Page 12 of The Best-Kept Secrets
“Moral philosophy.” He’d known upon choosing the focus of his studies that it was not an obviously useful one. Plenty of people questioned what could possibly have motivated him to pick that emphasis. And he couldn’t explain it without laying bare the misery in his family.
“Now you will be a morally philosophical gentleman of leisure?” Clearly, Eve was amused at the idea, yet nothing even hinted at mockery.
“Only imagine how tedious that gives me leave to be,” Duke said. “I will spend my days judging others’ morality and life choices, likely disapproving of the way they run their estates while not having one of my own, and sauntering about Town, loudly declaring my philosophical judgments.”
“You sound eminently qualified to be a spinster, Duke. You are old, have no home of your own, and have no occupation. It’s the perfect fit.”
“Iamone and twenty,” he pointed out.
In a tone dry as week-old bread, she said, “Ancient.”
“I am suddenly suspecting that you might be equally ancient.”
Eve pressed a hand to her heart. “How very uncouth of you to suggest such a thing.”
“If you are as aged as I, we might combine efforts and open a home for ancient people without estates or occupations,” he said. “No applicants under twenty-one need apply. Philosophical judgment would be an added consideration.”
“Can you guarantee our days will be spent listening to people complain about stew, linens, and the weather?” Eve asked hopefully.
“Complaints? What could possibly have put the idea of complaints into your mind?”
In a bit of painfully perfect timing, Grandmother’s voice carried over to them. “The sky was quite leaden this evening. No doubt, it will rain mercilessly tomorrow. We will all be rendered utterly wretched.”
Duke slowly shifted his gaze from his grandmother to Eve. She was biting her lips closed, a clear attempt to hold back a laugh.
“Will you promise me you won’t murder her before we reach Surrey?” Duke asked.
“Very well, but the moment we cross into that county...” She held her hands up as if to wash them of all responsibility for what would happen.
Duke had never known anyone else with eyes that could be described as silver, but the O’Doyle sisters fit the description. And Eve’s were unique even beyond that: a dark ring around the edge of the iris, a sparkle that never seemed to dim, a depth that drew a person in. He’d managed not to stare at her during their friends’ previous house party or his very brief visit to London during the past Season. It had been a difficult thing though.
He didn’t stare now, but he did watch her, curious and intrigued and confused by the pull he’d felt from their very first meeting. That he couldn’t sort it out, he who was known for sorting outeverything, made the mystery all the more compelling.
“Eve, Mrs. Seymour tells me Fairfield has dozens upon dozens of horses,” Nia said.
Eve sighed dramatically. “And we’ve left our saddles at home. All hope is lost.”
Then they laughed.
Eve’s eyes crinkled at the outer corners when she laughed that way. And the faintest of dimples appeared to the right of her upturned lips.
Don’t stare, Duke.He looked away, but that placed his focus on Grandmother. It was just as well; he needed to fend off difficulties tomorrow, an effort that had to begin tonight, which meant he absolutely would not have time to work on his strategy for Fairfield.
Convincing Grandmother to retire for the night was a crucial part of that. “You need to rest, Grandmother. Tomorrow will be a very long day, and we will depend so much on your equanimity to maintain our own.”
“Many people have.” Grandmother stood very regally. “I assume you will be accompanying me to my room, Dubhán, as a guard against my being accosted by ruffians on my way.”
Duke stood as well. “I have seen nothing at this inn that leads me to believe it is overrun with ruffians.”
“It needn’t beoverrun,” Grandmother countered. “It takes only one to be accosted.”
“She is not wrong,” Eve said.
Duke turned his head slowly to look at her, feigning shock.
“I know.” She pressed a hand to her heart. “Save it for Surrey.”
Those silver eyes danced about. He didn’t dare let himself be distracted though. Grandmother could be unbearable when she felt she was not receiving the attention she was owed.
