Page 64 of Broken

“The situation in Scotland will be perfect for my daughter’s fragile state,” Lord Winter promised everyone. “Lilly will enjoy the feminine companionship of Mrs. Harris and her daughter instead of my dull attendance. The quiet of the small village will appeal to her.”

“When will you take her there?” Barrette’s question sounded like a polite inquiry, but Giles could see he hung on Lord Winter’s every word.

“Soon, soon.” Winter chuckled, a sound that rang false to Giles. “Lord Daventry must be visited with first.”

“Of course. A few days’ relaxation, and then a period in Town to sample London’s delights should see you right for the long trip. It’s just the thing,” Giles agreed.

Winter rubbed his hands together and picked up his glass again. “Just the thing, indeed.”

Privately, Giles thought they were laying it on a bit thick, but Barrette looked to be lapping up all the little details. He could see the other man counting out the days. Lord Winter would be lucky to get away from him at this rate. They’d made the next weeks sound like too much of an adventure.

An hour after dinner, Lord Winter was asleep by the fire.

Giles excused himself, leaving Carrington and Barrette to talk of London while he went in search of his butler. “What did Lilly say about remaining upstairs?”

“She didn’t want to until I mentioned her cousin had arrived uninvited. She seemed in no rush to renew her acquaintance and asked to be left alone for the evening.”

“She did eat, didn’t she?”

“Indeed she did.”

“Good.” Giles bit her lip. “I don’t suppose you asked the staff to hold their tongues did you?”

“If her father wishes to hide her existence then who are we to thwart him.” He glanced around. “Besides, once Barrette’s man started asking too many questions about the house and occupants everyone found a reason to be busy.”

He returned to the library and discovered Carrington had at last turned to a book for better companionship than the other man provided in his absence. Barrette was a crashing bore, and hinted at connections that Giles doubted were real. He was not good friends with half of the ton, but he would bear watching.

Since Barrette made no move to tuck old Winter into bed, Giles supposed he’d best do the job. With Carrington’s help, they negotiated the drunken baron up the stairs and to his bedchamber and handed him off to his waiting valet. “Give us a hand with the old boy, will you Pinkerton?”

Barrette, claiming to be headed for bed too, remained paused at the door, a speculative look gracing his face as the baron was manhandled under the covers.

Since Pinkerton appeared efficient and capable of handling the loose-limbed baron, Giles left him to it and bade Barrette a good night before retiring to his room, claiming he kept country hours.

* * *

Not long after the clock struck two, the bed dipped. Giles surged upright, found Lilly’s face with his hands and kissed her. God, he had missed her this evening. When he eventually let her come up for air, he was painfully aroused. He had her in his room and on his bed. Oh, the things he wanted to do with this woman.

“Is Papa going to banish me to Scotland?”

His desire didn’t abate entirely with her question. “Were you spying on us tonight? That is a dangerous practice, darling.” Giles flicked her hair back behind her shoulders and pressed his lips to the skin below her ear.

Lilly squirmed. “You did not answer my question, Giles. Stop distracting me. Is it true he is sending me away?”

In the dark, he could lie, but he preferred not to. “Not Scotland—a place in Wales. He went to investigate the possibility of settling you there. I don’t know why he speaks as he does in front of Barrette. But the separation will not happen now, Lilly. I wanted to talk to you about that. You are so much better. Your pain is far less and I have noticed a gratifying improvement in your health. I am sure he will not send you away once he sees the improvement himself.”

“Did you know of his plans before? When he left me here?”

“He did mention them,” Giles admitted. “He was very upset by the possibility, but he thought it was for the best. The doctors had admitted defeat and he just wanted your comfort assured.” Giles ran his hand down her nightgown-clad arm. “Remember, you were very ill when you first came, Lilly.”

“What am I going to do, Giles?”

“Show him you have improved,” he told her, firm in his belief that it was the best course. The only course. “But I am a little puzzled why he told your cousin you were in London.”

“Papa said that?”

“He did, but he did not explain why he lied to Mr. Barrette. Carrington and I played along but I don’t know how long we can hide you.”

“You cannot. I apologize that my father put you in an awkward position. It was very wrong of him.” She sighed. “I’ve been trying to decide how to explain my sudden improvement. I will not tell him the truth.”