Page 67 of Broken

Pain began to slide behind Lilly’s smile, and she dug her fingertips into the chair padding beside her. Lord, she was tired. If not for Papa and her cousin, she would have pleaded fatigue long ago.

But she was a Winter, and a Winter did not show weakness in the presence of the enemy.

Oh yes, she remembered Barrette’s mean ways now. All too well. He was a favorite with Mama. At ten, Barty had convinced Mama to give him a puppy. Lilly’s. Brackus had been a sweet-natured hunting dog before Barty had gotten his hands on him. The child Brackus later mauled had lost a hand.

Lilly eyed Barty critically. He seemed like a frivolous sort of fellow on first glance without too much going on in his head. Handsome and dressed in fine satin. Lilly had not recognized him at first. It was not until later, at luncheon, when one of the words he uttered reverberated strangely.

As Lilly watched him playing the piano, she had made the connection to her past. She was horrified that Barty was keeping company with her father now. That was not a good thing. Not a good thing at all. Mama had forbidden her to mention what she referred to as “groundless accusations” against Papa’s heir, and she’d held her tongue many times up until her accident. Afterward, she had not had the opportunity to tell, even without Mama’s prohibition.

She wished she could talk to Giles. Lilly had no idea how much she’d depended on hearing his thoughts until she had lost the ability to speak to him. All the plans Papa had mentioned at dinner made her head hurt. It was either that or the noisy piano playing. Music had never interested her.

Mama had adored Barty for his skill at the instrument, and she had displayed him to her guests whenever he was in residence. Lilly, always banished to the farthest reaches of the house when they had guests, didn’t mind being away from Barty. But that meant he was closer to Papa.

Lilly had never coveted the responsibility of the estate, but Barty was strange about it all. Her years of illness away from Dumas had left her ambivalent about her childhood home. She wondered if Barty would believe her this time.

Mama had taken Barty under her wing, teaching him about Dumas at around the time Lilly lost her puppy to him. Perhaps Mama hoped to ingratiate herself, since she would be dependent on him for life’s little extra luxuries.

Papa’s talk of her marrying must also be in preparation for that day, too. If she was well, she had better have a husband to protect her from Barty, she thought grimly. Barty had always resented her existence, although today she found him strangely pleasant. Perhaps he had changed his opinion of her over the years.

Perhaps snakes had learned to blunt their fangs, too. He would bear watching.

A low growl reverberated through the room as Atticus stalked toward them with a menacing posture. Lilly was surprised. The dog had been so mild in his manner until now.

“Atticus.” Giles spoke sharply, but the dog did not heed him.

Atticus growled at Papa and Barty, and that was not to be allowed. “Atticus, come.” Lilly spoke low like her father had taught, and the dog came to her outstretched hand.

She leaned forward and whispered a command directly into the dog’s ear. He quivered, but complied, pressing against her leg and turning slightly so he faced outward toward the men.

Embarrassed that the dog showed such a marked preference for a woman instead of his master, she chewed her lip. The wolfhound was a powerful dog. She knew firsthand that his teeth were very sharp. Too sharp to make mistakes with.

* * *

Giles was blessed with a vast experience at prowling manor houses undetected. It just did not seem to work in his own home. When Lilly had finally retired just ahead of her father and Barrette, he had been relieved. A few hours later, he walked the hall, only to stumble into Mr. Barrette doing the same.

“Daventry? I knew you couldn’t possibly keep country hours as Lord Winter does. I was just on my way to find a nightcap. Care to join me?”

Given the way he phrased it, Giles had little choice. Together they descended to his study and acquired glasses of port. They spoke little, but Giles did notice the man’s restlessness.

“I have the devil of a time sleeping in a new setting. I always require a little extra something to help me nod off. What about you?”

Giles laughed. “Oh, I can usually sleep anywhere, and frequently do.”

“I imagine the ladies around here lap up the attention. They must be starved of good company until you return with guests,” he murmured.

“What are you implying?” Giles set his drink aside. “Importune any woman under my roof and we shall have a less than pleasant conversation. Is that understood?”

Barrette appeared surprised. Apparently, he thought he knew Giles’ reputation. But Giles would never touch a woman whose very livelihood rested within his power.

He also realized that his reaction was just a touch too insistent. He had included Lilly in his warning without meaning to.

“Of course, of course. Simply testing the waters.”

“Drink as much as you wish. I’m for bed. Good night.”

As Giles ascended the staircase, warnings danced upon his skin. Society knew of his insatiable appetite for pleasure. If he wasn’t more careful with his temper, Barrette might become curious about exactly how Lilly had recovered so quickly.

Barrette followed him up the stairs at a distance, watching as Giles strode past Lilly’s doorway and slipped into his bedchamber. Just to be sure there were no misunderstandings, Giles allowed the lock to turn loudly for good measure.