His thoughts may be often scattered, but he eventually returned to the topic at hand. Rarely did he leave the townhouse and when he did, he was not gone long, unless his attendance was required at Parliament. He also worked late into the night, requiring her assistance as she’d somehow become his assistant of sorts, writing out correspondence, and calculating his ledgers, as Kilsyth had little patience for the mundane. They often worked long after the servants retired only to begin the same pattern the following morning.
While the schedule could be quite exhausting, Eve found she admired Kilsyth immensely. Not only was his mind exceptional, but he was responsible and worked hard. Not that he needed to work at all, as she’d come to learn that he was quite wealthy. However, instead of leading a life of leisure as many of his station, Kilsyth rarely rested and worked to improve his mind, and his estate. He didn’t squander a moment, unlike her brother who had squandered everything. Kilsyth had even accepted his role as her guardian even though he’d not appreciated her appearance on his doorstep. For that reason, Eve did want to speak properly. Not only for herself, but to please him.
She was trying, she truly was, but Eve just couldn’t make the proper sounds. He’d tried everything from Eve reading aloud, to repetition of certain phrases, to conversation constantly being interrupted and Eve feared she might never get it right.
While they’d settled into a comfortable existence with one another, Eve still missed her family. She’d only been given one opportunity to get a message to her sister, Caitlin. She informed her that she’d moved again, but did not tell her what Brendan had done, as Eve didn’t want her older sister worrying. If Cait learned that Eve was now the ward of a bachelor lord and living in his home in Mayfair, she might leave her position to come rescue Eve, which she couldn’t have. Cait had a secure position. Once Eve’s time with Kilsyth was done, she’d go to Cait and explain her circumstances and what had become of their brother. Then she’d seek a position as a governess.
Their brother!
Eve blew out a sigh. Oh, where had Brendan gotten himself off to. Even though he’d given up guardianship, Eve had hoped that her brother would have had an attack of conscience. But, after a week, she’d not seen him and could only pray that he’d found a way to fight his demons, or at least find a means to support himself that didn’t rely on the throw of the dice or toss of the cards.
“Miss Doyle, what has become of the post?” Lord Kilsyth called from his desk.
She glanced up from the tome she was supposed to be reading, instead of woolgathering, and frowned. How did Kilsyth manage to get along before she arrived? “Mrs. Peade placed it on top of the books, right front corner of yer desk.”
He brightened. “Ah, yes, there it is.”
Not a thank you or an acknowledgment as he began reading. “We’ll respond to most of these requests tonight.”
The invitations he ignored, as he always did. However, requests for him to lecture, or attend lectures, or for his assistance always received a prompt response. Responses that Eve had started writing out over the past few evenings while he paced and dictated. Sometimes Eve wondered if she was his student, ward, secretary, or all three.
“Well, I’ll be off.” He stood and pocketed a piece of parchment. “Keep up with your studies and don’t become distracted,” he ordered as he kicked off his slippers and headed out of the library and up the stairs.
Another distinct characteristic to Lord Kilsyth was abruptness. Often statements and actions came suddenly and he was off, leaving Eve behind to wonder what had caused his sudden change since he never explained himself to her.
With a sigh, Eve got up and removed the slippers from the center of the floor and placed them beside the chair he liked to sit in during the evening. Perhaps she might as well add maid to her roles as well.
Eve paused and looked about the room. Sometimes it looked as if a tempest had blown through. Often Kilsyth would take a book from the shelf, read whatever it was he was interested in, then leave the book open and abandoned in another part of the room. Newssheets from days before cluttered various surfaces, a large globe sat off to the side of the room and a telescope at a window, which Kislyth readily admitted did no good in that spot given the height of the surrounding townhouses making it impossible to fully see the sky. Yet, he’d never been motivated enough to see the stars to take it to a higher floor.
“I don’t know when I’ll return, Mrs. Peade,” Kilsyth announced as he bounded down the stairs. “Please do not hold luncheon on my account.” And then he was gone.
Eccentric and irritating was her guardian and Eve was stuck with him for at least three more weeks, though he’d be her guardian for nearly two more years.
At least they’d managed not to touch again and for that she was grateful because she didn’t want to experience that odd warmth again. Eve just wished she could put the memory from her mind, but had been unable to do so. It came to her at the most inopportune moments, such as in the evenings when it was just the two of them working in the library, when he’d pause in his pacing and look at her with a bit of confusion or intensity. Of course, she knew that look had nothing to do with her, but what he was pondering with whatever response he was dictating. Yet, he still looked into her eyes and each time, her body warmed as if she were sitting too close to a fire. It was all very disconcerting, but as he clearly didn’t suffer as she did, or was even aware of how her body reacted, Eve found it easy to hide her response to his person and concentrate on being his student, ward, secretary and maid—a task she’d put her mind to as she made her way about the room, replacing discarded books on shelves and folding the newssheets and stacking them in date order. Anything was better than returning to her studies.
“Lord Kilsyth is not at home,” Eve heard the butler, Humphreys, tell someone.
Eve slid close to the door to see who had called. A part of her hoped that her older brother had come to his senses, and another part of her feared that he’d come to take her back to Covent Gardens, or worse, Seven Dials.
“Yes, I saw him leave but as I was already here, I thought to call on Captain Pickmore instead.”
“Very good, Lady Kilsyth. I’ll take you to the sitting room and summon the Captain.”
Lady Kilsyth?
As Lord Kilsyth was not married, the only conclusion Eve could draw was that the visitor was his mother. What kind of woman had birthed and raised the current Lord Kilsyth? Was she as unconventional as her son?
Eve waited until the woman had climbed the stairs then slipped out of the library and followed. At this time of the day, Pickmore would be reading the newssheets and enjoying coffee, as was his habit.
“So, tell me Pickmore, what has my son been up to these days? Should I be worried, cautious, or perhaps uninvite him to my ball so that he doesn’t embarrass me.”
Eve’s eyes popped open. What kind of mother talked about her own son in such a manner?
Instead of being affronted and defending his friend, Pickmore laughed.
“Take the fresh tea service to the sitting room.” Mrs. Peade instructed a servant and Eve quickly ducked into a separate room so as not to be caught eavesdropping.
After the footman departed, Eve once again eased her way down the corridor and stopped just out of sight of the sitting room.
