“Where did you put them, Boyle?” Ian asked.
“I was uncertain, so I left them in the library,” the butler answered, only to have his words followed by a burst of bright laughter.
“Oh, Boyle, you should have known you couldn’t leave me there for long!”
Hero and Ian both turned to see Daphne Kennedy poised in the doorway with her younger brother lingering just behind her. Daphne continued into the room, pulling off her gloves as she came. Her gaze locked firmly on Ian as she approached, holding out her hand. “I don’t know what he was thinking, my lord, coming to ask if I’d be welcomed. Of course, I’m welcome, aren’t I?”
“Miss Kennedy. In truth, I thought after our lastencounter, it would be some time before you graced Cuilean with your presence once more.”
Hero looked at him curiously from across the music room, wondering what the encounter entailed when emphasized in such a fashion.
“Oh, that. It’s in the past. No hard feelings, of course.” Daphne withdrew her hand when Ian made no move to take it. “I wanted to speak with you once more now that I have a plan that might suit both of us.” Daphne turned in a circle, spotting Hero next to the piano. “What is she doing here?”
Ian’s eyes met Hero’s and she could read in them everything from apology to humor. “Like yourself, Lady Ayr seems to consider Cuilean her home. I have welcomed her.”
Though Ian prompted some amusement with his mild use of the word ‘welcome’—really, it had seemed more like being enfolded than a lukewarm welcome—Hero couldn’t stop her lips from twitching unpleasantly at the thought of speaking to Robert’s niece. Theirs had long been a contentious relationship. “Hello, Daphne, it’s been a long time.”
Daphne turned away without returning the apathetic greeting. “It’s a wee bit late for music, don’t you think? Boyle, have my bags taken to the State Room.”
Hero’s eyes meet Ian’s and she began to speak but Boyle cut in. “The State Room is currently occupied.”
“By whom?”
Raising a hand, Ian stepped forward. “You could hardly expect Lady Ayr to resume the marchioness’s chambers.”
Daphne didn’t hesitate. “I will take them then.”
“I believe the same underlying principle applies,” Ian replied just as promptly.
It was easy to see that Ian’s lack of welcome and capitulation to her wishes was trying Daphne’s notoriously unsteady temper. Hero had seen it all too often over the years when Daphne did not get her way. She was pompous and superior without having justification for either one. Robert’s older sister had married badly, leaving behind her wealth and position to wed a nephew of the Earl of Cassillis, a mere lawyer.
“Surely you don’t expect me to take rooms on the second floor?” Daphne said with mocking laughter.
Ian only shrugged. “The duke seems to like them well enough.”
Daphne shot a surprised glance at Beaumont. She seemed conflicted for a moment upon discovering that the rumpled old man in his nightshirt slowly turning the crank on the music box was a genuine duke. She started to curtsey prettily but the duke just scowled at her.
“You’re a very pretty girl,” he told her. “You should smile more. That frown makes your eyes look mean.”
Daphne’s eyes narrowed a bit more before she rolled them. “It doesn’t signify. As family, I should have a family chamber.”
“The only other chambers available on the first floor are the nursery,” Boyle said, earning Daphne’s stony stare. He seemed pleased to add, “There are several fine guesthouses on the estate as well, if you’d like.”
“My lord!” Daphne protested. “Surely you don’t expect to treat me like a…” She fell silent, expectantly waiting for Ian to negate the butler’s words. Her hopes were in vain.
“Guest,” Ian finished for her. “An unannounced and unexpected one at that. I’m afraid you will have to choose between the guest chambers on the second floor or one of the guesthouses, as Boyle said. I shan’t displace oneguestin favor of another.”
“Come, Sis,” Camron Kennedy finally spoke, taking his sister’s arm. He nodded at Ian. “Thank you for having us at all, my lord. I did try to warn Daph that we should have written ahead.”
Pleased that at least one of his new guests was displaying some courtesy, Ian nodded politely and stepped forward to offer his hand. “Pleased to finally meet you, Mr. Kennedy.”
“Camron, please.” The young man returned the greeting with an engaging grin. “We are cousins, after all.”
“Distant cousins,” Daphne added with a smile. “Very distant.”
Ian shifted, pinching the bridge of his nose. “It has been a long day. Perhaps we should all retire for the evening?”
Chapter Seventeen
