Page 56 of The Best-Kept Secrets
“Theyareall French,” Daria said.
Duke was near enough to Eve to hear Nia whisper to her, “I think I’d best go lie down. I’m suddenly feeling awful.”
Eve looked at him, and he saw worry in those expressive eyes. He couldn’t not help, but he also didn’t want to see her hurt in the end. Somehow, he would find a way over the coming weeks to toe that line.
He set a hand under one of Nia’s elbows, with Eve wrapping her arm around Nia’s waist. All the Huntresses were watching. The Pack looked no less concerned.
“I simply need to lie down,” Nia said, “mostly owing to the horror of discovering that Toss is an unrepentant cheat at short answer.”
The bit of humor seemed to set everyone’s concerns at ease. Everyone exceptEve.
It’s not your place to comfort her. She has difficulties enough without pulling her into yours.
As if to reinforce his self-chastisement, Grandmother’s voice reached them as they passed through the doors and into the corridor.
“Nowhere to be seen,” she grumbled far too loudly. “And from all I can discover, the newest arrival has not even been shown to her bedchamber. Penelope ought to know better than this.”
Grandmother, Father, and Mother were making their way toward the drawing room.
“Two friends of hers arrived,” Father said. “As always, her own enjoyment is all Penelope can think of.”
In the next instant, their eyes settled on Duke and the O’Doyle sisters. He wished he could depend on his family to be gracious.
“I thought all the young people were in the drawing room,” Mother said, eyeing the sisters with a hint of disapproval.
“They are, Mother.”
Before he could say more, Father spoke over him. “And you have abandoned your friends? That is not like you, Dubhán.”
“I am assisting the Misses O’Doyle.” He attempted to continue walking, but his family was making a very sufficient blockade.
“I can guess which of the sisters has imposed upon you,” Grandmother said. Clearly speaking to his parents but studying Eve with a disapproving air, she said, “The eldest Miss O’Doyle was nowhere to be seen while we were attempting to survive at that horrid inn. Dubhán worked ceaselessly. Miss Nia must have climbed the stairs dozens and dozens of times. But where was Miss O’Doyle?”
Small splotches of color splashed Eve’s cheeks, a blush of embarrassment, if Duke had ever seen one.
“I told you, Grandmother, that Miss O’Doyle worked very hard, simply not in a capacity that you saw.”
Grandmother was unappeased. “She never looked in on me, never offered me a good morning. She never even passed the door to the room I was in. I watched; I would have seen her.”
“May I please be permitted to continue helping my sister to our room?” Eve sounded dispirited. “She is not feeling well.”
“Little wonder, after working so hard and with so little help at that inn,” Father said.
Duke slipped his hand away from Nia’s elbow. “Best keep going,” he said to the sisters. “This might continue on for some time.”
They took the escape offered and moved around their confronters.
“Penelope really ought to be the one assisting her guests, Dubhán,” Mother said. “It shouldn’t fall to you.”
“When we find her,” Grandmother said firmly, “we will tell her. Come along, Silvia. We will sniff her out.”
When they walked away, Duke and Father alone stood in the corridor. The complaints and demands for appeasement would begin shortly. They always did.
But Lisette turned the corner and came into view, walking in their direction. Perhaps Duke had found an escape.
In French, knowing Father would feel quite proud of the education he had provided his son, Duke greeted her. “Welcome, Miss Beaulieu. The Huntresses and the Pack are most anxious to have you with us again.”
In her usual quiet and delicate way, Lisette answered in her native tongue as well. “Thank you, Mr. Seymour. I am eager to be with them as well.”
