Free The Elusive Lord Everhart: The Rakes of Fallow Hall Series by Vivienne Lorret Page B

say on what she can or cannot not do. While I will respect my brother’s decision, I have a mind of my own. In addition, being a spinster allows me certain freedoms, I’m sure.”
    The word spinster seemed to echo like the toll of a bell. A specter of guilt crept up behind Gabriel. Her unwed state was partly his own fault—or entirely . If he hadn’t written that letter, she would have married Brightwell. Gabriel swallowed and noted how Croft narrowed his eyes at him.
    “Your sister has a good head on her shoulders. Quite like her brother, I think.” Delaney patted the place above her husband’s heart. By all appearances, the gesture worked some sort of magic. Instantly, Croft’s gaze softened as he looked at his wife.
    No .
    Calliope seemed to notice too. A smile bloomed, bathing her features in a warm glow. “Then you are leaving the decision up to me?”
    No. Croft would not permit such a thing, Gabriel assured himself.
    Then, Croft gave a nod of consent.
    Gabriel felt betrayed. He’d counted on Croft’s overbearing nature.
    “But of course it would be wrong of me to extend my stay at Fallow Hall without an invitation.” Calliope cast a sly glance to Danvers.
    Danvers— the traitor —posed a ready reply. “It goes without saying. You are welcome to stay as long as you wish. Let Fallow Hall be your second home.”
    “Thank you, Mr. Danvers,” she said graciously and then looked askance at Gabriel to produce a rather smug sniff. “It will only be for a few days, I imagine.”
    “Then we will all be the merrier for that time, right, Everhart?” Danvers reached over and chucked him on the shoulder.
    Gabriel didn’t dare answer. This couldn’t be happening. Croft wasn’t leaving his sister here! The man who’d easily threatened to have him arrested and branded certainly wasn’t now relying on Gabriel’s sense of honor to ensure Calliope’s welfare.
    For five years he’d kept to their bargain. He’d kept his distance from Calliope. Mostly , aside from following her to Bath . And now he was being repaid with Croft’s cruelty?
    Gabriel glared at his nemesis and relished the day they would both return to Gentleman Jackson’s boxing saloon. Next time, he wouldn’t hold back out of a sense of misguided loyalty.
    “Of course.” Gabriel gritted his teeth and inclined his head curtly. “Any relative of Croft’s is welcome.”
    “Good to know,” Croft said, his expression inscrutable. “I’ll send a missive to the twins and see if they would like to join their sister here.”
    Phoebe and Asteria Croft here as well? After a single Season, they were already renowned for the mischief that they liked to call “matchmaking.” Forget cruelty; this was downright torture.
    “Griffin, stop teasing. Everhart’s gone positively pale.” Delaney’s violet gaze was alive with more curiosity than concern. “We must leave him before Valentine does indeed retrieve the rope.”
    Instead, Valentine opened the door as the Crofts turned to leave. Gabriel followed the pair and directed the footmen to assist the driver in retrieving Calliope’s trunks. During that time, Delaney stood near the servant’s carriage, speaking with both her own maid and Calliope’s maid.
    Standing beside Croft, Gabriel turned his head and kept his voice low so the others wouldn’t overhear. “What do you mean by this, Croft—coming to Fallow Hall in the first place, knowing all the while that I was here?” If this was a game or a new condition to their bargain, he deserved to know forthwith.
    Croft kept his gaze on the luggage. “I have come to see about the welfare of my cousin. Surely, you couldn’t have qualms over that.”
    “You are leaving your sister under my charge. Surely ,” Gabriel growled, “you could at least find a reason to stay behind as well.”
    When Delaney had finished with the maids, she cast a concerned glance over at the two of them. Croft waved to her as if in reassurance, and she disappeared into