Zeke’s brows hitched.“Had? Past tense?”
She licked her lips and told herself to ignore his, mere inches from hers. “One of the many ways Garrick has taken revenge against my family for the slight he feels he received.”
“James sold off the collection?”
“Sold. Burned. Tossed. Your guess is as good as mine. I only know when we arrived in Maidstone last week, my grandfather’s library had been decimated.”
“I see. I hadn’t realized.” Zeke’s eyes held a wealth of empathy—as if he truly understood how much those inanimate things meant to her.
“I did manage to salvage one totem. Something I’d tucked beneath my mattress, before I knew I’d be ru—before I knew I’d be leaving Hastings House indefinitely.”
He arched a brow. “What’s that?”
She pulled a long ribbon from her bodice. On the end, dangled a shiny gold band. “My grandfather’s pinkie ring. See here, it has the Maidstone insignia.” She held the band out to him.
He fingered the ring, studying it briefly, then lifted his gaze to hers. “The metal’s warm.”
Kitty inched back, tucking the ribbon into her bodice.
He huffed out a breath. “I should go,” he muttered. “It’s getting late. Our discussion can wait until morning.”
“If you don’t mind, I’d rather press on tonight. There’s something I wish to discuss, as well. Something I’d rather no-one else overhear.”
He slung one arm over the back of the couch, angling his torso toward her. “Very well. Go on.”
“You go first.”
“No, I insist.” He gestured magnanimously toward her while bending one long leg to prop his foot on a small ottoman.
Good God, they could be at this all night.
She drew a deep breath and took the plunge. “I was wondering…that is, unless I misunderstood at dinner, you haven’t filled your brother and Lord Randall in on all the pertinent facts concerning our engagement?”
He gazed at her with slumberous eyes. “Correct.”
“Explain yourself, my lord.”
“Are you so anxious to have our betrothal denounced?”
“No. I merely assumed, Caden being your brother, you would tell him the whole of it.”
He studied his bent knee, plucking at the fabric. “The best way to assure your safety is to maintain the utmost discretion. There’ll be plenty of time to explain everything to Caden and Randall after your cousin is no longer a threat.”
She gazed at him, wonder unfurling in her chest. “You kept quiet for my sake?”
He shifted in his seat. “In my experience, secrets work best when shared with the fewest people possible.”
“You don’t trust them?”
“I trust them.” He slanted her a look. “Do you have a particular wish for Randall or Caden to know the whole of it?”
She huffed. The truth was complicated. She didn’t like to lie, but telling them now would be beyond embarrassing. “No.”
He leaned forward, slapped his hands on his thighs, and rose. “It’s settled, then. We’ll leave things as they are.” He strode toward the bookshelf, pausing near the ladder when something on the floor drew his attention.
Kitty followed his gaze. Her cast off slippers. Her toes curled reflexively into the carpet.
He scooped up the slippers and sauntered toward her. “Caden and Randall will probably stay at Chissington Hall for several weeks. You do realize we’ll need to do a better job of acting the part of a soon-to-be-wed couple.”
