by Cari Hislop
“It’s no more stupid than the mess you’ve cooked up. I told you to put on your eye patch and call on her. She probably loves one eyed Lords. For all you know her favourite doll only had one eye. It’s not like you’re ugly. Your teeth are still good and I’ve seen dozens of ladies watch you with admiration.”
“No doubt they were all whores admiring my purse.”
“Listen old man, you have got to stop thinking rot. You’re quite pleasant to look at. So you look silly with an eye patch; so what? At least you don’t also have a peg leg. Mother is concerned that you’re going to end up with a broken heart. She thinks you’ve bitten off more than you can chew if you know what I mean.”
“I’m perfectly aware of Mother’s concerns.”
“Well if I were you I’d get a move on and start charming your bride. Mother says you have two weeks to sort out this mess before she arrives to sort it out for you. You know what happens when she starts sorting out problems. You know how she waves her arms about in those ghastly gestures left over from her playhouse days; she’s likely to accidentally set your wife alight. I think Father must have been drunk when he married her.”
“He was in love; a condition you’ve never suffered, because if you had you wouldn’t be so smug.”
“Make me feel my youth; just because I’m only twenty-two doesn’t mean I’m sans experience of the heart…or at least…”
“As I was saying…go away and don’t even think about introducing yourself to my wife. It’s bad enough you put the wedding ring on the wrong finger. I wanted to punch you.”
“It wasn’t my fault. I was spellbound by her exceedingly low décolletage. She has very nice…”
“I don’t want to hear another man admire my wife, especially not when he’s better looking. Go and tell Mother to mind her own business or face my wrath.”
“I’m hungry. I need some breakfast. I’ll help you break the ice…”
“I think I’ll have a tray in my room; I can’t bear to hear her laughing at me…not for another few hours.”
“Don’t be a fool Adam! You’re not going to win her heart hiding away in your room.”
“When someone slashes out one of your eyes and nearly slits your throat then you can come tell me not to hide in my room, but until then go to the devil.”
“She probably thinks you are the devil after all those black cloaks you had us wear. What did she call you, demon-husband? Mother’s going to laugh herself sick.”
“I’m so glad my pain amuses you. Thank you for coming and ruining my day. It was very thoughtful of you.”
“Don’t be so stuffy Adam. Just because you haven’t properly introduced yourself to your wife doesn’t mean I can’t. I’m going to have breakfast with her and I suggest you join us. The girl needs to know Lathams are perfectly rational people who can walk in the sunlight without being turned to stone.”
Adam clenched his fists and hissed with rage, “Don’t you dare!”
“You know I can’t resist a dare. Put some clothes on, nothing black, and come be sensible for half an hour. How can she not like you? There isn’t anyone who doesn’t like you. Even Great Aunt Vesper likes you; the horrid witch even hates herself, now stop being an idiot and just come charm your Lady Latham.”
“Don’t be an ass…” Adam sat down on the bed next to his brother and hissed his discomfort. “…there must be hundreds of people who loathe me.”
“Yes, but they’re stupid so who cares what they think? We’ll be in the formal dining room where the big windows let in lots of light so she can see how pleasant you look in the flesh.”
“She’ll think I’m hideous next to you. I don’t want her to think I’m hideous…”
“You certainly aren’t going to win her heart by hiding in your room. I’m going to tell her you’re coming so if you don’t come you will look silly.”
“You’re as bad as Mother.”
“Don’t be cruel! I’ve never set anyone alight waving around a candle stick and my schemes, unlike Mother’s, almost always work out in the end. Just because the last one ended in a phenomenal disaster doesn’t mean you can’t trust me.”
Adam shuddered as his heart throbbed in horror. “I neither need nor want your assistance. Go before I kick you out myself.”
“That wouldn’t be wise. Your Lady might be looking out a window. She’d think you a brute instead of the ultra sensitive, caring, knight in shining chain mail, can’t kill a fly to save your soup sort of man that you are.” Luke Latham bounced off the bed and rubbed his hands as he headed for the door. “Come show yourself or you’ll wish you had.”
“Please leave before you ruin my life.” His throat ached as he tried to shout above a whisper. “I’m perfectly capable of wooing of my bride, now leave.”
“Did you say go wait for me in the dining room? As you wish! I’ll sit next to my new sister and leave you the master’s seat opposite where she’ll be able to see you every time she looks up. I’m sure she’ll be impressed unless you give her that look you’re giving me.” His baby brother winked at him, before firmly closing the door. Adam groaned as his stupid aching heart demanded he put on his eye patch and join his brother. Was she in her room laughing at him? The thought caused spasms of discomfort. What could he possibly do to make her fall in love with him? His mind was an unhelpful blank. He slowly unbuttoned his dressing gown as he imagined her arms around his neck as he held her tight. His excited heart commanded him to get dressed and meet his wife in the sunlight and then slumped against his ribs and returned to calling, ‘Eve…Eve…Eve…’
Chapter 7
Eve was shown into a small windowless dining room with a small oval table and one lit candle. She’d just sat down in one of the two chairs when she heard a loud male voice ring out making her jump. “Where is my new sister…she can’t eat in the dark; serve us in the formal dining room and set the table for three…I’ve told my brother…the fool isn’t going to eat in the dark with his bride. If he refuses to join us His Lordship can eat on the roof. I’m sure her Ladyship would like to see what she’s eating, I know I would.” A shadowy slim figure of a man stopped in the door way. “There’s a well lit dining room a few minutes away if you’ll follow me.”
“Who are you?”
“Luke Latham; one of your new brothers…”
“He has brothers?”
“Three; I’m the youngest and your favourite.”
“Why?”
“Because the other two couldn’t be bothered to attend your wedding; just blow out the candle.” She obeyed and followed after the disappearing man. There was a whole family of lunatics? It was a frightening thought. Following the fashionable figure through another doorway, she bumped into him and found strong young hands steadying her as she stared mesmerized by male beauty. “I’m beautiful I know, but you can’t fall in love with me. Adam would kill me or least he’d want to kill me and that would be just as bad because he’d never speak to me again and I’d miss the silly old fool.” The young man smiled at her and waved a hand towards the magnificent room. Now wouldn’t you rather eat in here?” Eve’s mouth fell open as her mind tried to separate the carvings, hangings, glittering chandeliers, painted walls and ceiling. It looked like someone had kept saying, ‘yes, I’ll have that too.’ It was a monstrous eyeful that reinforced her theory that the family was mad. “Grandfather extensively redecorated much of the house before marrying grandmother. She enjoyed eating so grandfather designed a room fit for a Queen. You’d never guess he did it without any training…” Eve glanced around the frightening ornate room as the man calling himself her brother pulled out a chair for her and then seated himself next to her without ceasing his senseless ramble. He certainly wasn’t the husky whispering demon she’d met earlier. Her demon-husband was a more concise and sensible user of words. She glanced at the beautiful man who’d yet to draw breath as she inwardly cringed at her ignorance.
“How old is Lord Latham?”
The young man’s ch
atter stopped as his eyes went wide. “He’s thirty-seven…didn’t they tell you?”
“They told me nothing.” Her husband was seventeen years older than herself? No wonder he hadn’t wanted to meet her; he was practically a greybeard. That’s why he’d worn the silly cloak; her husband was ancient as well as insane. Doubtless he’d married her to breed an heir before he died of old age, but then she’d be free of him. The thought made her smile before it slid away with the thought that she’d still have to endure the marriage bed with a mad stranger. She’d have to close her eyes and remind herself it could have been worse. At least she wasn’t poor Princess Caroline wed by proxy to the fat Prince Regent.
“Why did you marry him?”
Eve eyed her supposed brother with exasperation. “Why do you think?”
“You wanted to be a Countess?”
“Why would anyone sane want to marry someone they’ve never met?”
“I don’t know…for the adventure?”
“When I realised my parents would deliver me to the altar faint with hunger with bruises on my legs, agreeing to their demands made for more comfortable life.”
The man gaped in horror as he glanced back and forth between her and the door. “They didn’t! You’re exaggerating…aren’t you?”
“No, why?”
“Don’t tell Adam they hurt you…I beg you!”
Eve shivered as she felt that strange tingle down her spine and over her skin as if someone was watching her. “Why not?”
The beautiful man dropped his voice to a pleading whisper. “The fool’s in love with you. He’d be wretched if he knew he’d unwittingly caused you pain. He might even kill himself in a stupid act of honour to set you free… Blast! I hear footsteps. Stay here, I’ll go see if he’s in the hall…” The young man rushed over to the open doorway and slid to a stop before peering out into the hall. “Adam?” Eve stared at the young man leaning out of the room in confusion. The family was definitely affected by some mental plague. How could her husband be in love with her when they’d never met? She strained to hear the whispered conversation taking place. Was her husband really just outside the door or was the man named Luke talking to himself? Anything seemed possible as she strained to overhear the one-sided conversation. “There’s nothing to worry about…what you mean what’s wrong? There’s nothing wrong! I didn’t say anything to her. What do you mean she looks upset? I was sitting next to her and she looked perfectly composed to me; you’re seeing things again. You look splendid…she’s not in love with me.” Luke Latham turned his head back towards her. “You’re not in love with me are you?”
“No.”
“See…she’s not in love with me. Now stop being a fool and come eat with your wife. I can eat in the kitchen while you have a tête a tête…she won’t care about your silly eye patch…she’s not going to laugh at you…no she won’t and unless you speak to her in full daylight she’s going to think you are some mad demon-lover. Adam? Blast!”
Eve watched the beautiful man return to his seat with a scowl. “Will he join us?”
“He thinks you’ll laugh at his eye patch.”
“His eye patch?”
“He lost an eye in a duel; the blind eye is all white surrounded by puckered scars. Don’t ever ask Adam to tell you ghost stories in the fire light, he’s frightening.” The beautiful young man paused dismayed at his own lack of tact. “But in the daylight, when he wears his patch, he’s no more frightening than I am. He’s quite handsome if you ignore the big ugly scars that slice across his face. It’s a pity the barber who sewed up his wounds was drunk…”
“How old was he?”
“Seventeen…some local girl was ravished and he went to defend her honour. Adam didn’t even know the girl; he was born a silly romantic knight in shining chain mail. Mother’s been trying to marry him off to one of her ‘sensible rich brides’ for years but he’s always insisted he’d find his Eve and marry for love.”
“How can he be in love with me? We’ve never met.”
“I’ve no idea…” The beautiful man grimaced as he realised he’d made another faux pas. “…but you’re quite…pleasant looking and you have very tempting…charms. There must be innumerable things he admires about you…” The red faced young man suddenly jumped out of his chair. “I’ll go convince Adam to come in and list them!” Eve sighed with relief as the man ran past servants carrying lidded silver dishes and out of the room. Hopefully the young man would keep running. Luke Latham had the social tact of a brick. Her brother-in-law clearly didn’t think her much to look at, but what did her demon-husband think?
It was completely absurd to think a stranger had married her because he was in love with her. She filled her plate from the offered dishes as she smiled to herself. If the rest of her life was as bizarre as her first day as a married lady she’d be too amused to be disappointed. The familiar chill chased over her scalp and down her spine. Eve looked around, but could see no leering demon. He’d been watching her for months and he was watching her again. The fact settled into her mind with a comfortable weight as she picked up her knife and fork. Unlike his brother, Lord Latham found her appealing and as soon as the sun set her demon-husband would doubtless materialise. Her heart started racing at the thought of that husky whisper crawling into her bed. She ignored her burning cheeks; whatever happened after dark at least the food was good.
Chapter 8
Adam hurried away from the dining room whispering curses on his heart. He’d made a terrible mistake. He shouldn’t have married her, not without courting her in person. He now possessed a treasure he couldn’t freely reach out and handle. The thought of seeing her eyes fill with revulsion made his hands go cold with fear. If he ventured into the dining room he knew he’d make it half way to the table before falling in a dead faint and cracking his head open. That would hardly impress his bride. She’d certainly take the opportunity to remove his eye patch and then she’d never fall in love with him.
His heart groaning in horror, Adam stopped and hit his head sharply against the wall. Her lovely face looked unhappy. Why had he thought he could win her heart after paying her parents to deliver her to the altar like sacrificial lamb? Her father had assured his solicitor that she was happy to marry him, but it appeared her father had been economical with the truth. She’d clearly been forced her to marry him. The thought made his heart flinch. Had he caused his beloved Eve pain? He hit the wall with his head again as if the pain in his heart wasn’t punishment enough. She probably hated him.
She wasn’t going to fall in love with a one eyed fool; why would she? He carefully dabbed away the tears seeping out from under the eye patch and then furiously wiped his good eye. If he couldn’t speak to her face to face in daylight he’d have to annul the marriage. He’d never win her heart acting like a coward. His chest ached at the thought of never looking her in the eyes or sharing her laughter. He hit his head against the wall one more time to punish himself for thinking he could win her kisses and groaned in defeat. He’d send his Eve home and accept his fate as a single man in a cursed lonely garden, but first he’d allow his heart one last view of happiness. Thankfully, his odd Grandfather had built a number of secret passages with hidden viewing holes to watch his wife unseen. His poor Grandmother, unaware of her husband’s voyeuristic tendencies, had died of fright one evening in her bath after realising the eyes in a painting of her husband were following her.
Pressing a hidden button, Adam squeezed sideways through a narrow gap that appeared in the panelling into a cavity created by a false wall. To reach the peep hole into the dining room one had to climb a secured ladder and then swing back the painted eyes. She was alone. Staring at sunlit features his heart dared him to return and take his place at the table. After a few minutes her unhappy expression blossomed into an amused smile as she appeared to appraise the room. She wasn’t a beauty, but everything about her was pleasing. Bluish green eyes flashed with intelligence in a pleasant face designed for good humour
. Straight golden brown hair was plaited into a Grecian style. He couldn’t help wondering what she’d look like with it hanging free over her tempting charms. Straining his ears to hear her politely thank the footman for pouring her a cup of chocolate, his innards knotted in pleasure as she questioned the footman about Lord Latham. She appeared pleased with the man’s answer. Eager to hear more, Adam willed his ears to hear the lovely voice, but her next question was drowned out by the sound of his brother calling out from below, “Adam, what are you doing in here?” Adam flushed with horror as her smiling eyes fluttered upwards and seemed to meet his stare. She couldn’t know he was watching her. He waited until her eyes were on her plate before silently swinging the painted eyes back into place and hissing his displeasure at his brother at the bottom of the ladder. “Are you mad?”
