In fact, the only time she’d been able to rest in the last few years was when Kilsyth became her guardian. But all she was to Kilsyth was a student and ward. Someone to win a wager, help with his correspondence and pick up after him. It would be so easy to remain here until she reached her majority, but she feared her heartache would only deepen at the end of the two years. Not only would she long for her family, but she’d no longer have Kilsyth either.
While her guardian could be dictatorial in his instructions and what he expected from her, he didn’t condescend or treat Eve less than she was—a daughter of a wealthy, landed gentleman. And even though it seemed as if he corrected her speech at every turn, their conversations were often enjoyable, even when they disagreed. They’d debated politics, philosophy and even history, seeing moments and events through different eyes and different circumstances and even though Kilsyth often didn’t agree, he had listened to what she had to say. Truly listened to her and thought over her argument instead of simply dismissing her out of hand. He showed her respect, something she’d not experienced in a very long time.
He might irritate her to no end at times, but there were many traits she also admired and her feelings where her guardian was concerned were often in conflict. And, it wasn’t just irritation and admiration, but a myriad of emotions. One of them being caring. As each day passed and Eve came to know Kilsyth, more fondness developed, and now she was in great danger of her heart becoming engaged. That’s what she must protect the most. He was her guardian, an English earl, and she was the daughter of a landed gentlemen who had owned a stud farm in Ireland. Eve was not for Kilsyth and such a lord did not marry the likes of her, which was the very reason that she must leave as soon as the month was over. To remain any longer would only lead to Eve falling in love with her guardian. She’d already lost so much already, and she couldn’t afford to lose her heart as well.
In the meantime, it was better to focus her mind on Pickmore. He promised to be a great friend and there was no chance that she’d come to love him, unlike the threat Kilsyth posed.
Chapter 11
“Mrs. Peade,” Henry yelled from the library. Where the blazes were his slippers or the post, but more importantly, where the blazes was Eve?
“Yes, Lord Kilsyth,” his housekeeper answered as she stepped into the library. “Is anything wrong?”
Several things, he wished to bark, but it wasn’t Mrs. Peade’s fault that the library was a mess and he couldn’t find anything. After all, it was the one room that she did not clean and never had nor any of the maids with the exception of an occasional dusting, and he preferred it that way. “Where might Miss Doyle be this morning?”
“She asked that a tray be delivered to her room.”
Instantly his irritation dimmed. Eve had retired early last evening, as soon as they returned from Ascot, claiming to suffer from a headache. “Is she unwell?” Henry demanded, not used to the panic that rippled just beneath the surface. “Do I need to send for a physician?”
Mrs. Peade blinked at him. “I believe she just wished to rest after a trying day, Lord Kilsyth.”
“Rest?” They didn’t have time to rest. “There is work to be done.” The ball was only a few weeks away, and well, he wished to see her. Only to assure himself of her health, of course.
“I’ll see what’s keeping her, Lord Kilsyth,” Mrs. Peade finally offered.
Had he pushed Eve too much? They did work from early morning, except for today of course, and into the evening, except for last night. She studied hard and even though she’d yet to rid herself of her Irish accent, she’d made improvement, unless she became overwrought as she’d done when they returned from Ascot. Further, she’d become invaluable to him in his other work and in keeping him organized.
Yet, she’d been quite pale yesterday, after they’d returned, and it was as if a bit of life had disappeared from her eyes.
Why hadn’t he noticed right away? Why did it take her mentioning a headache for him to see beyond her beauty what she may have been trying to hide?
Bloody hell. He hadn’t noticed because he tried not to look at her. Henry had found that his concentration was better when he wasn’t looking too closely at his ward because when he did, it became a study of her beauty, and watching the mood shifts within her green eyes, the quirk at the corner of her rosebud mouth when humored, or the “V” between her eyebrows when vexed with him.
For those very reasons, and the desire to constantly kiss her and come to know Eve in a manner no guardian should, he had decided that after the ball, she’d need to go live with his mother. After yesterday, and the way his mother had watched Eve with concern, Henry was certain that she’d take the ward into her home. If for no other reason, so that Eve wasn’t forced to live with her disreputable son.
Society thought him a rake, a reputation he needed to rid himself of, yet the actresses thought him boorish. Henry wasn’t even certain who he was any longer and having Eve in his household left him even more confused than before. She brought out all manner of personality traits and emotions, but the strongest were desire for his ward and a deep caring for another human being to the likes he’d never experienced.
“Good morning, Miss Doyle,” Pickmore greeted Eve from the foyer. “You look quite dashing this morning and I must say, that light green is very becoming on you.”
Henry nearly groaned. The pale green morning gown was quite fetching on Eve. The color not only deepened the green of her eyes, but her cheeks always appeared rosier, along with her lips. The very lips he wished to kiss.
“Thank you, Captain Pickmore.”
Henry quickly straightened as the two entered.
“I trust you slept well, Miss Doyle, and that you’ve recovered from your headache?”
Eve stiffened and pursed her lips. “Yes. Thank you.”
“Well, good then. We can continue our lessons.” He cleared his throat and took a seat behind his desk.
“As you wish.”
She was certainly formal this morning. Yet, it was his tone that had been unpleasant at first, not hers.
He didn’t mean to sound so irritated, but shehadworried him.
When was the last time he’d worried such about another?
