Page 77 of Wicked Designs
Godric opened his mouth, closed it. What the devil was she playing at?
“Besides, I’ve sent my servants away for a few days. It would be impossible to find suitable replacements before they return.”
He pulled away from her. She was a black stain on his life that he wanted desperately to erase. “You may stay the night and dine in your room. I expect you to leave no later than tomorrow at noon. Do not trouble me or my guests.”
She fluttered her lashes. “Trouble?Moi? Godric, since when have I ever been troublesome?”
He clasped his hands behind his back to resist thetemptation to strangle the damn woman. “When? There was the time you spilled tea on my entire collection of cravats when I wouldn’t buy you that emerald necklace you wanted.”
“An accident, as I told you then.”
“Or perhaps the time when you demanded to have your own carriage made with my family crest on it.”
“Oui. I admit that was apetitebit presumptuous.”
“And let us not forget the reason I made you leave. You demanded I put Simkins to pasture.”
Her lips formed amoue. She had nothing to say to that.
“Shall I be staying in my old room?” Her hopeful tone made his skin crawl. Something wasn’t right about her here, but he couldn’t put his finger on what.
“No. I have friends visiting, as you must have guessed.”
“Indeed. I met with Lord Lennox and Lord Lonsdale earlier when they returned fromqu’est-ce que c’est…fishing trip?” She seemed to be resisting the urge to laugh at him for enjoying his lands in such a rustic fashion. That was nothing new. “Don’t tell me you are forcing a lord to sleep in my lovely little room?”
“A guest.”
Evangeline raised an inquisitive eyebrow. “A guest?”
“Yes. A friend of mine from London. She’s staying here a while before continuing on to Scotland.”
“Very well. If you won’t tell me, and you clearly do not wish to entertain me. I suppose I should retire.” She was smiling as he showed her out of the parlor. Godric gave Mrs. Downing instructions to settle her and herthings in the room at the end of the upstairs hall. The farthest room from his and Emily’s.
With Evangeline gone, Godric headed for the drawing room and found Lucien, Cedric, and Charles around a rosewood table playing Whist. Emily was cuddled up next to Ashton on a couch, listening to him read. She put a fist in her mouth stifling a yawn, and stroked Penelope. Jealousy shot through Godric. He wanted to be the one she cuddled against, his shoulder offering her a resting place. Emily glanced up as Godric took a step into the room.
The look in her eyes melted him. He relished that simple joyous expression and tucked it away in the most sacred part of his heart.
She immediately put Penelope down and slid off the couch, going to him.
“You’ve attended to your visitor?” Ashton rose and came to stand behind Emily. She looked at the two men curiously. Godric knew it must be killing her to not ask for details.
He glanced at Ashton. “She’ll dine alone. She knows she must be gone by tomorrow at noon.”
A growing sense of unease clenched his insides. Emily raised an eyebrow, and he sighed.
“Miss Evangeline Mirabeau, a former acquaintance of mine. She mistakenly thought I’d invited her here.”
Emily blinked rapidly. Her violet eyes darkened with an unreadable emotion. “Evangeline? Your lover is here?” Emily’s voice came out a little louder and sharper than she would have liked.
Godric flinched. “How did you know she was my lover?”
The other three men turned around to stare at her.
Emily hesitated, then said, “Look at the company I’m keeping. It was hardly a gamble.”
He cupped her chin, tilting her head up. “Former lover,” he admitted. “She is no longer welcome here.”
Emily wrapped her arms around Godric’s arm, searching his face for the faintest hint of deception.
