Perhaps he simply wished to avoid her.
Over the course of the remainder of the trip, he’d ridden ahead of the coach. When they’d catch up, he’d spur his horse and scout the next section of road.
They jolted to a stop, and the vehicle bounced as the outriders hopped off.
The time had come to face Jean Luc’s death, in truth.
But when she stepped out and glanced toward the impressive front door, it was her husband’s face that peered down at her.
Her knees buckled, and she would have fallen had strong arms not grasped her from behind.
Niles, of course. Had he known? He would have arrived ahead of her.
“Jean Luc?” She forced her gaze to focus on the man of her nightmares.
Only…
The gentleman dashed toward her, arms extended. “Oh, no! I apologize for upsetting you! It’s been ages since we last met. I’ve changed considerably since then, although I cannot say that you have. Aunt Eve, you are as beautiful as ever. In fact, I cannot address you as my aunt. Cousin Eve.”
Darius Mossant. Jean Luc’s nephew.
Good Lord, but of course he was much younger than Jean Luc. Health and vigor glowed from him. My word, but he looks like Jean Luc did when we married.
Eve shook her head, still relying on Niles’ strength. She had not expected the heir to arrive so quickly. Not that it mattered…
“Darius,” she finally managed. “You are correct. I believe last I laid eyes on you, you were all of ten years old.” A year after her marriage, at his father’s funeral. Rhoda had just been born. It was then that Jean Luc had begun his campaign for a son in earnest.
Darius was no longer a boy. Tall, effeminately handsome, and nearly the spitting image of her dead husband.
“Mr. Mossant.” Niles reached a hand out in greeting.
Darius did not respond in kind.
“Darius. Please, this is my man of business, indispensable to me for certain, Mr. Niles Waverly. Mr. Waverly, Mr. Darius Mossant, my husband’s heir.”
Flicking his gaze suspiciously at the other arm with which Niles still grasped her, Darius reluctantly stretched his hand out.
“Mr. Waverly.” But then he offered an arm to Eve.
She had no choice but to step away from Niles and take it. Darius was obviously dismissing Niles in doing so. He’d have ignored him but for Eve’s introduction. Much as he ignored the driver, the outriders, and Lucy.
A wave of unfamiliar emotions floated through her as Darius escorted her inside.
Disgust. Fear. Repulsion.
Guilt.
She could blame the first three emotions on the similarities between her nephew and Jean Luc’s appearance.
The last, she’d rather not dwell upon until she could find time alone.
“Such a tragedy.” Darius demanded her attention. “And although there are a few suspects, not a great deal of evidence.”
And then a thought struck her.
“When did you arrive?” She’d thought he resided in the north, practically in Scotland. “It’s been less than a week.” He would have had to have been notified…
“I was visiting Uncle Jean when it happened. He’d asked me to come. Said he had important business to discuss.”
