“She received her reward,” Henry argued.
“What? A necklace that was already hers by right? The very necklace that her brother stole from her, wagered and you won? She simply wanted back what was hers to begin with, but you made her earn it.”
When his mother put it that way and Henry reflected back on his time with Eve, he had to admit that she was correct. But Eve had gone along. She had agreed.
“What of affection? Caring?”
“Affection?” The idea was absurd.
Yet, it wasn’t.
“You care for her, Henry.”
“She’s my ward!”
“Not as a ward but as a miss.”
His mother was far too perceptive and Henry stalked across the room, putting his back to her.
“How affectionate have you been?”
“It’s not something a gentleman should discuss with his mother.”
At that his mother snorted. “Need I remind you that I’ve given birth to two sons? I am well versed in all manners ofaffection.”
Good God, he did not want to think about his mother even kissing anyone, let alone…
“Have you ruined her?”
He wheeled around and faced her, outrage flowing through his veins. “I most certainly have not.”
“Yet, you don’t deny affection.”
“I kissed her,” he finally admitted as he looked away.
“Then what happened?”
“I apologized.”
Then?”
“I promised that it would not happen again and set her from me.”
She pursed her lips as she nodded. “How long ago was that?”
“Two days before the ball.”
“And did everything return to normal following this moment?”
Blast, his face was heating.
“Ah, it didn’t. Why is that?”
“I believe she was avoiding me.” He reluctantly admitted. “In fact, Miss Doyle avoided the library and meals after.”
“After you kissed her and set her aside.”
“It wasn’t like that, I assure you.”
