Had she already been planning on leaving him.
While I may be your ward, I have now served my purpose. I simply wish to know what I could take with me when I leave.
Take what you wish and if there are any questions, we’ll discuss it further in the morning. Good night, Miss Doyle.
Their conversation after the ball played over in his mind and Henry’s stomach churned. She’d told him that she was leaving yet he’d dismissed it. It wasn’t as if he even believed her.
Further, if his mother were to be believed, it was all Henry’s fault.
And now that he was alone with his thoughts, his companions trying to find their sleep, Henry could no longer avoid what he’d tried to push away.
What was it about Eve that caused him to behave in such an irrational manner? He’d never suffered such a gauntlet of emotions before she came into this life. He was able to concentrate on his work, set his mind on goals and achieve them without the slightest bit of distraction, regardless of any interruption. Faithfully he read the newssheets for messages Ashford and Keegan had hidden within the gossip columns, yet he couldn’t remember the last time he’d been able to retain what he’d read from those very papers.
Henry studied and learned, improving his mind, but he hadn’t been able to focus on any book past a few chapters.
Then there was Parliament, which he faithfully served, at least until Eve became his ward. And lastly, he’d not attended one meeting of the Antiquities Society since her arrival.
If anyone should be irritated, it was Henry because of the disruption Eve had brought to his life.
Except she hadn’t kept him from any of those things. Not once did she ask him to remain home, or not to read. Instead, she moved quietly about in his life, unless she was reciting sentences, or they were debating one issue or another.
Eve and her presence had slowly replaced his usual obligations and entertainments.
Henry frowned and glanced back out the window and occasionally noted the outline of the trees, but that wasn’t the topic of his focus. Instead, he reflected inside. Something he’d tried to avoid, but what was he trying to avoid? Why didn’t he want to search so deep inside himself?
She was simply a lass. She was his ward.
But she’d changed his life. The mornings were brighter when she entered the breakfast room, and the days weren’t so long. Her smile warmed him, and each time she frowned, he wished to smooth the sadness away. They argued, debated and laughed. She tried his patience, but probably not nearly as much as he tried hers.
His life had been content before her but Eve left emptiness in her wake.
Perhaps he’d simply become accustomed to her in his life.
No, it was more.
And in that instant, Henry had to admit to himself that he’d fallen in love with Eve. If he hadn’t, he wouldn’t ache with longing and worry right now. She was as much a part of his life, as anything before, and probably anything to come after.
Yet he’d fought it, claiming desire when it was so much more, and treating her with cold indifference, and at times callousness, all to protect his heart, feelings…denying his emotions. He fought the inevitable of succumbing to the sweetest emotion known to man. And, because he was such an arse in his denial, he may have lost Eve for good.
* * *
Eve woke before the sun, her heart aching, but her sister by her side. Lord and Lady Norbright had been kind enough to allow Eve to remain in their home, Harrington Manor, and she’d be forever grateful. Of course, she couldn’t remain forever, but a few days would give her a chance to decide what she was to do next.
Cait slept beside her. Lady Norbright had gone to the school yesterday to retrieve Eve’s sister. Sending her to Harrington Manor where Eve surprised her. What happiness her sister had experienced quickly disappeared when Eve had to break the news of their brother. Then Eve broke and told Cait everything, from Brendan’s gambling and addictions to how she’d become the ward of Lord Kilsyth. While they were closed up in the sitting room, Lady Norbright broke the news to Mrs. Wiggons who insisted that Cait take a few days away from her duties to be with Eve. Thank goodness, but Eve really needed her sister right now as she searched within her mind, heart and soul to determine what she would do next. Cait had even remained the night, deciding to share a room with Eve because they didn’t want to be parted in their grief.
However, the one person she refused to speak of was Lord Kilsyth. Cait only knew that he was Eve’s guardian but Eve couldn’t bring herself to say anything further because she was afraid her tears would begin anew.
Instead, she tried to determine how and why she could be heartbroken over a gentleman who was so cold.
Except, he wasn’t. Kilsyth allowed the world to see him as cool and controlled, without emotion, but she’d glimpsed so much beneath the surface during their many hours together. The very same ones he tried to hide from everyone, and perhaps even himself.
What used to perplex and once anger Eve, now only made her pity Kilsyth. But, as long as he wished to insulate himself, he’d not be for her.
It didn’t really matter what she thought anyway. It was Kilsyth who didn’t want her. She’d won his bet and that was all he required of her. And in time, her heart would heal.
“We should go to the beach today,” Cait said as she rolled over.
“Beach?” Eve knew they were close to the coast, but not the distance. “How far away is it?”
