Suddenly uncomfortable with the unexpected turn of events and his current thoughts, Henry stood. “Well, I’ll be off. Take care, Harriet.”
“You too, Henry.”
Once he was outside on the stoop, Henry looked around. “What the blazes have I just done and why?”
* * *
Eve’s eyes were about to cross from all of the reading. There was a time that all she did was read—everything that she could get her hands on. That was before her father died. Her brother’s loss of their property had reduced Eve to having only discarded newssheets from which to acquire information. Now, it was as if she’d been plopped back into the schoolroom with her governess waiting to test her knowledge when all she wished to do was curl up in a sunny corner and read a novel.
However, it was a small price to pay. As long as she studied, she’d be able to attend Ascot, and even better, at the end of a month the necklace would be hers, as it should be. Yet, why was it necessary that she not only learn to speak proper English, but to make others wonder where she was from?
With a sigh, she sat back and looked out the window. It wasn’t just the question that kept her mind occupied, but her new guardian as well. Eve had never met anyone like Lord Kilsyth before. It would be very easy to dislike him, but she’d seen a glimpse of perhaps kindness in his grey eyes. Often they revealed emotion in the exact opposite of his words and tone, such as when he told her he didn’t really care what became of her. She’d been angered, of course, but as soon as the words had been spoken, those grey eyes darkened and warmed.
So, why tell her one thing, but feel something entirely different?
Oh, she valued honesty above everything else and had assumed that was the one thing she could count on from her tyrannical guardian. Now, she wasn’t so certain.
However, he wasn’t like any other gentleman of society. He may have the title, but he did not behave as such. When he engaged her in conversation, he’d listened—truly listened, even if he laughed at her. It was as if he’d start to warm to her and then became short a moment later.
Frankly, Eve could not figure him out and she was determined to find out who Lord Kilsyth truly was under his harsh exterior. An extremely handsome exterior that wore unpleasantness like a mantel.
Eve sat forward. That was it. Hecloakedhimself in authoritarianism. Is that what he wanted the world to see?
She’d made it a practice to study the character of everyone she encountered. At one time, she’d hoped to become an actress and believed the study would be beneficial. She quickly dismissed the idea of taking the stage herself, yet continued to study those around her. And, the more she learned, the more fascinating people became. Her current study would now be Lord Kilsyth. She would determine what he was hiding and what he was so afraid of everyone else seeing.
With a smile and determination, Eve settled back in the chair and picked up the primer she’d once studied as a girl. This next month could prove to be very enlightening and entertaining indeed.
“Ah, Miss Doyle, you’ve been at your studies for hours,” Pickmore said as he came into the library. “You really must stop for tea.”
“A cup of tea would be refreshin’, but I doubt my guardian would approve.” Unless she drank it in the library while reading a book, much as she’d done while breaking her fast.
“Nonsense,” he insisted. “Even the military allowed for moments of rest and they are even stricter task masters than Kilsyth.”
That, Eve very much doubted, but a moment away from the book would be quite refreshing.
“Cook has prepared some cakes and biscuits that promise to be delightful,” he continued. “Do join me, Miss Doyle.”
Cakes, biscuits and tea—all things she enjoyed when her father was alive. “Thank ye, Captain Pickmore, I’d be delighted ta join ye.” Eve finally pulled herself from the seat. She’d sat in the same place for so long that she’d become stiff and really wished to stretch, but as she wasn’t alone, she’d not allow herself to do so. Instead, she crossed the room. Pickmore stood back so that she could proceed him but Eve did not know where she was going. “I’ve seen only me chambers and the library and know nothin’ about the rest of Kilsyth’s home, so ye must show me the way.”
A grin broke out on Pickmore’s face as he held out his elbow. “Allow me to give you the grand tour.”
A tour wasn’t exactly necessary, but it could prove to be important that she know the lay of the townhouse. Instead of a tour, however, Pickmore only led her up one flight of stairs, to the first floor, and into a drawing room at the end of the corridor.
She sucked in a breath at the cheeriness of the room, which was in complete contrast to the library with all of its wood and dark furniture. This room was decorated in light greens and cream. In addition, it was quite bright with the sun coming in through the tall windows.
“This is far more favorable than the dreary library, don’t you agree, Miss Doyle?”
“Aye, it is.” She wandered across the room and looked outside. Below were gardens and a small sitting area. Beyond were mews. How many horses did Kilsyth own and what other surprises were there to discover? Turning once again she got her bearings. On the ground floor was the large entrance, library and she’d glimpsed a dining room when she’d gone up the stairs. This floor held the current drawing room and another room for entertainment perhaps? As the library was easily two stories there wasn’t much space for additional rooms on this floor.
The second floor, the one above, Eve assumed held bedchambers, as that was where she’d been put. If this home was similar to the one her father had taken when in London, then the maids slept on the floor above Eve’s, whereas the housekeeper and footmen had rooms below ground where the kitchens and storage were housed.
It was likely that Kilsyth’s and Pickmore’s chambers were on the same floor as Eve’s, yet she didn’t know which ones they were. Not that it was any of her concern, of course, but it was good to know where others might be in the event she needed to leave without anyone being aware.
“Please, join me.” Pickmore gestured to the settee as Mrs. Peade entered, followed by a footman carrying a laden tray. She instructed him to place it in the center of the table within the sitting area and Eve settled onto the cushion.
“Will that be all, Captain Pickmore?” the housekeeper inquired.
“This should do quite nicely. Thank you, Mrs. Peade.”
