Eve nearly snorted. “No. My guardian.”
She’d told Cait about how she and Brendan had lived in Covent Garden, her work in the theatre, everything about their lives in detail until Kilsyth had become her guardian. What she hadn’t told her sister was anything about Kilsyth.
“He wanted to change you?” Cait asked.
Unwanted, her eyes filled and Eve quickly looked away. It was a windy day so perhaps her sister wouldn’t wonder at her tears.
“What is it Eve?” her sister asked gently.
A moment later, Eve found herself telling Cait everything, from the first time she met Kilsyth, their arguments, the wager, Ascot, the ball, his treatment of her, as well as the kindness of Pickmore and Lady Kilsyth and the servants in Kilsyth’s household.
“You fell in love with him,” Cait finally observed.
“Aye,” Eve finally admitted. “But how could I have these feelings for a gentleman who is cold and dictatorial, especially when it’s obvious he feels nothing for me.”
“Because you saw past the surface and into his heart.”
Eve believed the same but Cait was the only person in whom Eve could confide.
“Father was the same, remember?”
Eve smiled.
“He was brilliant and didn’t suffer fools, bellowed and spoke plainly, even if the words could be hurtful.”
“Aye, he was.”
“But he was also kind and loving to those he cared about.”
“He wore a mask for others.”
“I’m not so certain. I think the only reason we knew his heart was because we lived with him. Others saw him as impatient when we recognized his drive for success. But, no matter how dictatorial or autocratic, I never doubted that he loved me and would do anything to protect his family and see us happy.”
Just as Eve didn’t doubt that Kilsyth cared deeply for his mother. His tone with her was no different than with anyone else, yet, there was a softening in his eyes when in her presence and he lingered near her person, as if he needed to protect her when Lady Kilsyth appeared perfectly capable of caring for herself.
“I think you fell in love with him because he saw beneath your hard exterior,” Cait said again.
“He gave me no consideration and behaved as if everything that I had accomplished was because of the work he and Pickmore had done. As if I was nothing more than…oh…a pet trained to do a trick.”
“That’s always been your way, Eve. You always rebelled when others were given credit for your accomplishments.”
“I don’t like being dismissed on account that I’m a woman. It happened in Ireland and the same is no different in England.”
“And the very reason you rejected out governess’ instructions. You weren’t going to change anything about yourself.”
“If I wasn’t accepted for who I was, then I didn’t want their attention,” Eve reflected.
“Yet, you changed for Kilsyth. I barely note home in your tone or speech.”
“It wasn’t for Kilsyth,” Eve admitted. “There was the wager, of course, but I realized how short-sighted I had been. I was no longer on the stud-farm where it didn’t matter how I spoke. I now needed to make my way in England and nobody would hire me for anything beyond being a seamstress if I didn’t improve what others saw as ignorance and ill-breeding.”
“And in the process of changing yourself, you fell in love.”
“My speech changed, but I didn’t. My thoughts and feelings are still the same. I couldn’t see that as a younger girl.”
“And love?”
“Aye. I fell in love, for all that it matters. I served my purpose and I’m certain that Kilsyth is glad to be done with his ward.”
