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“Then let’s get you home. You’ve had a trying couple of days.”
“That sounds like the best thing you’ve said all day.” Eleanor patted his chest. “Let me get my things.”
Two minutes later, the two of them stepped out into the cool evening air. Eleanor hadn’t realized that she had spent all afternoon and most of the evening getting the orphans who had been lured away by Eric into the orphanage, getting them settled and giving them cuddles when they needed them. It broke Eleanor’s heart that they had been lied to about a better life, when it was a situation worse than the one they had been in before.
She linked her arm through Nathan’s, unable to stop herself from leaning her head on his shoulder. She was too tired to care what this might look like to anyone who might be out at this time of night.
“Did you talk to Eric?”
“I did.” Nathan let out a heavy sigh. He sounded just as worn out as she did. “He said that he was always told the truth about his parentage, and that he wanted the title once our father died. It was his right. But if he had simply come to me and explained himself, been a decent person about it, I would have handed the title over. There’s no way looking at him that I could have denied the fact he and I are brothers.”
“Instead, he chose to make an elaborate plot to kill you and take your place,” Eleanor said bitterly.
“Yes.” Nathan shook his head. “It’s really sad, because if he had gone about this legally, he could have gotten the title. It would have embarrassed Mother revealing that she had abandoned a new-born baby, no matter how unknowing it was. As it is, because of his...indiscretions, the title would have been stripped from him and given back to me, anyway.”
“But to involve your mother in this as well?” Eleanor shook her head. “That’s just cold.”
“His way of making her pay for abandoning him, I suppose. I still can’t believe she actually went along with it because of her stupid pride.”
Eleanor squeezed his arm. It had to hurt knowing that his own mother had been involved, even to a small capacity.
“We never think we’ll be illogical during a stressful moment. By the time we are of our right mind, we’ve already been sucked in and there isn’t a way out.”
“That sounds like the most sensible thing I’ve heard in a long time.”
“Good.” Eleanor frowned. “I had a feeling he wasn’t you, but I wasn’t sure. He was wearing black, which you say you don’t wear unless you’re in mourning. He was brusque with me, quite sharp. And when he kissed me…”
“Wait, what?” Nathan stopped short, spinning Eleanor around to face him. “He kissed you?”
“Don’t look at me like that? I wasn’t a willing participant.” Eleanor pressed her hands to Nathan’s chest, wishing she could ease the scowl on his face. “He didn’t...well, he didn’t kiss like you. That’s what really gave it away.”
Nathan’s eyes seemed to glow under the gaslight overhead. Then he gathered her into his arms.
“Good.”
His kiss was sweet, but it certainly wasn’t gentle. Eleanor wasn’t about to complain. She ran her fingers through his hair, sinking into the kiss. It felt like forever since he had kissed her, and Eleanor found herself greedy for more. She had never been greedy for anything before.
It shouldn’t be a bad thing to be greedy for this man, should it?
“What was that for?” Eleanor asked when they came up for air.
“I’m making up for the abysmal kiss you got from my brother.” Nathan grunted and shook his head. “Brother. My fellow soldiers are going to find this very amusing that I’m the twin brother of a criminal mastermind.”
“But you’re also the better brother. The good one.” Eleanor smiled as she cupped his jaw. “The one I love.”
Nathan grabbed her hand, pressing it to his cheek. His eyes never leaving hers.
“Say that again.”
“Which bit?”
“The last bit.”
Eleanor laughed. She reached up and tugged his head down. “I love you, Nathan Reynolds.” She kissed him. “Even if I want to knock your head against a wall.”
Nathan smiled. “I’m sure you can do that all you want one day. We still have a lot to discuss.”
“I’m not changing my stance.”
