Enticing Eve: Scandalous Secrets, Book 2 (22 page)

“I am happy to report,” Eve spoke in a hushed tone as she took the box from him and began leading him down the hall, “that Grandmamma supervised Pear this afternoon and assures me that the soup may be pink, but it is edi—”
 

“The soup is pink?” Colin asked as he paused in mid-step.

“Yes, pink soup,” she answered in a singsong voice. “As I was attempting to tell you, it is nothing to be concerned about. Pear has never killed anyone …”

Eve shot him a jaunty glance before adding, “Yet.”

It dawned on him at once: their cook’s name was Pear. “Pear is her nickname, is it not?”

“Oh, no it’s not,” Eve’s expression became even more animated. “Her given name is Pear. She has two sisters, one named Patience and the other named Prudence. Would you like to venture a guess as to their occupations?”

The gleam in her eyes told him that it would be an amusing game. “If Pear is the cook, I can only imagine Patience is a …” He paused and Eve arched her brows, an encouraging smile on her face. “A governess?” he ventured.

“Yes, very good!” she nodded her approval. “And Prudence is ….”
 

“A nun?”

Eve laughed. “No, although I’m sure she would have made an excellent one. She is, however, the head mistress at a boarding school in Surrey.”

“Are they more successful at their occupations than Pear?” he asked in a whisper, causing her to bend forward to hear him. The one innocent motion caused Colin to feel almost giddy. Warmth emanated from her flesh, causing his skin to quiver in response. Her close proximity made his heart race, his pulse quicken and caused him to want desperately to kiss her. Then again, he always wanted to kiss her. So much so, he’d forgotten what he just asked her.

Fortunately, Eve answered in a hushed, intimate tone. “I have no proof, mind you, but I believe they are better at their positions. After all, they leave the cooking to professionals.”
 

Just when he was getting used to being so close to her, Eve pulled away. As she began walking down the hall, she announced over her shoulder, “Come now, Grandmamma is waiting for us in the sitting room.”

He followed her, deciding that death by Pear was a risk well worth taking if it meant spending an evening with Eve.
 

They entered the sitting room to find the Viscountess sitting at a card table.

“Thank goodness you’re both here!” she said in an exasperated tone. “Cards are quite boring when one is playing against oneself.”

“I believe you will forgive us when you open the box Mister MacAlistair has brought for you,” Eve winked at her grandmother as she set the small package in front of the elder woman, who tonight wore a dress of rainbow-colored silks.

The Viscountess untied the ribbon and opened the box as a squeal of delight escaped her throat. “Thank you, darling boy!” She looked over her shoulder before closing the box, tying the ribbon around it once more then tucking it under her card table. “I wouldn’t want Pear to see these.”

“Yes, please keep them safe. We may desire some after dinner,” Colin said with a conspiratorial wink.

Their meal was an event. Truth be told, the pink soup was quite tasty in spite of its absurd color though the lamb was seasoned with an over-abundance of pepper.

He glanced over at Eve to find her taking several large gulps of water with every bite. Colin wondered how Fiona remained plump when her meals were … well, if not downright awful, certainly less than appetizing.

As they were completing the final course, the Viscountess announced, “Eve darling, Mister MacAlistair hasn’t yet seen our gardens. Why don’t you both take a turn while I have Durstan prepare dessert for us in the study?”

Eve dropped her fork in immediate response as if she couldn’t abandon her meal quickly enough. The Dowager Viscountess reached for Colin’s hand and pulled him towards her. Once he was within hearing distance, she instructed, “Don’t you dare do anything I wouldn’t approve of.”

Her maternal edict embarrassed him – not because the Dowager Viscountess made the statement, but because kissing Eve was precisely what Colin longed to do once he’d escorted Eve outside.

“Yes, Lady Weston,” his tone was solemn as tossed his napkin on the table then rose, glancing in her granddaughter’s direction.
 

Obeying the Viscountess’s instructions wouldn’t be easy.
 

Eve sent him a pleading look from the doorway. When Colin joined her, she hurried him into the grand hall.

“Quick,” she whispered as she glanced over her shoulder. “If Pear sees I haven’t eaten, she’ll insist I finish my plate.”

When Colin failed to quicken his pace, Eve added, “And she will insist you have at least one more serving.”

Colin grabbed her hand and both began to dart down the hallway as Eve smothered her laughter with her free hand. By the time they reached the cool night air, Eve was laughing so hard that she was tearing.

Once they reached the gardens, Eve placed her hands on her abdomen as she leaned forward, her shoulders shaking with mirth. “I had no idea you were frightened by a slightly senile cook.”

“It has just occurred to me that Pear would make it easier for our military to achieve victory,” Colin announced as he surveyed Eve, bathed in moonlight, standing straight in a valiant attempt to stop laughing. When she shot him a disbelieving look, he continued. “It’s true. If she begins cooking for England’s enemies, they won’t live to fight us and if, by some miracle they did manage to survive, they’d no doubt surrender.”

“That, Mister MacAlistair may be considered cruel and unusual punishment,” Eve teased as she strolled into the maze of tall shrubbery that led to the estate’s elaborate gardens.

“It’s good to hear you laugh.” His words were rich with an emotion he didn’t attempt to conceal. “When you left last night, I didn’t think I’d ever hear you laugh again.”

She turned a corner before peeking around a meticulously-manicured shrub. Though her face was half-hidden, Colin could still discern her sweet smile. “I didn’t think I would either, but seeing as that meal almost killed me, I feel it is wise for me to take a respite this evening. I may, of course, continue to flay myself tomorrow.”

She then fanned the greenery with her hands before continuing farther into the gardens with Colin quick on her heels. He expected her to be angry with him when he arrived and was instead met with a beguiling smile and teasing remarks. Such behavior threw him completely off guard, in part because he had never seen her behave in such a manner. Of course she had flirted with him before, however, this was different. In their brief history together, Eve always did so with restraint.

Not on this night. It was as if she had nothing to lose. It was as if she had already resigned herself to marrying him. Colin’s heart leapt at the thought. He expected a struggle, but what if she wanted to marry him?
 

Could it be that effortless?

He followed her to a clearing where the moonlight illuminated flowers of all shapes and sizes in addition to a large circular fountain with a statuette in the center. He studied the armor clad warrior-goddess statue, holding her shield with pride, recognizing it at once to be a rendering of Athena.
 

How ironic
, Colin thought. Here he was in the presence of a stone Athena, the goddess of noble warfare, when he knew all too well that war could be anything but just. No, even if intentions are righteous, war can turn men into beasts. The war he fought did just that. It turned men into greedy manipulators capable of turning on their own people to get what they wanted.
 

He shook his head in an attempt to shake off such memories, instead concentrating on Eve, now sitting on the stone bench before the Greek goddess surveying the night sky above. Her serene form, bathed in the opalescent hue of the moonlight, left him breathless. Athena may have been the Greeks’ deity, but she didn’t compare to the English siren in crimson and gold seated before him.

Colin was certain a more beautiful woman never breathed.

“You are very quiet this evening,” Eve said, her head still tilted upward. “I hope my companionship isn’t boring you.”

“Never,” he answered, his tone emanating a dreamy quality he had never heard before. Self-conscious, and certain he was behaving like a besotted fool, he decided to walk, deflecting her attention to anywhere, anyone but himself.
 

A stray twig snapped beneath his feet as he crossed the grass then joined her on the bench, the soothing sound of the fountain filling the still evening air.

He surveyed the statue once more as Athena stood watch over them. Athena was indeed impressive. The smooth stone depicted her in all her glory, wearing her armor and carrying her shield. Colin’s attention was drawn to Athena’s smooth visage. Round and cherub-like, it was the complete opposite of how he pictured the great warrior goddess. In truth, the more he studied the statue, the more she resembled
the Viscountess –
in her younger days, of course, but the Viscountess nonetheless.

Colin blinked, certain he must be imagining things. Upon further inspection, he recognized that the angelic visage of Athena was indeed that of the Dowager Viscountess.

“Eve,” he said, his tone playful. “I knew your grandmother was extraordinary, however, I had no idea she was also a Greek goddess.”
 

“Very perceptive,” she replied with a jaunty smile.
 

If Colin didn’t know better, he’d swear he saw admiration reflected in her emerald eyes. The mere thought caused his pulse to quicken. Or could it be her close proximity? Colin couldn’t discern. It was all he could do to concentrate on what Eve was saying.

“I must admit that I’m impressed. Most of our visitors take no notice,” Eve turned towards him. “There is a story behind Athena.”

“Of course there is. There is always a story behind Athena, is there not?” he quipped.

Her smile widened, and for one brief moment he thought she would kiss him. He didn’t know why. Maybe it was the way her eyes danced, or the way her mouth curved.
 

Perhaps he imagined it?

He must have for Eve continued their conversation as if she had no idea of the unexpected disappointment now gnawing at Colin’s core.
 

“When my grandparents were first married, Grandmamma insisted they erect a statue of Athena to remind future generations of a woman’s strength, wisdom, and courage. The statue is to affirm that we are strong and can survive anything.”

“Your grandmother is quite a woman,” he said with open admiration.

“Yes, she is,” Eve’s smile grew wider. “And my grandfather knew it. So, he commissioned the artist to create the sculpture my grandmother had requested, with one stipulation – that Athena resemble Grandmamma.”

Colin had to admit Eve’s grandfather was an incurable romantic. “I’m surprised she agreed to it.”

“Oh, no, Grandmamma never knew of it,” Eve shook her head, eyes wide as she continued with her tale. “Grandpapa kept it a secret until the sculpture’s unveiling. As I understand it, it was the lone occasion that my grandmother ever blushed.”

“It sounds like your grandparents loved each other very much. Doesn’t the
ton
consider that a sacrilege?” Colin said, taking care that his tone remained gentle in spite of his cynical words.

“My grandparents were unconventional,” she tilted her head up to the sky once more, her voice now faint. “I was intimidated by my grandmother when I was a child. Like now, her resolve was so strong, her personality larger than life. I often feared I would never measure up to her.”

Colin reached for her cheek, brushing a stray blonde wisp from her face. He leaned closer towards her, so close that the intoxicating scent of roses again tickled his nose. “I think you resemble her more than you know.”

Eve considered his statement. She was similar to her grandmother in some aspects except where it counted the most. If the elder woman were in Eve’s place, she would have accepted Colin’s betrothal offer without a second thought, without fear of appearing senseless, without fear of appraisal. Throughout her life, love had always guided the Viscountess of Haversham.

What guides me?
Eve wondered.
Fear.
Yes, fear. Despite her best efforts and avowals to be strong and brave, she still lacked the courage to accept Colin’s proposal without fear of censure or heartache, without fear of trusting him and having said trust broken once again.

Colin tucked another stray tendril behind her ear, his warm, gentle fingertips causing the hairs on the back of her neck to prickle. Eve realized she was holding her breath, but she didn’t want to move, didn’t want to breathe for fear he’d pull away from her.

There it was again, the fear. What was she so frightened of? Loving him? Marrying him?
Not
marrying him? Eve feared she wouldn’t be happy with him yet she was certain she would never be happy without him.

She glanced over her shoulder once more and made the most important decision of her life. She was going to face her fears. Yes, just like Athena, it was now Eve’s turn to be brave.
 

As Athena was her witness, Eve silently vowed to fight for the man she loved. She wanted him, and she would fight for him all the while adhering to her plan, ensuring that her pride wouldn’t suffer.