Free Darkest Dreams by Jennifer St Giles Page A

recall, you are very close to your sisters. Yet, you appear determined to separate yourself from them. Why?”
    I had to blink back the tears that burned my eyes. “Unfortunately, my lord, whether we will it or not, sometimes circumstances dictate that our lives take unforeseen and sometimes painful directions.”
    â€œThat I do know,” he said softly, in a tone of voice I’d yet to hear him use. By the time my eyes cleared enough to see, he’d turned his back to me and was once again staring out of the window. His profile cut a sharp, dark silhouette against the sunlight streaming into the room. “I’ll expect you to begin tomorrow morning then. Mrs. Lynds will be here and available for any of your needs. As my butler is currently indisposed, and I keep only a modicum of servants, please leave a list of supplies you’ll require with her and let her know if you need any assistance. Some of the artifacts can be heavy and bulky. Also, last time I looked, there were a number of unopened crates stored in the Queen’s room. I’ve no idea what is inside of them.”
    I couldn’t fathom such a sacrilege. “You mean you’ve never opened them? Whyever not?”
    â€œI choose to dwell as little as possible upon anything from the past,” he said.
    â€œWell then, I will see you tomorrow.” I stood, deciding that I had best take my leave before he changed his mind about allowing me to meddle with his things from the past.
    â€œUnfortunately, I won’t be about,” he replied, turning to face me.
    â€œOh?”
    â€œRight now, I’m spending the majority of my day training Iris to respond to my touch. She’s an exceptionally intelligent horse.”
    â€œI see,” I said, feeling slightly deflated. Though my main focus this morning had been employment for my future good, I hadn’t lost sight of the importance of my sister’s situation. Developing a more than passing acquaintance with Alexander was essential. “Might I see her again sometime soon? She was very beautiful and graceful. I would enjoy watching her run.”
    â€œWe’ll have to arrange that sometime then.” His voice trailed off as if that might not happen any time soon. Then he surprised me. “Do you ride, Miss Andrews?”
    â€œSome, when I can. We had little need and no opportunity for the pastime in Oxford.” I thought for a moment he would offer to take me riding, but he didn’t.
    â€œTell Mrs. Murphy that I thank her for the scones.”
    â€œI’ll be sure to.” Were my stomach not so knotted and his tone not one of such dismissal, I would have ventured to share my scones with him. As it was, I walked to the door. “Thank you for your time today. I know you are a busy man, and I apparently interrupted your swordplay, so I’ll see myself out.”
    Moving swiftly, he caught up to me at the door of the parlor. “Fencing,” he said correcting my nervous words and taking hold of my elbow. “I haven’t engaged in ‘swordplay’ since Sean and I were in knappers. And though I have my rough edges, Miss Andrews, I am gentleman enough to escort a lady to her conveyance.”
    One would think that the more time I spent in his presence the more immune I would become to the effects of it. That was not the case. By the time we crossed the grand entry hall to the ebony doors, my pulse raced with the tingles his touch sent shooting though me.
    It was disturbing that his mind remained so closed to me. Was it because he really did have something deep and dark to hide? Something more than anyone else I’d ever known? The idea shocked me and I gasped.
    He looked at me strangely.
    I nodded at the huge ebony doors, seeing they were carved with the same images on the inside as the outside. “The craftsmanship on the entry doors is impressive,” I said, sounding odd even to my own ears.
    â€œI thought so.