waistcoat pocket and handed it to her. “I only wanted the truth, and I feared making the wrong decision. I feared being blinded by how much I…”

His eyes drooped. Even in the dark, she saw it on his lips. Love. She yearned to hear him speak it, to confirm that she wasn’t seeing only what she wanted to see.

“Nora, I think I’m going to faint.”

Her head spun. She spoke quickly. “Aaron, I want you to know right now before anything else happens that I love you immensely. I don’t care about your money or title.

I don’t want Raven Manor or a dowry. When you said I could take anything in the castle, all I could think about was you.

If you meant what you said, I choose you. You’re all I want.”

He pressed her hand to his shaky heart. “I would marry… you right here… if I could.”

It was difficult to know what was happening, to feel anything more than the exhaustion and worry already coursing through her.

There was no place for girlish flutters or shivers.

Any flush was overpowered by the heat of exertion, but she was sure her heart would have leapt from her chest had she not already lost it to him.

“Is that another proposal, my duke?”

He closed his eyes and lowered his head. She thought he was going to attempt a kiss. Instead, his knees buckled, and he collapsed.