“You are a woman.”
She frowned at him as if she wasn’t quite certain of his sanity.
“Join us. I’d have a female witness whatever discussion is about to take place.” As Henry had not done anything wrong, and didn’t intend on doing so, he was still a very wealthy earl, and a bachelor, and it wouldn’t do to have accusations made against his character without witnesses.
“Of course, Lord Kilsyth.”
* * *
Eve took in the dark library with the two walls of books, so high one needed a ladder to reach the second level which was high enough to be the second story of the home. It even had a small walkway at the level of where a ceiling should be if this was a normal room. A grand room indeed and smelled of leather and rich tobacco. A gentleman’s room where he escaped the difficulties of the day. Her father once had such a room where he spent most of his time when not with the horses. Outside of her own chambers, it had been Eve’s favorite room in the manor.
She was quite certain her eyes must be as large as saucers as she took in the magnificent room and the numerous books, but Eve couldn’t help herself. Oh, to have the leisure to read them all…Disheartened she looked to the floor. Her only reading came from old newssheets and who knew if she’d ever hold a book again.
Oh, if only Father were here now...Except he wasn’t. But if he were, she wouldn’t be in this predicament. Not that she understood why they were in the Earl of Kilsyth’s library because her brother wouldn’t explain, but her gut warned of a predicament. All she knew was that Brendan was here to make good on a debt.
Had her brother won at the tables last night and was going to pay the earl and then they’d be on their way?
“What’s this about, Doyle?”
Eve stiffened when the Earl of Kilsyth marched into the room. He was a formidable gentleman. Tall with dark wavy hair, intense grey eyes, and a finely formed frame. At least he filled out his clothing quite well. This was not what she expected at all. From what she’d overheard at the theatre, he was a tedious bore. Given the books, charts and maps about the room, she didn’t doubt the truthfulness of that rumor. Or perhaps he was simply an intellectual and Eve could understand why most actresses might find Kilsyth dreary. However, nobody had mentioned how handsome he was.
Even so, Kilsythwasstill a daunting gentleman.
Behind him was another gentleman of a similar age, which Eve guessed at being nearly eight or seven and twenty. He stood as tall as Kilsyth but where the earl was dark, the other gentleman had light hair, but dark eyes that danced with humor in complete opposite to Kilsyth’s hard, cold ones. Following the pair, was an older, slight woman, with graying hair.
What was this all about? Her brother simply wished to make good on his debt and that did not require the presence of others.
“As I explained ta yer butler I’ve come ta see good on my debt.”
The earl turned on Eve and he studied her from head to toe.
Eve clutched her cloak tightly across her bosom as fear seeped into her bones.
“Brendan, what have ye done?” She edged closer to her brother now that the other gentleman studied her as Kilsyth had.
“Didn’t he tell you?” Kilsyth demanded.
Eve shook her head slowly, fearing exactly what her brother may have wagered. Eve hadn’t sold herself to keep a roof over their heads and she wasn’t about to do so now. Further, she’d not be intimidated. Just because she wasn’t from a titled family didn’t mean she’d not been respectable at one time, and no earl was going to look down his nose at her.
“You, Miss Doyle.”
Her heart sank at the simple declaration.
“Ye wagered me?” Eve demanded as she turned on her brother. “Yer own sister?”
“I wanted to win back my necklace.”
“Yer necklace?” she cried. “Ye meanmynecklace. The one dat belonged to Mamaí dat came ta me dat ye stole frommehidin’ place?”
“It isn’t what ye think,” Brendan began, holding his hands out, as if hoping she’d understand.
“I’m not a trinket ta be bartered with or a horse ta be sold. I’ll not have it, Brendan.”
“It’s not what ye think, Eve. He’s yer new guardian.” Brendan pulled the papers from his inside pocket. “It’s all legal now. I lost ye in a game, and he won ye. It cannot be undone.”
“Where are your morals?” The light-haired gentleman demanded with disgust.
“Can’t afford to have ‘em,” Brendan responded sadly. “I’ve mucked everythin’ up, and I’m ready ta pay, but not my sister. She’s a good girl and I ask dat ye treat her right.”
