“Two years,” she answered. “One day I hoped ta become a governess.”
“Governess?” Henry barked with laughter.
“I’m not without an education,” Eve defended as anger sparked in her green eyes.
Perhaps he shouldn’t have laughed, but he’d never been one to guard his reactions. “You’d prefer to be around spoiled and unappreciative misses when I can offer you more?”
“It’s the more that concerns me, Lord Kilsyth,” she answered honestly.
“Come, come, Miss Doyle, put such depraved thoughts from your mind.”
“A miss in my position can’t be ta careful.” The color in her cheeks deepened. “Is dat all I am ta be ta ye? Yer ward?”
“What else is there?”
With that question, she looked away. That’s when Henry realized what Miss Doyle must have feared.
“I assure you, Miss Doyle, your virtue is quite safe in this household.”
Her cheeks darkened further. At this rate, she’d be quite red before the discussion of her safety was concluded.
“Isn’t that right, Pickmore?”
“Yes, of course,” his friend assured her.
Not that Henry blamed Miss Doyle. She was in a precarious and vulnerable position. Her brother had just abandoned her to strangers. In her place, Henry would be quite concerned as well.
“Mrs. Peade, am I not a man of good character?”
“Usually, Lord Kilsyth,” she answered dryly. “But, please reconsider. Where will I put her?”
Henry couldn’t be bothered with such details right now. “There are rooms above. Pick one.”
“Servant or guest?”
“Guest chambers,” he answered. “She’s my ward and will become my student.”
“I learned all I need,” Miss Doyle claimed.
There was an admiring strength to the chit. Necessary for his intentions. “Yes, well what little education you did received served you poorly for your current life circumstances,” he reminded her since she was very much at his mercy. Not that he’d take advantage of the situation, of course. He had morals despite his reputation as having been one of the Devils of Dalston even if her brother couldn’t afford them.
“I’ll have a maid prepare her chambers,” Mrs. Peade practically glared at him as she quit the room.
His housekeeper was not pleased, but she’d come around, once she understood.
“You’ve received an education, but did you have a Season before your father died.”
“Nay.”
Well, that was one concern out of the way, assuming anyone would have remembered her. However, if it became common knowledge that she’d fallen on hard times, and if Henry let it be known that her brother was a drunkard and gambler and left her destitute, the plan might work. A plan that Miss Doyle knew nothing about, and wouldn’t until he learned more. Of course, he’d only begun thinking matters through, but soon, he’d have a fully realized idea of what he was going to do with her.
Excitement coursed through his veins for the first time in a very long time. “This is almost irresistible.”
“Kilsyth,” Pickmore warned.
“Come, come, Pickmore, aren’t you the one who claimed I’ve becomecantankerous? I believe the cause to be ennui. I’ve not had a challenge of late and Miss Doyle might just be the answer to brighten my spirits.” Henry marched to the entrance of his library. “Mrs. Peade,” he yelled.
A moment later she came scurrying down the stairs and followed Henry back into the library. “Yes Lord Kilsyth.”
