She took a small bite, wanting to savor it, and the explosion of fruit and cinnamon into her mouth was divine.
“It is possibly the best fruit cake I have ever eaten,” Adam said.
“Have mine.” She handed it to him. “I have already had a piece.”
He looked at her plate, then looked at her. He knew she lied.
“Ruby—”
“Eat it, Adam. I will have a great deal more of this.”
His smile made him look like the innocent boy he’d never had the chance to be.
“Well now, that was lovely,” Violet said, smiling. “Thank you, Ruby.”
“You are most welcome, and there will be many more treats to follow after I receive my first wage.”
They chatted, and she told them about the family she would work for. All the residents looked in on Adam when she was not with him. She often found him in a room in this rambling house.
“Deville, you say? The Earl of Raine?” Violet asked.
“Yes, but it is the cousin, Mr. Howarth, I will work for. His daughter will be my charge.”
“I know those dashing Deville brothers. Wonderful, spirited young men,” Beatrice added. “But I have not met the cousin.”
The disturbing and serious Mr. Howarth. Tall, dark, with lovely blue eyes. They had been cool as he questioned her, but that had all changed the minute his daughter appeared. Everything had changed. His face had softened, and the laughter lines around his mouth had appeared. The transformation had been quite something. In fact, it had taken her breath away.
Ruby had never seen such a beautiful man until that moment.
The earl and countess had been regal and autocratic, each magnificent in their own right, but Mr. Forrest Howarth had been something entirely different. Disturbing, handsome. His blue eyes intense as he looked at her, as if he could see what was inside her head. Wanted to know the inner workings of the woman who would tutor his child.
“Tell us about the Raine townhouse. I used to visit friends who owned houses like it. My father was a friend to Lord Raine’s grandfather,” Violet said.
She spoke of the grandeur she had seen. Talked about what the earl and countess wore and everything she could remember.
An hour later, she and Adam made the journey up to their room. It was slow, as he had to use two walking sticks. Born with legs that did not work like others’, he was pushed aside by his family. With seven siblings, all boys but Ruby, no one had given their youngest child any time except her.
“One at a time, Adam.”
“I know, Ruby.”
She knew he hated her worrying over him. Knew it but could not stop the words coming out of her mouth.
The fifteen stairs were traversed slowly and silently. His breath was a rasp when they reached the top. Ruby opened the door to their room. She walked into the small space and closed it behind them.
Adam made his way to his bed, which was under the eaves on the right. Ruby’s was on the left. They had two chairs, a rug, and some boxes. She stoked the fire and set about preparing a meal from their meager supplies.
“I am no help to you. We live here in this place because of me,” Adam said, staring at the wall. “I am your brother. I should help you, and yet I am useless. Your life would be so much better without me.”
“What? Where did that come from?”
“I hate that you have so little because of me.”
She moved to sit beside him. “I live with you rather than marry that man Father would force me to. I live with you and not suffer with six brothers and a father who cared nothing for me, but as someone who would bring in a fortune and title through marriage.”
“I know,” he sighed. “But we have nothing,” Adam whispered. “I am a burden to you.”
She knew he hated that. Hated that she had to find them money for food and rent while he stayed here.
