Page 18 of The Earl's Reluctant Artist
Her fork stilled. “Marcus concerns himself with many things. Too many, if I may say.”
He gave a faint smile. “Present, then, but not always pleasant?”
She looked up, the candlelight catching her hazel eyes. “Something of the sort.”
For a moment, their gazes locked, and something unspoken passed between them, but Eliza looked away first. She sipped her wine with composure, though her hand trembled faintly. Just like it had right before she signed that register.
The silence returned, and he lifted his own glass, holding it a moment before drinking. “Perhaps, in time, you will grow more at ease here.”
She set her glass down carefully. “Time will tell, my lord.”
The words were polite, yet carried weight. He felt it sharply. Their meal passed with little else said, and soon, they were finished.
Their first meal together, and it was as uneventful as anything.
At last, he rose. “Come. I will show you to your rooms.”
She followed in silence, her hand light upon his arm. Their steps moved along the carpeted hallway until they stopped before a door. He opened the door to a prepared chamber and gestured inside.
“This will be yours. If there is anything you require, summon the maid. She will see to it.”
She curtsied faintly. “Thank you.”
“Rest well, Lady Vale,” he said, gently bowing his head and turning away.
The hallway stretched before him as the door clicked shut.
He longed only for solitude, for the weight of the day to ease. Yet just as he neared his chamber, a footman appeared, bowing low.
“My lord, forgive me. His Grace requests your presence in his study.”
“It is late,” Tristan said. “Tell him I will speak with him in the morning.”
The footman hesitated. “I am afraid, my lord, he insists. He said it cannot wait.”
Tristan drew a breath, then exhaled in resignation. “Very well.” He turned back and strode toward the study.
The duke sat behind a wide oak desk, the fire at his side casting shadows over his lined face. “You are wed,” he said. “The matter is settled, and well done. You have secured your future, Tristan. You are my heir, not only by blood but by right.”
Tristan inclined his head. “I thank you, Grandfather. But the hour is late, and I should like to rest.”
“One moment,” the duke said. “There is something I wish to show you. You have resisted a valet long enough, and tonight, I will end that.”
Tristan exhaled.Evelyn.
“It is about time,” the duke continued.
Tristan’s jaw tightened. “I have managed on my own for quite a while, Grandpapa. I do not require a valet.”
“Perhaps you will reconsider once you meet the man I have engaged.”
Tristan’s eyes narrowed. “You have engaged one already?”
The duke’s mouth curved in satisfaction. “Indeed.”
The door opened, and footsteps crossed the floor. Tristan didn’t turn at first and waited for the owner of the footsteps to come into view.
“Is this the proud Earl of Evermere I see before me, still bristling against the help of others?” The familiarly loud voice rang out behind him, and he swallowed.
