“Yes, I suppose.” Pickmore sighed.
“Do hurry with your tea, Miss Doyle. We’ve sentences to review.”
There were always sentences to review, books to read aloud and correspondence to write. In three days, none of it would matter any longer and Eve’s use to Kilsyth would come to an end. An unexpected stab at her heart came on suddenly, but she squelched it as it was more evidence of why she needed to be rid of him and this place as soon as possible.
“Well, I must be off.” Pickmore stood. “I’m to meet with my father’s man of business about locating lodgings for myself.”
Pickmore was leaving as well? What would Kilsyth do with both of them gone? The gentleman led a rather reclusive existence, hardly leaving his townhouse at all. What would become of him if he were to live here alone, surround by only servants?
“Good luck to you then. I hope you find the perfect location for your needs,” Kilsyth called.
“I’ve no doubt that I will.” Pickmore grinned. “Good day. I’ll see you at supper.”
“Good day, Captain Pickmore.”
As soon as he closed the door, Kilsyth rose from his desk and came to the sitting area, carrying the familiar parchment. The sentences she’d already memorized from having said them so often.
“Now, Eve, we must correct your speech.” He stopped and blinked at her. “Forgive me. Miss Doyle, we must continue your studies.”
Hearing her name on his lips caused the queerest sensations in her belly as the blood heated in her veins. Until this moment, she’d always been Miss Doyle. Perhaps she was becoming ill and the headache was just the beginning. Though, it was gone when she woke this morning.
“I understand, Lord Kilsyth,” Eve murmured, careful in her speech, and set her tea aside.
“Now slowly, concentrating on each sound and pronunciation, as we have before.”
She took the parchment and rose from her seat. Kilsyth turned from her and began to pace, as was his habit during these lessons.
”It’s raining in Axbridge Again.”
He paused for a moment, then continued. “The next one please.”
“You are going to bring me the pig.”
“Go on.”
“Epping and Godalming are playing with the dog.”
Slowly he turned. “Another.”
“You are dancing again.”
His eyes bore into hers with such an intensity as Kilsyth took a step in her direction. “Another.”
“You are going to Chipping Sodbury.”
“The last one,” he said as a smile began to pull at his lips.
“You are a pleasing sight.”
“We did it, Eve,” he yelled triumphantly before sweeping her up in his arms and turning her about.
She gave a yelp and braced her hands on his shoulders.
“We did it, Eve,” Kilsyth said as he slowly set her back on the floor, her body sliding against his as heat scorched through her veins. As her feet came to a rest on the floor, she looked up into his light grey eyes, darkening with an intensity she’d not seen before.
“We did it,” he said again as he lowered his mouth to hers.
Chapter 12
