Free The Aristocrat's Lady (Love Inspired Historical) by Mary Moore Page B

want to be normal, Toby.”
    “Lady Nick, it ain’t fair and never ’as been. There’s bad folks everywhere deserve this more’n you. Sometimes I can’t understand ’ow you still trust in that God of yours. But I won’t stop you…from feeling normal, that is. If’n you wanna go ’ear your gent give a speech, I’ll take you. But you must promise me, Lady Nick, promise me you’ll do everything I tell ya to when I tell ya to, else that nightmare of yours will come true.”
    Nicole smiled at him from the bottom of her heart. “Thank you, my friend,” she whispered. Then a little wistfully she said, “Toby, he is not ‘my’ gent and please, never, ever think about leaving me again.”
     
    As their carriage arrived, she was still trying to calm Toby. Inwardly, she kept trying to calm herself.
    “You will be at my side the entire time, and we can sit in the very back of the gallery. It cannot be so crowded there, and it will be easier to leave. I promiseI will listen to everything you tell me. There must be some women who come to support their men. We could sit where they sit. We would not be conspicuous there,” Nicole pleaded with him.
    Toby may have given in, but he was still deadly serious. “’ave I got your word the minute I say we need to be leaving, we go? You won’t go a questioning my judgment?” His English became worse the angrier and more worried he got.
    “I promise, Toby. Thank you so very much.” Thank you, Lord, for getting me over this first hurdle! Keep us safe, Father. She wanted Toby to allow her to hear the speech, and she thought this might just be a step in overcoming her own cowardice.
    When they stepped from the carriage, the Parliamentary guards were directing dignitaries and visitors to the correct entrances. Fortunately, Nicole was so engrossed in making this work that she did not care what others around her were doing. She heard the buzzing voices, but Toby noticed the surprised stares and began to rethink the outing. “Lady Nick…”
    A guard stopped them, questioning their intentions.
    “Sir, we are here to listen to Lord Devlin address the House,” Nicole said in her haughtiest voice. She hoped it would intimidate the man.
    It did not.
    “Mum, you may enter to the left there. That door leads to the upper galleries. But if there is not enough room for all of the gentlemen who wish to attend, the women must make way.” The guard was insolent, evenadding under his breath, “Women in Parliament! Next they’ll be asking to join the gentlemen at White’s!”
    “Toby, let us go. Be sure we are in very secluded seats, and we shall leave as soon as Lord Devlin speaks.”
    Her thoughts turned from leaving, however, as soon as they entered the indicated door. Nicole held on to Toby’s arm tightly, but excitedly whispered, “Toby, do you not feel awed? Tremendous decisions are made here that affect all of England.” Her tone was reverent and her senses heightened as she concentrated on the power that seemed to emanate from the room itself. Oh how she wished she could see it!
    “I’m more concerned with getting you settled, my lady, so don’t be distracting me with your talk of ’igh and mighty England.” Toby mumbled that the “upper gallery” didn’t seem that much safer than the crowd below. “I don’t know, Lady Nick, you can still see right good from back ’ere. What if one of them gents from down there notices you?”
    “Do not worry, Toby,” she said again as they settled into the hardback chairs. Nicole could smell the wood-paneled, hallowed halls of the famous room. She imagined the great and heated debates that had gone on there. A sense of wonder overwhelmed her.
    In the midst of her awe, she heard his voice from the floor below in a clear and powerful tone. She had not been listening to the much-regulated procedures of the institution so she missed his introduction. Unexpectedly, his voice made her tingle and the pride she felt in knowing him caused