by Jane Charles
“Not about your plans. My anger stems from not being asked,” Eve admitted. “Instead, you played at making me speak properly all to win a wager and so that I could locate a position as a governess when that wasn’t your intention at all.” She stood. “You didn’t deal honestly with me, Lord Kilsyth and I have no way of knowing if I can trust you. What other plans did you have that I know nothing about?”
“That’s just it, Eve.” Her turned to face her, coming forward. “There are no plans, at least none that resembled my original thoughts. I’d already dismissed the idea of you acting as my spy. I’ll admit, I had a hard time letting go of the plan, but I’ll not put you in danger.”
Eve recalled the list of words she’d written and decided to test what she thought the meanings were. “You wished to keep me. Believed me intelligent and thought I’d make a good spy, but wished to keep me safe.”
Chapter 28
Good God! It was if she could read his mind. “What all did I say?” Did he really wish to know?
Eve smirked and withdrew a list of words from her pocket and handed it over to him.
Hell, Pickmore, knew better, keep her, intelligent, good spy, Society, Eve, safe, devils, idiot, torture, Eve, run away, fool, eternity.
At least he hadn’t professed his love. When those words left his lips, he wanted to be able to watch her face and gauge the reaction in her green eyes.
Eve was angry, and possibly hated him, but he wasn’t willing to walk away. Not just yet.
After taking a deep breath, Henry approached. “I need you, Eve.”
“You can hire another maid or secretary,” she reminded him.
“Not for that, nor will you be my spy either.”
Her eyes widened. “Why not? After it was explained to me, I understood why you’d wish me to fulfill that role. My anger comes from being manipulated and not being told the truth.”
“For that, I apologize, but when that decision was made, I didn’t yet know you.”
“And you do now?” She arched a brow and crossed her arms over her breasts in challenge.
“Yes, I know you Eve.” He took a step forward. “I also realize that there is so much more to know. I can’t let you leave me.”
She sucked in a breath and took a step back.
“Having a ward thrust upon me was rather disconcerting, but we got along well, I’d like to think.”
“You are a tyrant.”
He chuckled. “Yes, I am. In fact, I have a number of flaws.”
Eve pursed her lips as she drew her eyebrows together in confusion.
“I readily admit that I’m an imperfect gentleman.”
This time she narrowed her eyes as if she didn’t trust him.
Henry couldn’t blame her, of course, but he needed to make Eve understand. It was now or never and by the end of this meeting, he’d know if she was lost to him forever.
“Eve, I’ve never in my life had such a difficult time expressing my thoughts. That is what you do to me.”
She bit her upper lip as if she was trying to keep from smiling.
She was enjoying this. She had the upper hand whether she realized it or not.
“I am a gentleman, a scholar. I study when I’m not teaching and my favorite outing is to the Antiquities Society. I’m not one for balls and picnics and teas, and frankly, other than my housekeeper and maid, I never thought to have any other type of woman in my household until it became necessary.”
“Necessary?”
“Since I inherited and became an earl, my mother has continued to remind me that I have a duty.”
“Oh.” She nodded.
“Obviously, as I’m only seven and twenty, I assumed I had several years until a woman was underfoot and disturbing my life.”
“That woman is gone and won’t be underfoot any longer, Lord Kilsyth.” Her terse tone took him back for a moment.
“Blast!” he pushed his fingers through his hair in frustration. “I’m going about this all wrong.”
“Why don’t you say it plainly, Lord Kilsyth? It is your forte, not to palliate or offer flowery speeches.”
He was doing this wrong, in that Eve was right.
“Very well.” He stepped forward and took her hands in his. “What I’m trying to tell you, Eve, is that in the madness of teaching you to speak properly, and coming to know you, I also lost my heart.”
Her mouth popped open as her eyes widened.
“I’m not very good at showing it and I certainly have no practice in voicing my emotions. Opinions yes, but not emotions. So, there you have it.”
“Have it?” she questioned.
“Have I not been clear?”
“I’m not certain.” she answered slowly.
Of course, he’d have to say the words. “Eve Doyle, I am quite in love with you and I don’t wish to live without you.”
In love with her?
Eve’s heart soared.
“However, Eve, I’m a difficult man.”
“I know,” she agreed without thought even as a smile pulled at her lips.
“I can’t promise to always treat you softly, though I’ll try. That I can promise, but I’m often unaware of how my tone might sound to another. My thoughts are scattered, and at other times focused.”
“I already know this about you, Lord Kilsyth.”
“I fear I’m not capable of changing my nature or my manners.”
“I don’t care about that. I care about your respect, your trust. I need to know that you will care about me and not dismiss me. I wish for respect and not to be set aside.”
Kilsyth pulled back. “I have the utmost respect for you Eve. No woman has ever excited me as you have.”
Eve snorted. “I find that hard to believe. You are one of the Devils of Dalston.”
“Was,” he corrected. “Besides, none of that was real. You, however, and what I feel in my heart is the realest emotion I’ve ever experienced. You can’t begin to know the panic I suffered when you disappeared. I searched everywhere I could think. My friends combed through Covent Garden, but you’d completely disappeared.”
“I needed to see my sister,” Eve answered, recalling that horrible night.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t learn about the loss of your brother until Jeffries returned that evening.”
“Thank you,” she murmured.
“I understand the need to see your sister, but you nearly tore me in two.”
And, for the first time, Eve regretted not leaving him a note. But how was she to know he even cared, let alone loved her. “I’m sorry for not telling you about his loss and my need to leave.”
“That is behind us now.” He squeezed her hand. “But, how are you and your sister, with the loss of your brother?”
“Truthfully, I’m not certain. I was hardly here and had broken the news to Cait before the girls became ill…I’ve had little time to mourn him, Lord Kilsyth.”
At that, he pulled her into his arms. “You have time now and I’ll be here to offer what comfort you need.”
She smiled into his chest as his arms wrapped tightly around her. She needed his arms and until that moment, she hadn’t realized that Kilsyth was her new home.
Tears sprang to her eyes but she quickly brushed them away.
“What say you, Eve? Will you marry me?”
He really wished for her to be his wife and not just return to London and continue on as they had been.
Is this what she wanted?
Yes, of course it was, but as he’d pointed out his flaws, she’d best point out her own.
After taking a deep breath, Eve pulled back and walked away.
“You’ve pointed out your flaws, Lord Kilsyth, and I think it only fair that I share my own.”
“Henry.”
“What?”
“Henry. It’s my name and I prefer to hear that on your lips and not the title I should have never gained.”
Eve couldn’t help the smile. “Henry.”
“Ye
s, that’s much better,” he grinned, then crossed his arms over his chest and settled onto the arm of the settee. It was as if he already knew her answer, or perhaps he was forcing confidence.
“As to my flaws.”
“Which are few, of that I’m certain.”
“Henry, I do not take well to being ordered about. I will not be walked upon or dictated to, even though after marriage I’d be nothing more than your property.”
“I don’t expect you to.”
“You don’t?”
“Oh, Eve, one of the things I admire about you is that you don’t put up with, well, me. You are what makes me a better man. I can’t change everything about myself, but you remind me when I’ve gone too far.”
“You’ll ask my opinion?”
“If I don’t, I’m certain you’ll offer it anyway.” He grinned.
“I’m not one to demure and sit and stitch the day away, Lord…Henry, and if we are to be married, I’d like to continue in the roles I’ve been fulfilling.
“But you said you didn’t wish to be my maid or secretary.”
“That is when I believed that was all you wanted of me. However, as your wife, it is my duty to see to your care and comfort.”
“Oh, I like the sound of that very much,” he grinned.
“I shan’t be shunned from your masculine domain once we wed and sent up to the parlor to be a good wife?”
“Put such nonsense from your mind, Eve. I need you!” Henry rose from the seat and went to her, taking Eve’s hands in his. “As my wife and everything else. Don’t you understand, without you, the day doesn’t begin. Without you, I’m completely lost.” His grin widened. “Though I doubt we’ll be spending near the same amount of time in the library as we once did.”
Eve wasn’t so certain what he meant as there was a mischievous gleam in his grey eyes, but she dismissed it.
“However, I will not let you take advantage of me or assume what is good for you is also good for me. Do not make decisions on my behalf.”
“I’ll do my best to seek your opinion,” he assured her.
“I’d like to go places as well. The British Museum for one. Art museums would be another. I don’t want to be holed up for days on end.”
“Of course not. Further, I’ll be happy to attend Ascot each year.” Then he frowned. “Does that include balls and such?”
Eve laughed. “Only if your mother requires it of us.” An impish smile pulled at her lips. “Or, you decide you wish for me to spy.”
“And have to stand by while half of London’s bachelors escort you about the room and dance with you. I think not.”
It had never occurred to Eve that Henry could be jealous and she found quite a bit of joy at the very idea.
“Answer me, Eve. Will you marry me?”
All she could do was stare at him, her heart in her throat, with a smile that caused her face to ache.
“Eve?”
“Yes Henry, it would be my honor to be your wife.”
He blew out a sigh as his shoulders dropped.
“I can only hope that in time, you can come to love me as much as I love you. But, even if you don’t, I’m going to do everything in my power to win your love.”
“That won’t be necessary.” Eve assured him as she stepped into his arms. “I’ve been in love with you since before I left. It was part of the reason I did leave. I needed to protect my heart before it was taken from me for good.”
“Oh, Eve, we’ve both been fools, haven’t we?’
Tears dampened her eyes when she looked up at him. “Yes. It appears that we have been,” she answered right before his lips claimed hers.
Epilogue
Henry had wanted to marry immediately, of course. Once Eve had agreed, Henry feared that if they didn’t speak the vows immediately that she might change her mind. He was wise enough to realize that Eve was a gift and he was unworthy of her. Yet, he’d not let her go.
However, the doctor advised that Henry should not travel so soon after his illness, as he may suffer a relapse. Nor did he have the patience to wait three weeks for the banns to be read. Besides, from what he understood, those would have needed to take place in his parish church in Lancashire. As one of Henry’s strongest flaws was his lack of patience, waiting that length of time to have the message delivered and the banns called, was out of the question.
As Eve’s sister was at the school, and he’d not ask his bride to marry without family, and some of Henry’s closest friends were at Harrington Manor, it stood to reason that they’d be married here, as soon as possible. Thankfully, Norbright, being the good friend that he was, had traveled to London on Henry’s behalf, obtained a Special License and accompanied Henry’s mother back to Harrington Manor. Henry knew that if he had married without her presence, he would have never heard the end of it.
During his time waiting, he and Eve took long walks on the beach and visited with his friends, and Henry came to know Cait, Eve’s only living relative. He also came to know the other teachers at the school and Miss Bernadette Hamilton had become a regular dinner companion. Not for himself, but because Lady Norbright wished for more ladies to even out the number at the dinner table. Keegan and Ashford were already familiar with Cait and Miss Hamilton from their visit last Christmas. However, by all appearances, it was Pickmore who had developed an interest in Miss Hamilton. The two had been in Egypt at the same time the artifacts were recovered from Napoleon’s army and knew a number of the same people, but had not met. Further, the two had become quite determined to locate the stolen mummy and artifacts and had made quite a game out of trying to determine who had taken the items and where they might be found. Apparently, the curse that the students so feared was not a deterrent to the likes of Pickmore or Miss Hamilton, and Henry had to wonder if he was losing his friend to a mummy or to Miss Hamilton. But, heaven help Kirksbury if the mummy did end up here. Despite the fact that no more strange occurrences, illnesses or injuries had occurred, Norbright’s sisters still feared being near Pickmore and the curse being transferred to them. Luckily Norbright laughed the whole thing off and offered to let Pickmore take up residence in the manor, as it would keep the meddlesome students off of his property.
Now the day had arrived, barely past a sennight since he’d asked for Eve’s hand, but far longer than he would have preferred to have waited. He dressed with care and suffered such a state of nervousness like he’d experienced only once in his life—the day he had asked Eve to be his wife.
“What if she changes her mind?” Henry whispered to his mother.
“Could you blame her?”
That wasn’t the assurance he wished to hear. She was his mother. Shouldn’t she promise him that Eve wouldn’t disappear and that the two would have a good marriage?
“I didn’t have to invite you,” he grumbled.
“Yes, you did, Dear.” She patted his cheek with her gloved hand.
“Your support would be welcome,” he reminded her.
At that his mother turned. “Henry, you’ve never needed my support or approval. You’ve been your own man since before you were off leading strings.” She smiled at him, love in her eyes. “You excelled in your studies until your tutor was at a loss as to what to teach you and we welcomed the day you left for Eton. Not to be rid of you, but we knew you’d be happy in a place where you would learn and study. And, you found friends that matched your intelligence and personality. You were finally with those who understood you.”
He wasn’t so difficult to understand, was he? “I thought I was an embarrassment.”
“Not really,” she chuckled. “Not that I don’t love you, but at times, when Society doesn’t know you as I do, it can be trying.”
He never cared for the opinion of Society, and perhaps therein lie the issue.
“You can be caustic, but in a way, it’s part of your charm. Further, Eve will never cower at a harsh tone, but stand up to you. She is exactly what you need.”
“Thank you,
Mother.” Those might be the nicest words she’d ever spoken to him. For the longest time, he’d felt like an outcast in his family as he had little in common with his father and even less with his older brother. In fact, when he had inherited, Henry was fairly certain he would fail the example they had presented. That was why he not only attended every parliamentary session but kept himself abreast of the issues so he did not fail the man who had raised him.
“I predict that you and Eve will be quite happy and if you present my first grandchild within the year, I’ll be quite happy.”
Henry said nothing, as it wasn’t proper, but he had every intention of finally working on that grandchild when he and his wife retired this evening.
Wife! Eve was finally going to be his wife.
At one time, Eve had dreamed of the perfect wedding with the perfect gentleman, but when everything was lost, she had put such girlish dreams behind her. However, despite everything, today couldn’t have been more magical.
Though the wedding was small, Eve had Cait by her side. Further, she had no need for a fancy ceremony or even a wedding breakfast, but Claudia had insisted on providing such and it had been perfect. And Henry, he had his mother and his friends. The two of them needed little else.
All in all, it was a perfect day, filled with laughter and joy.
“I’m happy for you, Eve,” Cait said as the two walked along the beach. They’d excused themselves from the gathering to take some moments between just the two of them. Henry had kissed her cheek and promised to be waiting for her return. In her brother’s quest for riches and an easier life, he’d actually delivered Eve to the one person who could complete it. If only he’d lived long enough so he could see that for once, a bad decision had worked out for the best.
“I never dreamed I’d find such happiness.”
“He’s not who I would have picked for you, but I can also see where the two of you are perfect for each other.”
“How is that?” Did her sister not approve? Cait had not said anything before and now it was too late to bring up any misgiving about the union.