the three of them made.
Havers!
Aunt Greer must be better connected than Rhi had originally assumed. Not that the thought should make her unhappy. Perhaps her aunt truly did have Ginny’s best interests at heart and was using her well-placed connections to ensure Ginny’s success on the marriage mart. And then again, perhaps flying dragons would deposit a family of trolls at Carlton House where they would be invited in for tea with the Regent.
Actually, there was more likelihood of the latter happening than the former. Aunt Greer only ever had her own best interests at heart. If only Rhi could figure out how her sister played into their aunt’s plans. And did the duchess have anything to do with the situation?
She glanced up at the vampyre beside her. Blodswell was glowering at no one in particular. What was that about? “Are ye all right, my lord?”
“Perfectly,” he replied, keeping his eyes focused on the street before them.
But he didn’t look perfectly fine. He didn’t sound it either. He said he wouldn’t change his mind, that he’d given his word; and Rhi had offered to pay him. Perhaps vampyres were simply moody creatures. That was certainly the case with the Lycans she knew. Rhiannon decided not to press the earl and instead watched the homes of Mayfair pass by as Blodswell directed his grays back to Thorpe House.
Before she knew it, the curricle had come to a stop in front of Caitrin’s home. Blodswell quickly alighted from his spot, strode behind his conveyance and offered his hand to help her down. Once on firm ground, Rhi stared up into the earl’s midnight eyes, something she would have never considered doing a mere two hours earlier. But he’d promised not to enchant her, and she believed him.
He seemed a very steady soul, different in almost every way from the tormented vampyre who’d taken control of her in Edinburgh. At once she felt a little embarrassed to have let those old fears color the way she saw Blodswell. The only thing they shared, it seemed, was the blackness of their eyes.
“Thank you, Miss Sinclair, for joining me today.” The earl pressed a kiss to her gloved hand.
Shivers raced down her spine and settled in her toes. “Thank ye, my lord, for everythin’.”
Something she didn’t quite understand lingered in his gaze. “I find myself unwilling to relinquish you, dearest,” he said. He looked most sincere as he said it, and almost pained by it.
Blodswell reached into his pocket, retrieved a folded note, and held it out to her. “Alec asked me to give this to you. He said you’d wanted to meet today,” he glanced up at Thorpe House behind her, “but under the circumstances, it’s better he not call on you here. I’m sure you understand.”
Of course. What had she been thinking to even suggest such a thing to Alec? Rhiannon closed her hand around the note and nodded. “Is he all right, sir? I mean truly all right?”
“Your devotion to him speaks wonders for his character.” He tipped his head in a slight bow. “I shall call on you tomorrow.”
Then he launched himself back into his curricle and headed off before Rhiannon realized he hadn’t really answered her question. She glanced at the folded note in her hand and then dashed up the steps of Thorpe House.
The kindly butler opened the door before she had even reached it and smiled warmly. “Welcome back, Miss Sinclair. Lady Eynsford is holding court in the green parlor.”
Which meant Rhi would avoid the green parlor at all costs until she had read Alec’s note. It practically burned a hole through Rhiannon’s gloved hand, and she knew in her heart that the contents were not something she should share with Caitrin. She smiled at the aged butler. “Thank ye, Price. After I freshen up a bit, I’ll join her ladyship.”
Then she bounded up the steps before Cait could leave the parlor to intercept her as she had done with Blodswell that afternoon. Rhi rushed down the corridor toward her chambers
Havers!
Aunt Greer must be better connected than Rhi had originally assumed. Not that the thought should make her unhappy. Perhaps her aunt truly did have Ginny’s best interests at heart and was using her well-placed connections to ensure Ginny’s success on the marriage mart. And then again, perhaps flying dragons would deposit a family of trolls at Carlton House where they would be invited in for tea with the Regent.
Actually, there was more likelihood of the latter happening than the former. Aunt Greer only ever had her own best interests at heart. If only Rhi could figure out how her sister played into their aunt’s plans. And did the duchess have anything to do with the situation?
She glanced up at the vampyre beside her. Blodswell was glowering at no one in particular. What was that about? “Are ye all right, my lord?”
“Perfectly,” he replied, keeping his eyes focused on the street before them.
But he didn’t look perfectly fine. He didn’t sound it either. He said he wouldn’t change his mind, that he’d given his word; and Rhi had offered to pay him. Perhaps vampyres were simply moody creatures. That was certainly the case with the Lycans she knew. Rhiannon decided not to press the earl and instead watched the homes of Mayfair pass by as Blodswell directed his grays back to Thorpe House.
Before she knew it, the curricle had come to a stop in front of Caitrin’s home. Blodswell quickly alighted from his spot, strode behind his conveyance and offered his hand to help her down. Once on firm ground, Rhi stared up into the earl’s midnight eyes, something she would have never considered doing a mere two hours earlier. But he’d promised not to enchant her, and she believed him.
He seemed a very steady soul, different in almost every way from the tormented vampyre who’d taken control of her in Edinburgh. At once she felt a little embarrassed to have let those old fears color the way she saw Blodswell. The only thing they shared, it seemed, was the blackness of their eyes.
“Thank you, Miss Sinclair, for joining me today.” The earl pressed a kiss to her gloved hand.
Shivers raced down her spine and settled in her toes. “Thank ye, my lord, for everythin’.”
Something she didn’t quite understand lingered in his gaze. “I find myself unwilling to relinquish you, dearest,” he said. He looked most sincere as he said it, and almost pained by it.
Blodswell reached into his pocket, retrieved a folded note, and held it out to her. “Alec asked me to give this to you. He said you’d wanted to meet today,” he glanced up at Thorpe House behind her, “but under the circumstances, it’s better he not call on you here. I’m sure you understand.”
Of course. What had she been thinking to even suggest such a thing to Alec? Rhiannon closed her hand around the note and nodded. “Is he all right, sir? I mean truly all right?”
“Your devotion to him speaks wonders for his character.” He tipped his head in a slight bow. “I shall call on you tomorrow.”
Then he launched himself back into his curricle and headed off before Rhiannon realized he hadn’t really answered her question. She glanced at the folded note in her hand and then dashed up the steps of Thorpe House.
The kindly butler opened the door before she had even reached it and smiled warmly. “Welcome back, Miss Sinclair. Lady Eynsford is holding court in the green parlor.”
Which meant Rhi would avoid the green parlor at all costs until she had read Alec’s note. It practically burned a hole through Rhiannon’s gloved hand, and she knew in her heart that the contents were not something she should share with Caitrin. She smiled at the aged butler. “Thank ye, Price. After I freshen up a bit, I’ll join her ladyship.”
Then she bounded up the steps before Cait could leave the parlor to intercept her as she had done with Blodswell that afternoon. Rhi rushed down the corridor toward her chambers
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