[i]“I’m sure you would want our boy to look like me as I am – according to more than one reliable source – a painfully handsome gentleman.”[/i]

“Oh! Is that so?” Her mouth dropped at his all too obvious vain statement, once again showing her his true colors. Claire laughed and shook her head, knowing she couldn’t respond. There were others around, so their playful banter would have to end for now. Besides, as soon as she laid eyes on the property all frustration at Nicholas’ arrogance vanished. “Oh…Nick,” she whispered, taking his arm and squeezing him close in excitement. “Home is beautiful, but it’s much older than this. This-…this is absolutely gorgeous. I love the little pond over there, it would be the perfect place to pick up a book or have a picnic, don’t you think?”

[i]“Do you like it so far?”[/i]

Claire nodded, walking closer to the entrance with him right beside her. “I do. I expected a lot less, to be perfectly honest, but…it [i]does[/i] make me happy.”

Nicholas spoke to Robert about the master bedroom, and the question had Claire hiding a smile. It didn’t take long to get there, even though she kept pulling Nicholas back when she would stop to admire a room they passed or the simple beauty in the staircase handrail. Robert had been right, she quickly saw. The room was bare. Yet she still nodded, her heels clicking against the wood floors as she let go of Nicholas and walked to the middle of the room. 

“Hold on, you’ve already ordered new furniture and you’re telling me I can change whatever I want?” she asked, turning to face him. “That seems a bit foolish to me. I trust you chose what would look best, at least for now. If the estate were horribly ugly I would be a bit more wary, but with the right pieces in here…” Again she turned, her arms out like she were about to start dancing. “This place will look like a dream.” Claire hated admitting this was his doing, but credit needed to be given where it was due. “I’m impressed. Thank you, Nicholas. Now let’s see. The bed will go right here,” she said, pointing to where she was standing, “And the couch will go over in that corner there. That way I can watch you curled up like a dog while I fall asleep.”

Again that joyful look filled her eyes as she came back to him, her gloved hands folded in front of her. “May I see the rest of the estate? I’d like to postpone going back as long as possible…”