Virginia didn’t move. That smile wasn’t meant for her, it was meant for his brother. But it was a smile that could melt most of the North Pole. Why didn’t he use it more often?
“Virginia, come. I’d like you to meet my brother, Sean,” he said, the glorious smile fading. But his tone held a lightness she hadn’t heard before.
Virginia summoned up her own smile and came forward. “Hello,” she said.
“I wish I’d known we were having company,” Sean said with worry. His gaze was wide and went back and forth between Virginia and Devlin. “But Fiona can have the yellow room ready soon enough, I think.”
“This is Miss Hughes, Sean. Miss Virginia Hughes of Sweet Briar, Virginia.”
Virginia started, stunned he would introduce her so, and then she noticed that Sean seemed even more shocked.
“Miss Hughes?” he echoed.
Why was Sean so surprised by her name? Virginia wondered in sudden confusion.
“Let’s have a drink. We have a lot to catch up on,” Devlin said, clapping his back.
But now Sean stared at Virginia—and he didn’t look pleased, either.
A feminine squeal sounded.
Virginia started and saw a dark-haired woman rushing from the house. For one instant, Virginia saw only thick, straight black hair, a voluptuous figure and a huge smile, while more happy cries sounded. She stiffened as the woman halted right in front of Devlin, her heaving bosom mostly revealed by her low-cut blouse. She was dark and sultry enough to be a Spaniard or a Gypsy. “My lord! Welcome home! Oh, Captain O’Neill! Welcome!” she cried, looking an instant away from jumping into his arms—and his bed.
Virginia folded her arms across her own nondescript chest and scowled.
A look of recognition crossed Devlin’s face. “Fiona?”
“Yes, it’s me, my lord!” she cried, clapping her hands together. “My lord, it has been so long, and I am so happy you are home—we all are, my lord Captain! The hero of Askeaton has returned! We are so proud of you!”
Devlin said, “Thank you.” His tone was polite.
“Fiona,” Sean interjected. “It’s Captain or Sir Captain or Sir Devlin now.”
Fiona nodded, grinning. “What can I do for you, my lord?” she asked, and there was no mistaking her meaning. In fact, Virginia felt certain the other woman had already enjoyed Devlin’s lovemaking in the past and intended to do so again, very shortly.
“Please show Miss Hughes to a guest room,” Devlin said, “and bring her a tray of refreshments once she is settled in.” His gaze wandered past the house and settled on the ruins of the castle.
Fiona blinked, glancing at Virginia for the first time, clearly not having even noticed her until then. Her gaze met Virginia’s, slid down her figure and back up and instantly became dismissive. She turned back to Devlin, beaming. “Yes, of course, my lord. I amsohappy to see you again.” She curtsied and Virginia expected her breasts to fall free of her blouse, but they did not. The woman clearly wore no underclothes, not even a corset.
“I am very happy to be home,” Devlin said. He was gazing at the house now, as if inspecting every inch, and not at the maid. His expression was just a bit softer than usual and it made him far less intimidating—it made him seem human.
Virginia almost relaxed. He hadn’t seemed to notice that Fiona was pretty and very voluptuous and wishful of being in his bed. And why should she worry? Last night, she was the one who had enthralled him. Virginia didn’t have to have any experience with men to know that Devlin O’Neill had been swept up in the same rapture as she.
“Connor, Miss Hughes’s bags,” Sean instructed another servant, this one an older man. “Fiona, please show Miss Hughes to the yellow room. Bring flowers,” he added.
Fiona nodded, never even looking at him. She only had eyes for Devlin.
Suddenly Devlin turned and strode to Virginia. She didn’t move. “There is nowhere to go. You know that.”
She didn’t—just as she wasn’t certain she wished to go anywhere, not just yet—but she nodded, anyway.
“As far as the eye can see, the land belongs to me or my stepfather, the Earl of Adare. Do you comprehend me, Virginia?” he asked softly, with real warning.
She thought about how easily he had thwarted her escape in Limerick. She had no doubt that escaping him in the heart of his holdings would be as futile. She smiled at him. “I won’t try to escape again,” she said as softly. She was far too curious to think of attempting another escape now.
He started. “What I wish to say was that here you will be treated with the utmost respect, your every need will be met, and I will try to see to it that your stay is brief.”
She heard him but added, “You have my word.”
