Page 49
Her pride wouldn’t permit her to stay on as a guest either, though.
Even becoming Perygrim’s housekeeper pushed the mark.
“All right. The position is yours. I’ll inform my father. We can discuss wages later. Tomorrow, after we collect whatever it is you must have from Briar Knoll, I’ll give you a tour of the house and we’ll decide on appropriate compensation.”
“I don’t wish to overstep, but perhaps there are rooms we might use in the servant’s quarters? Or . . .” She inhaled and ran the tip of her tongue along her bottom lip as if bolstering her courage. “Might Mama and Mattie live at the Lake Cottage? I would reside here, naturally. I don’t wish to inconvenience his grace any more than we already have.”
A nice way of saying she worried Father would bully her mother.
Such trust and faith shone in her eyes. Such cautious hope. He’d done nothing to earn it, but he’d cut off his own foot with embroidery scissors before betraying it.
He might’ve only known Eden Haverden for a few days, but his soul soared to think she’d be here, at Perygrim. Every day.
He’d see her every day.
Speak to her every day.
Giddiness bubbled behind his ribs.
Too soon to declare himself.
Did Eglantina Eden Haverden believe in love at first sight?
For he did now.
Chester released her hand as he contemplated her suggestion. He ran his fingers along his jaw. “I shall consider it. Why don’t we see what happens for, shall we say, a fortnight?” He winked, and after a conspiratorial peek into the corridor, lowered his voice. “Father’s been taking tea with her.”
Her mouth parted in astonishment, and she blinked at him, confused. “Together? And he hasn’t been cross? She didn’t say a word to me about it.”
“I’m as astounded as you are, but I’d like to think it bodes well.” Unable to resist a minute longer, he picked up one of her locks. It curled around his fingers, clinging to them like a vine taking possession of a wall or a tree.
“My lord . . .”
“Eden . . .”
He jerked his fingers away. “Pardon. Please continue.”
She took another deep breath, an adorable blush pinkening her cheeks.
“I wasn’t spying on you the other night at the lake.”
“No? More’s the pity. I quite hoped you were. I’d have been thoroughly compromised, and there’s only one solution for that.”
Too soon to broach that subject.
“Chester.” She swatted his arm, eyeing him with puckish regard. “Be serious. This is awkward enough. I want to apologize for intruding.”
She’d used his given name. A chorus of hallelujahs hummed through his blood.
“No need for you to feel uncomfortable.” He never wanted her to feel uneasy around him. He lifted a shoulder. “You couldn’t have known I’d go for a swim. I’d just returned from London on a business matter with a bank I’ve invested in. There and back in two days, and I was desperate for a cool plunge.”
“You were in London?”
Surprise, or maybe it was relief, skewed her winged brows together.
He nodded. “I was. I sent you a note.”
Her silence and unwavering stare said what she did not.
