Page 22 of Sweet Siren
"Oh?" Pierce took a bite of bacon, his grey eyes sharp as daggers. "What did the old bastardwant?"
"Asked me to invite the two of them todinner."
"Why?"
"She won't speak to him. He'sworried."
Pierce picked up his coffee cup anddrank.
Killian watched him. Pierce clenched his jaw, his face so yearning, his anger so raw he grew red in theface.
Julian put down his fork and knife. "I might as well tell you. Lily knows. Elanna isexpecting."
Pierce blanched. "Thebastard."
Julian winced. "Carbury called the doctor when she had a screaming fit two weeks ago andfainted."
Pierce's cup hit the saucer with a crack. "Christ. He tormentsher."
Killian knew from watching the Carburys together that that could be true. Carbury had a way of putting himself in front of Elanna at every turn. He interrupted her conversations to correct her. He advised her on her attire. She would sneer at him or laugh. That irritated the man all the more. They were both toblame.
Julian cut a glance at Pierce. "I think they do a fine job of tormenting each other. But he does want her to become more calm. He thought coming to dinner with us at Willowreach might have a good effect onher."
"But you and Lily haven't been there. Are you going down to Kent?" Killianasked.
"No. Lily wasn't feeling up to it and I'm up to my neck in the harvest. The loss of my estate manager has been a blow to me. I'm having to learn quickly what's to be done and done efficiently. I won't let my tenants starve thiswinter."
"Good man," saidKillian.
"Last year, they did without hams and turkeys, vegetables too. I read it in the books. My father was scrimping on everything he could. I won't. I need them and I want themhealthy."
Killian nodded, remembering the discussion he and Olivia had had about noblemen who could not order their estates to beprofitable.
"In any case," Julian went on, sitting back, "Elanna will have to learn to take care of herself. If she’s not happy with Carbury, then she must attempt to discuss her problems with him. Not scream or throw things at him. And now there’s a child coming into this. She mustchange."
"Carbury, too," Pierceadded.
"Carbury, too," Julianagreed.
The three ate their breakfast in silence for a fewminutes.
Foster, his butler, entered and presented Killian with an envelope on a silver tray. "MonsieurHanniford" in fine script was upon the front. On the back, the crest of the hotel to which he had delivered Liv last night after the most stirring kisses he'd enjoyed in years. It bore no postage, so the item must have been hand-delivered.
"Foster, who broughtthis?"
"A coachman, sir, from a publiccarriage."
Killian shot to his feet. "Justnow?"
"Yes,sir."
Killian threw down his napkin and bounded for the foyer, the front door, the steps, the walk. He halted in the road. At the far corner, he spied a black carriage, one of those public hackneys with a worn shiny top. It was rounding thecircle.
She'd gone. Too far to catch. But she must have decided to stay in Paris. Meet him for dinner or thetheater.
Heart pounding like a boy, he grinned and tore open themissive.
"Dear Mr.Hanniford,
