Page 114 of The Viscount's Seduction
The smug tone of those otherwise servile words, the lack of his earlier accent, sent the pounding of her heart higher into her ears.
“And quite a lovely one.” Perry angled her head only slightly to call over her shoulder. “Will you tell us what it means, Sirena?”
An ache started in her chest and swelled into her throat.
Tell us then, wee Sirena. Tell us the story of the four points of this knot.
’Tis the four seasons, winter, spring, summer, and autumn, Jamie.
No, ’tis not that. Now tell us, iora.
’Tis east, west, north and south.
No.
The four gospels then.
Bah, you leave it again to me to tell, Sirena. Is it not then the sign of Brighid—hand, hearth, head and heart? Brighid, Queen of the Four Fires, Goddess of heaven, bringer of light, ruler of birth and new beginnings.
She eased in a breath and steadied her voice. “It is for you to tell, sir, what the design means.”
He shook his head, eying her warily. “It is Irish, connected to some legend or other. I was given it to draw by the master.”
Was this then the same man she’d spoken with today? Aye, the scar still carved a path down his cheek, his tooth was still chipped, but the way his mouth firmed sharpened the pain in her chest. Jamie’s face had never been so hard. This was Donegal, and there was no softness in him.
“Come then,” Perry said, “we hold the Irish in some esteem in this house. You must have some idea of the meaning.”
He rubbed at his jaw, streaking it the white of the chalk. “Well then, ’tis a symbol of luck. A fancied-up, four-leaf clover.”
Sirena’s heart fell. The dark room seemed to swallow the light, and fear filled her as it had that day at the docks. Though this was but one man, the odds seemed much worse than that day. And she couldn’t let Perry or Lady Jane be hurt.
She made herself chuckle. “And ’tis luck we will be needing to get everything ready in time for the ball. Best let him get back to his work. Will you be much later then, sir? It appears you’re finished.”
“I’m touching up where needed. It will be a while longer.”
“Very well then.” Perry herded them toward the doors.
Outside the room, while Perry spoke with the footman, Lady Jane linked arms with Sirena.Oy, but she was dying to hear what Perry was saying, impossible with Lady Jane drawing her attention away.
The three went up together, parting ways with Perry at her bedchamber door. Sirena escorted her former benefactor to her room, bade her goodnight, and went back down the stairs, a sick rage building within her.
The library, she had noted, was often Shaldon’s last stop of the day. She would wait there for him, and for Bakeley. As much as she hated to admit it, she needed their help. Lady Bakeley she was, a weak English thing.
She found the butler and two footmen silently roaming the halls.
She pulled the butler, Lloyd, aside. “What are you doing?”
“We are just making some extra preparations for the ball tomorrow night. Do you not wish to retire, my lady?”
That was a bit cheeky and quite out of character for Lloyd. She looked past his shoulder. “You have extra men in the ballroom?” she whispered.
He blinked.
“That is a capital idea. I shall retire to the library to await my husband.” He trailed behind her to the door, and she saw a glint of concern in his weathered face.
“I’ll just add more coals to the hearth, my lady.” He entered and closed the door behind him.
The butler himself feeding coal. Not the usual sort of servants.
