Eve considered him for a second before shaking his hand.
“This is my fiancé, Darius Dimitriou of REKD Gaming.”
Darius twitched a little at the sudden advancement in their relationship, but he found he liked the sound of it.
“This is my bodyguard, Joe Brooks,” he said. “He’ll need a room next to mine.”
“As I mentioned in my email,” Eve said, “along with accommodations for our driver.”
“Of course. Of course. We’re all ready for you.” Mr. Dalrymple stepped toward the house, saying over his shoulder, “This way please. The servants will get your luggage.”
He opened the front door, and two young men stepped out and hurried toward the car where the driver had opened the trunk.
“Do you think I ought to offer to help them?” Joe asked softly.
“I’m trying to decide if that would be a sign of weakness.” Darius rubbed his chin. “I want to make sure we start her off in a position of power.”
“Well, she already is. It’s at her discretion that she’s here at all, and she can leave anytime,” Joe said, scanning the area.
Darius had guessed her grandfather wanted something, but Darius doubted the old man had anything he could hold over her or her father.
“Sorry about the fiancé thing,” Eve said softly when Darius took her hand. “I can’t shake the feeling that this whole thing is a power play, and I’m meant to be a pawn. I couldn’t think how to describe you, and friend just didn’t have the same punch.”
“I figured as much,” Darius said as they leisurely strolled toward the house where the solicitor waited. “Did this guy give you any indication of why you’ve been asked to come?”
“Still nothing. He keeps saying that my grandfather will explain when I see him. He wanted my father to come, of course, but my Dad said the closest my grandfather would come to seeing him was through me. Take it or leave it. I think the old man might be trying to decide if the best person to inherit is my cousin. Considering Mr. Dalrymple’s shock at seeing me, I won’t be surprised if we leave tomorrow.”
“You don’t think that having a woman of mixed race marrying into the royal family might have softened his attitude?” Darius asked.
“A lot of Scottish people don’t like being under English rule, so I guess it depends on if my grandfather is one of them. Personally, anyone who would treat my father the way he did, is going to have to work really hard to make me care what they think.”
“Well, there’s no one I’d rather pretend to be engaged to than you.” He kissed her hand.
“How many people live here?” Eve asked when they reached the solicitor.
“There’s Mr. Stewart, of course, and your cousin Graham has been here since your uncle’s funeral.”
“Are there other cousins?” Darius asked.
“No, sir, I’m afraid not. And now the house.” Mr. Dalrymple opened the front door with a flourish.
12
After the exterior of the house, Eve should have been prepared for the interior. She was grateful for Darius’s arm around her shoulders as they entered the elegant foyer. Like the hotel in Edinburgh, the house must have been updated because it had a tasteful balance between the light walls and geometric tiles and the dark furniture. It even had a miniature coat of arms.
Mr. Dalrymple appeared in the opposite doorway with an older woman. She barely hesitated before coming forward to Eve.
“Welcome to Hedson Park, Miss Stewart. I’m Mrs. Campbell, the housekeeper.” She spoke with an English accent that had a hint of the Scot in the way she formed her words. It made Eve wonder if she was from England originally.
Eve introduced the men. “Where’s my grandfather?”
“I’m afraid he’s had to take to his bed with a migraine. He may call for you if he feels up to it, but in the meantime, we can get you settled. This way please.”
Mrs. Campbell went to the stairs at the side, and Eve exchanged a glance with Darius. He shrugged, and they followed the housekeeper.
The hallway decor was similar to that of the lobby but included family portraits. Eve slowed her pace so she could check them out. None were of her father, which didn’t surprise her, but some of the men in the pictures looked like him.
“This is your room, Miss Stewart,” the housekeeper said to Eve. “Your fiancé’s is right across the hall as requested, and his man’s room is next to his.”
