Page 31 of The Best-Kept Secrets
She looked over at him. “I would appreciate that. Nia was absolutely no help, she being no taller than I am.”
He put the pot easily in its place. “Is there anything else I can do for you?”
Eve shook her head, but her expression was uneasy. “Do you think anyone other than you saw me peeking from the kitchen? The wee girl’s giggles were so sweet that I couldn’t resist seeing what had brought them on. I oughtn’t to have looked. ’Twas too much of a risk.”
“I don’t think anyone else saw you.”
Her sigh of relief was anything but feigned. She took up the broom and began sweeping.
“The Marlows expressed their gratitude for all that’s been done while we’ve been here. I’m extending their thanks to you.”
“It has been a lot of work.” She continued her sweeping. “But it’s also been nice, truth be told. I’ve relished the challenge of creating things with only what’s on hand here.”
“A challenge you have excelled at,” he said.
She looked at him as she continued her sweeping. “I will bake wonderful things at Tulleyloch while you are gallivanting about London. Remind yourself of that once in a while, in case you’re tempted to enjoy yourself too much while I’m not there.”
“I wish I knew how to fix this so you could be gallivanting as well.”
Eve set her broom against the wall. “Not everything can be fixed, Duke.” She walked toward him. “And even those things that can aren’t necessarilyyourresponsibility to mend.”
He smiled a little. “You’ve told me that a few times these past days.”
She took his hands in hers and looked into his eyes. “I’ll keep telling you until you believe it.”
“I am attempting to,” he said. “But escaping the role of family negotiator will require turning the cannons on my family, and I’m not looking forward to it.”
“You talk as though you have already lined those cannons up.”
Duke hadn’t shared his plans with anyone. Even the Pack didn’t know the extent of his difficulties.
“Let me begin by plainly stating that my situation pales in comparison to yours.”
She waved that off.
“And I further need to acknowledge that the complaining I have done has likely given you an unflattering view of my parents. Life with them is not entirely miserable. When I see them for brief intervals, we get along well. If I am to keep thinking well of them, I cannot be with them all the time. I realize that likely makes me a terrible son.”
Eve shook her head. “There is a reason for the universality of the sentiment ‘absence makes the heart grow fonder.’ Some peoplerequirefond absences.”
There was a lot of truth in that.
“So, are you planning to run away from home?” she asked.
“Essentially. I’m not a pauper, by any means. But my income from my father’s estate was never meant to be sufficient for obtaining a home away from Writtlestone. So I am going to ask my aunt and uncle if I can make my home with them at Fairfield.” He dropped his gaze to their hands, buoyed by the simple touch. “My grandmother will consider me to have chosen sides, which will make me an enemy to her since she aligns herself withandopposesboth‘sides,’ as it suits her needs. And my parents will see this as a betrayal, which has always been at the heart of what they are angry with my aunt about.”
“Why stay with your aunt and uncle, specifically, if it will cause such complications?” There was no accusation or dismissal in the question but rather a caring concern.
For the first time since formulating this strategy, Duke felt a little less alone in it. “Asking to be granted indefinite houseroom from anyone other than family would be inexcusable. And my parents would likely make themselves a nuisance at the home of any friend who took pity on me. I would be subjecting people to the very troubles I am attempting to escape.”
“But will you be happy?”
He looked up at her once more. “Fairfield is a much more peaceful place than Writtlestone. I’ll be able to breathe again.”
Eve pulled her hands free of his, and his heart dropped. But almost before he could register the loss, she set her hands gently on either side of his face. “But will you be happy?”
“At Fairfield, happiness will finally feel possible.”
The light touch of her hands on his face did odd things to him. His pulse pounded and raced, which he could have predicted, but he also felt calm and his thoughts quieted.
