NATHAN

I dropped the mask because my arms were suddenly filled with Sophia Marie Pagemoore, heart of my heart, love of both lives, sweet, adorable, beautiful Sophia Marie Pagemoore.

She sobbed into my neck, her hands clutching my shoulders. I let her cry, while tears squeezed from my own eyes. My heart thudded against my chest erratically, joyfully.

I pressed my face into her hair. Murmured sweet nothings. Soothed her. Stroked her back. Loved her with my words, my touch, my everything.

I don’t know how long we stood there under the oak tree where I had pledged my heart to her. She refused to let go of me, and I was fine with that. I never wanted to be without her again.

After a while, she drew back, and looked at me.

Her nose was wet. Eyes swollen. Hair a mess. Dirt on her cheeks.

She was gorgeous. The cutest thing I’d ever seen.

"You remembered me," I said softly, pushing tangled strands of hair away from her face.

"I ..." She paused. "It all came back. I saw your face, and my memories just clicked into place."

I kissed her forehead. "Come with me to the Capital. You can divorce Jace. Then marry me."

"I want to," she said. "But I don’t think it’ll be easy."

"I won’t let him hurt you anymore."

"There are family secrets, Nathan. Secrets that keepJace and I bound. I don’t even know what they are."

"Sshhh." I patted her back. "We’ll figure it out." I picked her up, and she huddled close to me, putting her head against my shoulder.

I nearly lost my soul in that moment. Happiness so pure it pulsed through me like thousands of butterflies.

I felt like I had finally found my home.

***|***|***

NATHAN

I returned to the Stonehart carriage. Hune stood next to it, waiting patiently. He really had the whole stoic thing down.

However, when he looked at Sophia, he was as anxious as I’d ever seen him. He followed me as I climbed inside holding my precious cargo tightly against my chest. He pulled out a blanket from the storage under the seat.

"Is she okay?" He went to tuck the blanket around her, but I gave him the coldest stare I’ve ever given any man. He wisely put it next to me and scrunched into the corner of the opposite seat.

"She fell asleep. I think the stress of these last few days has weighed heavily on her." I adjusted her so she would be more comfortable and tucked the blanket around her. "She looks too thin. I don’t think she’s been eating well."

"We’ll fatten her up when we get to..." He trailed off. "Are we still going to the Capital? Or should we go to Silverkeep?"

"I can’t take her there yet. Not only is she not free of the Willowmarches, but I also need time to explain mother’s condition to her."

"Miss Sophia has a kind heart," said Hune. "She won’t think badly of us, or of the Dowager Duchess."

"You’re right, of course. We’ll go to the Stonehart estate in the Capital. Sophia seems to think divorcing Jace will be problematic. Everyone we need to deal with is in the Capital, so we’ll begin there."

"What about Penelope Shire?"

"Since she’s tried to kill Sophia once already, we should deal with her as soon as possible." Not to mention Penelope Shire had killed Sophia in our previous lives. There was no way in hell I’d give her another chance. "I think it’s time we dealt with this entire annoying situation. But we should start at the root," I said. "Whatever secrets are keeping this marriage intact need to be discovered, Hune."

"I’ll see to it, sir."

By the time we arrived at the Capital, it was close to midnight. Sophia had slept the whole six-hour trip, and I was worried that she’d fallen ill again.

I had the driver stop near the palace. As an Imperial physician, Dr. Rhine lived on the palace grounds, which was an entire city unto itself. I took the silver pendant out of my pocket and gave it to Hune. With this pendant, the Stoneharts and their representatives could enter the palace at any time.

"Get Dr. Rhine and take him directly to my home," I told Hune. " Carry him out of there, if you must."

Hune took the pendant. "I’ll see you at home, Your Grace."

When Hune exited the carriage, I knocked on the ceiling. The driver took the hint and we began moving again.

Mrs. Gap met us at the door. She looked at the woman I held in my arms, and then at me. "Shall I prepare a guest room for the lady?"

"No," I said. "She’ll sleep with me."

Mrs. Gap looked appalled. "Your Grace! You cannot take an unmarried noblewoman into your chambers."

"Does it help to know that she’s married?"

Her mouth dropped open. "To you?"

"You didn’t specify if I had to be the husband, only that she shouldn’t be unmarried." I started up the stairs.

Mrs. Gap followed, along with several maids. When we got to the master bedroom, Mrs. Gap threw herself in front of the door. "Your father would turn in his grave if he knew I allowed such a thing to happen in this home!"

"Mrs. Gap. You’ve been the housekeeper for the Stoneharts for nearly three decades. I very appreciate your dedication and devotion to my family. But I am the master of the house. What I say is what goes. Pardon my rudeness, but move. Now."

I swear I thought the woman would protest further, but at the end of the day, I was the Duke, and she the servant. She opened the door and I entered. She followed, along with the maids, wringing her hands as I tucked Sophia into my bed.

"Your Grace. Will you be sleeping on the divan? Or perhaps the floor?"

"No."

The maids were busy all over the room, gathering blankets, making tea, straightening whatever was crooked.

Mrs. Gap really look liked she might try to heave me out of my own room. Her worried gaze fell on Sophia. "Whose wife is she?"

"Irrelevant. But she will be the mistress of the Stoneheart family and the lady of this house. I expect you to treat her as such."

"Yes, Your Grace."

"That’s enough," I called out. "Everybody leave."