Colin remained silent, waiting for her to continue. His half-sister didn’t keep him waiting long. “You are in love with her. The affection appears to be mutual.”
“What makes you think—”
“I saw the way you looked at each other, Colin,” Victoria reached for his arm. “Your mutual affection was obvious, and anyone standing in my position would have taken notice.”
He opened his mouth, desperate to deny her accusations; however, it was clear to him that Victoria wouldn’t accept anything less than the truth.
“You are quite astute, Tori. I do care for Eve,” he admitted in a matter-of-fact tone, to belie the importance of his words. “I have for a long time, well before she and Tristan became betrothed.”
Finally, he admitted it aloud. The words formed in his brain, and Colin knew what he was about to admit before he did so. Still, in spite of his attempts to sound nonchalant, the words hit him like an anvil.
Why did his declaration affect him so?
As if he hadn’t said enough, Colin continued. “I wanted to marry her. I waited too long, and as you well know, she is currently betrothed to my brother.”
Colin paused, unable to comprehend why he
was admitting so much to a stranger, blood tie or not. Was it because he sought absolution? Was it because he hoped for censure? To make it easier to do what he knew was right – to stay the course, away from Eve, his desires be damned?
Victoria tipped her head to the side. “Please tell me you’re not trying to steer Eve away from your brother.”
“No, I refuse to hurt Tristan,” Colin assured her. “You must believe that.”
She squeezed her eyes shut then began to rub her temples with her fingertips. “I believe you,” she mumbled.
“Could you sound a wee bit more convincing?” he drawled.
Tori again met his gaze. “Sorry, I was thinking,” she muttered, shaking her head before continuing, her tone now surprisingly blithe. “Shall we take a turn in the gardens?”
“I beg your pardon?” Colin blinked, reeling from the sudden change of subject.
“Walk with me,” she linked her arm with his then led him into the maze of tall shrubbery. As they rounded a corner, Victoria began, “I know we don’t know each other well. To the rest of polite society we are bound by chance, your sister married to my brother. But we know better, don’t we?”
She paused long enough for him to nod in affirmation. “You are my blood. As happy as Sebastian and I are to have found you, I realize how awkward this must be for you. Discovering that your mother had an affair with our father and that you are a product of that tryst … what is good news for me has turned your life upside down.”
Colin studied his shoes. Although he had no doubt that Victoria’s motives were pure, the topic of his parentage was one he tried to avoid at all costs.
“We may not have grown up together, you and I, but you are still my brother and I love you already, Colin,” her words were rich with sincerity. Victoria crossed in front of him, forcing him to face her by tipping his chin up. “I want you to be happy; I truly do.”
“However …” he tilted his head to one side, waiting for her to continue.
She frowned. “I want the same for Tristan, and the more I consider what I just witnessed, I believe that he deserves better than to marry someone who is in love with you.”
“I beg your pardon?” Colin gaped at her, confused by the sharp turn in direction his discussion with Victoria had taken.
“What I witnessed isn’t as innocent as you wish me to believe,” Victoria wrung her hands. “There was meaning there, history and a depth of emotions that I suspect neither you nor Eve is prepared to face just yet. Tristan deserves better.”
Frustrated with the course of their conversation, Colin pulled away, tossing the rose Emma had given him earlier in the grass. “What would cause you imply that Eve is in love with me?”
“The fact that she does indeed love you,” Victoria’s voice was steady, her expression full of candor. “Don’t feign ignorance. Not to me and not about this. You and I both witnessed Eve’s heart on full display for you.”
Again unnerved by her intense gaze, Colin proceeded to a marble bench surrounded by rosebushes. Their heady fragrance filled his lungs as he slumped upon the hard seat. What in bloody hell was it about roses today? Between Eve wearing one when she visited him earlier and now a garden filled with their scent … roses would always remind him of Eve, from this day forward.
“What would you like me to say, Victoria?” he asked, glancing upwards, studying the azure sky dotted with white frothy clouds, a complete contrast to his now foul mood.
Victoria sat beside him, tracing the stitching in her periwinkle satin skirts with her forefinger. “I know you don’t want to hurt Tristan, and that is honorable. What happens when Tristan realizes that his wife doesn’t love him and that he was her second choice?”
“You honestly don’t think that she loves him?” Colin turned towards his half-sister while every inch of his skin was suddenly prickling, alert.
“I don’t know,” Victoria shook her head, her eyes fixed on his. “She’s so reserved with him. Even when she thinks they’re alone, I have never witnessed her gazing at him the way she does you.”
Colin considered Victoria’s statement. Could it be true? Did Eve really love him more than Tristan? Is it possible that she does not love Tristan at all? If either possibility was correct, neither Eve nor Tristan would be happy, which led Colin back to the same predicament.
He refused to hurt his brother.
Victoria must have read his thoughts, for she added, “If it is true, Tristan will be devastated even if you don’t pursue a relationship with her. He is far too intelligent and intuitive not to notice.”
“What do you suggest I do?”
“Discover the truth?” She patted his knee, as if in encouragement. “It’s not a pleasant proposal but what other choice do you have? You know better than anyone what damage duplicity can cause. If Eve doesn’t love him or if she loves you more, the truth will eventually be uncovered, and Tristan will feel like a fool. We both know that he is a proud man and would never forgive such a betrayal.”
Colin studied her. Victoria’s eyes were brimming with understanding, and at last her genuine concern made sense to him.
“You’re in love with him,” Colin said, his tone much more accusatory than he intended.
Victoria yanked her hand away from him as if his very statement had seared her skin. She then stood, “We must return to the main house. They’ll be wondering where we’ve gone.”
She began to retrace their steps, but this time Colin was quick on her heels, reaching for her arm and turning her to face him.
“You love him,” he said. This time his voice was gentle, understanding.
“Tristan considers me to be a friend, a fact that I accepted long ago. I assure you that I am not encouraging you so that he may become eligible.”
Victoria’s eyes locked with his, radiating truth. She cared for his brother so much that Victoria wanted him to be happy even if it meant Tristan living a fulfilling life with another.
Colin felt the same about Eve.
In that instant, it became imperative that he discover if Eve truly loved his brother. God help him. Colin couldn’t rest until he knew the answer.
“You are exceptional,” he chucked Victoria under the chin. “Tristan is a fool for not seeing it.”
“No, he’s not. He may be blind and completely lacking in common sense when it comes to yours truly,” she quipped, her animated tone meeting her wry grin. “But he isn’t foolish. I wouldn’t care for him if he were. After all, I have much better taste than that.”
Colin laughed then retraced his steps, picking up the rose Emma had given him then handing it to Victoria.
“A discarded rose,” Victoria exclaimed, clutching it to her chest with great fanfare. “To what do I owe this great honor?”
�
�For being a wonderful sister,” he offered her his arm as they proceeded to the main house.
Victoria arched her brow. “You hardly know me. I could be the most imprudent woman in all of England.”
“Then God help me for taking your advice,” he shook his head. “No, if there’s one thing you should know about me, it’s that I have excellent intuition. I’m never wrong about my first impressions.”
“Is that so?” she asked, looping her arm through his. “You must be entertaining at parties.”
Colin smiled at her sarcasm; a familial trait to be sure.
As they approached the main house, Victoria stopped and turned to face him. “I have always considered myself fortunate to have Sebastian for a brother.”
She paused for a moment, studying the rose as she twirled it between her fingers before adding, “I realize now that I am the luckiest of ladies, for I am
blessed with not one, but two such brothers.”
Victoria kissed him on the cheek. “Welcome home, Colin.”
Colin watched her ascend the stone steps leading to the terrace, his feet planted firmly on the thick lawn blanketing the earth.
Home.
What does a home comprise, after all? Is it merely a dwelling with bricks, mortar, and furnishings? Or is a home more than a physical building? Is a place considered home because of those who reside there?
He never expected to feel such acceptance anywhere, let alone at the family estate of his illegitimate father. His newfound sister surprised him, Victoria’s words and actions leaving him speechless. Surely, he was the fortunate one for Colin knew he didn’t deserve such family.
As Colin watched Victoria climb the steps, he turned, surprised to find Eve’s intense stare boring down upon him from the terrace. The moment was fleeting as she quickly turned on her heel and disappeared from view.
Why did she glare at him like she was jealous?
With each step he took, Colin silently pieced the events together. Eve didn’t know Victoria was his sister, of that he was certain. Gwen had assured him that the family had told no one of it, not even their closest friends. So the scene Eve witnessed between him and Victoria could be perceived as questionable.
Eve is jealous.
Molten blood pounded through his veins; his heart pumping harder at his discovery. For the first time, Colin believed Victoria to be correct. Eve certainly wouldn’t be jealous if she didn’t still care for him. It was true – it had to be. Why else would Eve react in such a manner?
Colin slowed to a stop when he reached the top step. Until now, he remained determined to sacrifice his own happiness for the sake of his brother and Eve’s; however, his conversation with Victoria and this latest turn of events changed everything. Seeds of selfishness had taken root, burrowing through to his very soul.
He didn’t travel to hell and back to watch the woman he loved marry someone else.
From the first moment he first saw her, bathed in moonlight crying quietly on a terrace, Eve had stolen a piece of his soul. From that day forward, he lived for her.
Even surrounded by bloodlust and brutality, the memory of her helped him survive every sweltering day and every cold night. He remembered Eve bathed in the warmth of bright sunshine, her blonde hair glowing like a halo, her full lips and high cheekbones the soft pink hue of a painting he once saw at the Royal Academy of Arts. Her mesmerizing smile and dazzling eyes the color of a dewy spring garden made him feel like he’d been graced by an angel.
Just as he would rise from the ashes of his past, Colin would discover Eve’s true feelings for him.
Little did anyone suspect that Colin MacAlistair had returned home a new man. He would take great pains to ensure no one would ever suspect the lengths to which he would go to reclaim the woman he loved.
God help him. Colin couldn’t live without knowing the truth and he wouldn’t rest until he had uncovered it.
Chapter 3
Eve couldn’t believe her eyes, certain that she must be imagining things. What if though, for the sake of argument, Colin were to court Victoria or any eligible female for that matter? Why should the mere possibility affect Eve so?
Her nagging conscience whispered, You care about him.
She refused to listen. Moreover, Eve resented Colin for stirring such contemplation within her.
“There you are,” Gwen looped her arm through her brother’s giving him a gentle squeeze. Eve realized that she was staring and quickly turned her attention to the opulent place settings in front of her.
“Fiona,” Gwen reached the table, “allow me to introduce my brother Colin.”
Her grandmother’s introduction to Colin provided Eve the opportunity to study the scene before her without appearing too obvious.
“Oh, my dear, welcome home!” Fiona beamed as peacock feathers from her gown drifted upon the soft breeze.
Showing no air of disapproval at the woman’s ostentatious choice in garments, Colin bowed and kissed the back of the Dowager Viscountess’s hand.
Based upon Fiona’s animated expression and rosy cheeks, Colin had already passed the Viscountess’s test without saying one word.
He’s getting off too easy.
The force and speed at which her anger reared its ugly head surprised Eve. After all, what difference could it possibly make if her grandmother likes Colin?
Eve knew the answer all too well – because she always imagined that Colin and Fiona would get along. It was her dearest wish that they would be a family.
Again, Eve was reminded of just how much she had lost.
“Your sister is thrilled to have you home at last and I can see why. I dare say, you are charming. And what beautiful blue eyes you have, darling,” the Viscountess said as Colin escorted Fiona to her seat. “Neither your sister nor brother has blue eyes, do they?”
What an odd question.
“No, we’re not as fortunate,” Gwen replied as she ushered her brother towards Eve.
“Allow me to introduce Fiona’s granddaughter, Eve,” Gwen proclaimed.
Eve offered Colin her hand under silent protest. To do anything different would alert the others to the fact that she already knew him, and that was the last thing she wanted.
Colin kissed the back of her hand, his azure gaze scrutinizing her response to his touch. It disarmed her, causing Eve to pull away from him in a deliberate effort to create as much distance as possible between them.
No one seemed to have noticed as Sebastian announced, “Please be seated, everyone.”
Eve’s grandmother continued, “Your father had brown eyes, yes?” Fiona asked Colin, who looked rather uncomfortable as he took his seat next to his sister.
Gwen answered for him again. “Yes, our father had brown eyes. Colin inherited our mother’s beautiful blue eyes.”
“Isn’t that extraordinary,” Fiona smiled, her voice light. It was obvious that the Viscountess remained oblivious to Colin’s dislike of the subject. “All this time I believed that one inherits his or her father’s eye color, not his or her mother’s.”
“If that is true then even at birth, my brother defied convention,” Gwen teased.
Fiona laughed, her curls bobbing about her cherubic face. “How delightful!”
Gwen leaned towards her brother before whispering something inaudible. Despite craning her neck in an attempt to hear their conversation, Eve was unable to discern one word since a servant with extremely poor timing chose that very moment to place her plate in front of her with a soft clank.
With great ease, Sebastian turned the conversation to Victoria and her art. His sister appeared quick to discuss her work, having painted all day apparently. Victoria then mentioned the fan Fiona had made for her, and the Dowager Viscountess joined their lively dialogue.
Eve watched the scene with great interest, noting that Colin and Gwen were still in the midst of their private dialogue. Gwen squeezed Colin’s hand before picking up her fork. He smiled in response though his once vibrant eyes r
emained flat.
Eve continued to study him throughout their meal, noting that he smiled when appropriate and laughed at all of her grandmother’s jokes; yet, beyond his cordial façade, his eyes remained unanimated, the spark that she’d witnessed years earlier now all but extinguished.
It was as if Colin hid behind a well-crafted mask of manners and polite conversation. When prodded, he was a dutiful brother happy to be home and the embodiment of a polite dinner companion. All the while, his eyes betrayed his unease.
Colin was not the same man Eve once knew – that fact was clear whenever Eve dared to look deep enough.
What had happened to him to precipitate such a drastic change? If she hadn’t seen him earlier this afternoon with his niece, if Eve hadn’t shared their private moment before Victoria’s arrival, she wouldn’t have recognised even the slightest similarity between this man and the one she was well acquainted with years earlier.
When Colin gazed into Eve’s eyes in the garden, when he caressed her cheek … he was the old Colin then. More intense perhaps, but the Colin she once loved nonetheless.
By the time the final course was served, Eve had no answers, just more questions swirling about her brain.
Why did this man always bring forth more questions than answers?
“Darling,” her grandmother bent down and kissed her on the cheek. Eve realized she was again staring at Colin and tore her eyes away from his profile.
“Shall we stay a little while longer?” Fiona suggested, her cheeks rosy and eyes alight with joy. “I’d love to spend more time with the twins. Perhaps read them a bedtime story.”
The duke and duchess defied convention, especially when it came to their children. Unlike most nobles, they took a real parenting approach to raising Emma and Nicholas. Between the duke, duchess, and Victoria, the family spent more time with the twins than their nanny did. Colin playing with Emma today was further proof.
Eve grinned, well aware that the Dowager Viscountess’s legendary bedtime stories were always animated and rarely accomplished the desired effect. More often than not they kept the children awake and clamoring for a second tale instead of lulling them to sleep.
Enticing Eve: Scandalous Secrets, Book 2 Page 6