Chapter Nineteen: An Unexpected Connection

Emma's POV

I spent the entire night after our dinner replaying our conversation in my head. "It's a date," I had said, and immediately, embarrassment washed over me like a tidal wave. Why had I uttered those words? They carried a weight of meaning far too intimate for what Nicholas had proposed. He wanted me there as a form of support and his nurse, clearly not as a date.

After a night of fitful sleep, I awoke with a deep sense of nervousness. Tonight, I will accompany Nicholas to the packed event. The thought of the upcoming night loomed over me as I made my way to the kitchen, determined to get a head start on breakfast. I hoped that a well-prepared meal might keep him in a good mood.

As I stepped into the brightly lit kitchen, the comforting scent of freshly baked bread and sizzling bacon greeted me. But to my surprise, the maid Susan was already bustling about, placing the finishing touches on an elaborate breakfast spread.

"Oh, good morning, Miss Emma," Susan greeted warmly.