“Indeed.”
“How did she like the tower?”
Gabriel glanced back to nod at Carl to leave the room before he met Dominic’s eyes. “We didn’t find out.”
“She’s already left?”
“No, actually, Lady Whitworth is probably quite happy with her room.”
Dominic immediately frowned. “Where did you put her, Gabriel?”
The reply was mumbled so low Dominic didn’t hear it. He was too drained to repeat himself, so he waited, staring pointedly at his friend.
Gabriel finally sighed and said in a louder tone, “Next door.”
“Gabe,” Dominic said warningly.
“Well, Ella’s room is locked and will always be locked. And your old room can’t be used because you left most of your childhood mementos in it.”
“There are numerous bedrooms on this floor! How dare you presume to put my enemy’s sister—”
“Wait! Don’t bite my head off until you’re stronger, and—I really didn’t have a choice. None of the guest rooms are kept readied because anyone who wants to visit you and stay for a time gives you prior warning so that rooms can be prepared for them. Those were your mother’s instructions, which you never bothered to change. So only these family rooms at the back of the house are kept spotless at all times. As for that particular room next to yours, your grandmother had that door installed and moved into that room when she could no longer sleep because of your grandfather’s snoring. If she hadn’t done that, it wouldn’t even be part of your suite of rooms.”
“You know very well I consider that room my mother’s and always will. She moved into it after father died and lived in it until...”
“Until she left after Eloise’s funeral. And swore she would never return. You’ve never found a use for it other than to keep it available for her just incaseshe changes her mind and comes back.”
“She won’t,” Dominic said tonelessly. “She was raised in London and prefers London. Here she grieves too much, there she is distracted from it.”
“But if Lady Anna did return, she wouldn’t want that particular room again anyway and would insist on another. She would want you to have the entire lord’s suite. Besides, this arrangement is nothing more’n temporary, but if youmustknow, I thought it rather appropriate, putting Lady Whitworth there, since now she won’t have to be moved after the marriage.”
Dominic could not care less how logical all of that sounded—except the marriage part. There wasn’t going to be a wedding if he could help it. But there was no point in being angry at Gabriel when it wouldn’t last. It never did, and at the moment he simply didn’t have the strength to maintain it for even a little while.
But he still growled, “Lock that bloody door.”
“Of course!”
Gabriel rushed to the now-offensive door and turned the latch, even tested the knob to make sure it wouldn’t open. He came back saying jauntily, “Besides, it’s not as if you’ll be roaming the halls for a while, where you might run into her more often than not. Are the leeches working?” he added, trying to change the subject.
It didn’t work. Dominic said succinctly, “You disobeyed my wishes. Aside from your convoluted logic, why did you really do that?”
Gabriel winced, but stood his ground. “You can move her to the tower when you’re well. I simply didn’t have the heart to do it.”
Dominic sighed and closed his eyes.
Gabriel guessed, “I’ve worn you out. I’ll leave—”
“No, you won’t. Which member of her family came with her?”
Gabriel sat down in the chair that had been moved next to the bed. “None, which seemed rather odd. However, she was well escorted by servants, though only her maid is staying with her. Charming woman, that one. Full of fire and dire threats. You’d thinkshewas the lady, but obviously, she’s very protective of hers.”
“And the lady?”
“She didn’t treat me like a gnat under her boot, like you-know-who did. That last mistress of yours, well, I won’t repeat myself. Butsomeladies are just—just—”
“Yes, I know your sentiments in regard to snobby bitches. You still haven’t answered my question.”
“The lady seemed a bit cowed if you ask me, like she’s not used to strangers—or she wasn’t expecting to be invited in. Or she’s just very demure. Yes, that’s probably all it was, considering her young age.”
