Enticing Eve: Scandalous Secrets, Book 2 (31 page)

Colin shrugged as if unimpressed. “Castles are for royalty. Although,” he paused to kiss her neck, “you are my queen, so that does seem fitting.”

Their coachman opened the carriage door for them. Colin offered Eve his hand, helping her alight before taking her first steps on their Scottish soil.
 

Eve was mesmerized by their surroundings. Rust colored hills and brambles, scattered with leaves of various shapes and colors, painted the landscape. She squinted in the sunshine, taking note of every tree and every bush.
 

The natural beauty was breathtaking.

In complete contrast was the imposing structure before them. The castle with aged stone, a large turret and buttresses seemed to mute the colorful landscape, its stone the smoky color of an ominous sky before a turbulent storm. In all, the building defied the bright sky and wispy clouds floating above by emanating a gothic, almost unapproachable feel.

A raven sat perched upon one of the buttresses, Eve noted. The sleek bird cawed, its sinister warning echoing through the still air and chilling Eve to her core.
 

Husband and wife entered the structure hand in hand. Eve expected the interior of the estate to be dark and intimidating, since the exterior of the structure itself appeared to be so foreboding. Instead, it was full of light with a glass dome ceiling crowning the vestibule.

“There you are,” a deep baritone reverberated, the source of the voice emanating from somewhere upstairs. Eve turned in time to see a tall man, at least six feet two, with jet-black hair and a square jaw bounding down the stairs. “I just received your note this morning.”

Colin crossed the room and shook the man’s hand. “The joys of train travel.”

The man then turned towards Eve, and her stomach twisted into a tight knot at the savage sight of him. A large scar slashed across his bronzed cheek while his deep-set eyes were the color of a raven’s coat and devoid of warmth.
 

It was as if she was looking into a deep abyss.

“Logan, this is my wife, Eve,” Colin said, clapping the man on the shoulder. “Eve, this is Logan Ambrose, a very good friend, and the man who is single-handedly managing the renovations here.”

Eve curtsied.

“For God’s sake, I’m no gentleman,” Logan guffawed. “Don’t rest on formalities with me.”

Colin placed his hand on the small of Eve’s back in a reassuring gesture.
 

“Logan and I served together,” Colin explained. “He’s not one on formalities, as you can see, though he is a fierce friend and saved my life on more than one occasion.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you,” Eve said as she reached her hand out to Colin’s friend in a handshake. Of course, her action defied all rules observed by polite society, but received the desired effect. For the first time since greeting her, a spark shone in Logan’s black eyes.

“I’m impressed,” he said as he took Eve’s hand. “Not your average delicate English rose, I see.”

His calloused hand held Eve’s longer than proper. As Logan’s eyes locked on hers, dread coiled in Eve’s abdomen. What was it about this man? It was as if he was testing her.
 

Sizing her up, perhaps?

Eve straightened her shoulders. “I would like my hand back now,” she said, her tone calm, her features proud, “if you are through attempting to intimidate me, that is.”

Logan released her hand, his loud guffaw reverberating through the vestibule. “At last I understand why you were so besotted with her, Colin.” He then bowed, a sweeping gesture that was obviously meant to mock polite society, “You have indeed passed my test, Mrs MacAlistair. Forgive me.”

“You were forgiven the moment I heard that you saved Colin’s life,” Eve said, bowing her head to him in a conciliatory gesture.

Not able to account for why, Eve had the feeling that Logan’s appraisal was far from over.

“Care for a tour?” he asked. “The workers have accomplished a great deal. We’re almost finished, in fact,” he said to Colin, leading them out of the vestibule a down a large hallway.
 

The scent of fresh paint assailed Eve’s nostrils as she followed the men.

“This wing is completed, then?” Colin asked as he surveyed the work.

Logan nodded, “As is the servants’ quarters and the family wing. The only construction currently being performed is in the guest wing. That will be completed in a matter of days, as all that remains is some painting. I hope the project meets with your approval. Light and airy was your edict, though when we began, I didn’t see the potential. This place was a pit. Still is dark and rather dreary in some wings but we did the best we could.”

“You’ve exceeded my expectations,” Colin said, before turning to Eve. “Shall I show you the second floor?”

Eve smiled in immediate response, the escape being a welcome diversion. She wanted to be alone with Colin, to talk to him about his friend, uncertain why she felt so uncomfortable near him.

Colin took her hand, his soft skin a stark contrast to that of his friend. “Take the rest of the afternoon off while we settle in. The servants have their instructions. You and I shall meet tomorrow to discuss business,” he instructed.

Logan nodded, before bowing his head to Eve. “It was a pleasure meeting you.”

“And you,” Eve tipped her head in acknowledgement before returning to the vestibule hand in hand with Colin, alarmingly aware of a piercing gaze boring into her back the entire time.

* * *

“Your friend is …” Eve paused as she placed her coat on the chaise next to the window. She was still waiting for Eloise to bring her trunks. “Interesting?” she managed.

“Go on, you can say it,” Colin said, striding towards her from behind and splaying his palms atop her waist.

“Intense was my first thought, followed closely by downright menacing,” Eve said, turning to face him. “I’m sorry. I know he is your friend,” she toyed with his lapel.
 

Colin kissed her forehead. “Logan has been through a great deal and has survived by being guarded at all times. He is residing in the guest cottage,” he assured her, tipping her chin with his thumb. “You need not see him if that is what you wish.”

“I want to like him,” she continued. “I just don’t understand him.”

Eve shuddered in spite of the fire that one of the servants had lit before they arrived. The castle was drafty, she noted, as Colin draped a blanket over her shoulders, “Let that warm you while I help the fire along. Our trunks should be along presently.”

He crossed the room and knelt in front of the grate, stoking the fire with the iron poker. “Logan has had a hard life,” Colin said, staring into the red and orange flames dancing in the grate.
 

That was an understatement for Logan’s life had been miserable. An orphan, he was thrust alone into the world at the age of ten when the orphanage thought he was old enough to work as a chimney sweep. He was paid very little when he was paid at all. Logan had to steal food, sleep in the street, and fight to stay alive.

The war had been Logan’s escape, just as it had been Colin’s though for much different reasons. The two men had struck an immediate bond, and Colin trusted him beyond anyone else, even his wife. For Logan was the one person who knew all of Colin’s secrets, keeping them hidden without so much as a second thought.
 

“Logan’s parents died when he was an infant. He has no family and has been on his own his entire life,” Colin said, turning from the flames to Eve. “As for his demeanor ...”

How would he word it?

Colin stood, reaching for Eve and pulling her against him. “His sinister act is just that, an act.”
 

It wasn’t always, especially the during the war. Logan, like Colin, had to assimilate to life after India.

She arched her honey-colored brow, proving to Colin that she remained unconvinced.

“I promise you,” he wrapped his arms even tighter around her waist, “he is harmless – at least when it comes to us. He is the man you want on your side if you’re ever in danger.”

Eve sighed, “I trust you and I defer to you on this matter.”

“What,” Colin teased, “you defer to me?”

“Yes!” Eve pinched him.

“Ouch!” Colin released her, rubbing his sleeve. “What was that for?”

Smiling, Eve answered, “I don’t want you becoming overconfident.”

“Me?” he gave her his most boyish smile, “never.”

“I believe you owe me a tour,” she changed the subject.

“Of …?” he’d just shown her the entire interior of the estate.

Eve took several steps backwards, pulling Colin with her. “Well, my bed, for one and yours, for another.”

“You are so brazen, Wife,” he teased, nipping her ear with his teeth.
 

“Then you defer to me on this matter?” Her hands trailed down his neck, her fingers undoing his shirt buttons.

“Oh, yes,” he whispered, “I defer, indeed.”

* * *

Eve rolled onto her side, her eyes fluttering open, thick with sleep. It took a few moments to realize that Colin wasn’t lying beside her.

A note lay atop his crisp white pillow along with a box resting atop of it. Reaching for the note first, her heart swelled at the sight of his choppy script.
 

My Darling,

I am discussing estate affairs with Logan. Meet me in my office and we shall have a picnic.

C

Smiling, she clutched the paper to her heart. Who knew her husband to be such a romantic?
 
She then reached for the box that lay upon his pillow.
 

Colin had been giving her gifts since their wedding night. Her wedding gift was an emerald bracelet that she had grown accustomed to wearing daily, just like her betrothal ring. Since then, Colin had given her a cameo, a spectacular string of pearls with matching earrings and other items all intended to replace those she had bartered years earlier.
 

Today, there was a silver-plated compact encrusted with pearls. Eve opened it with care, noting her reflection in the pristine mirror – she couldn’t hide her smile.
 

She rose, placing the letter and compact on an accent table then stepped into her robe. Her heart was lighter than it had been in years all because of Colin.
 

Reaching for the bell pull, Eve rang for her maid. She couldn’t get to her husband quick enough, in part because she couldn’t wait to see him and because she wanted him as far away from his friend as possible.

Eve was uncertain as to the exact reason why she questioned Logan’s intentions. He was, after all, Colin’s closest friend. Surely that was enough to garner her trust as well. But no, she couldn’t. Or perhaps it was that she
wouldn’t
trust him.
 

Why?

Like Colin, his face was tanned and a scar was visible though Logan’s was far more pronounced, the deadened opaque mass that stretched across his cheek a stark contrast to his otherwise dark features.
 

Scars didn’t frighten her. No, what did were his eyes … the onyx of a raven’s sleek coat. Like the raven she saw on her first day in Scotland, Logan’s eyes emanated a sinister warning that chilled her blood. It was as if they had witnessed untoward acts too numerous to count and hadn’t said one word.
 

Is that what worried her? That Logan was privy to Colin’s secrets? That her husband was indeed hiding something worse than she ever expected or was it jealousy because Eve was certain Logan knew more about her husband than she did?

No, her mistrust of him wasn’t based upon his appearance nor did it stem from his close ties to Colin but rather his scrutiny. He watched her, studied her, and the mere acknowledgement sent an icy twinge of apprehension up her spine.
 

It was almost as if he trusted her less than she did him.

A memory of the previous evening permeated her mind. She heard something or someone in the hallway, didn’t she? Her recollection was hazy now, half-hidden by the gauzy veil of sleep. Had it been real or simply her imagination? Regardless, why was she so keen to believe that it had been Logan?

The fact remained that Colin had finally returned to her and Eve wouldn’t allow anyone take him away from her again, not even his friend.

She sensed Colin was on the verge of darkness.

His wife would ensure he remained out of its reach.

* * *

Eve descended the grand staircase in record time, having dressed with Eloise posthaste. The halls were silent, she noted. Pausing at the bottommost carpeted step, Eve stood still for a moment listening to the sounds of their home, or lack thereof and an expression sprung to her mind:

Silent as the grave

It had been an expression of her grandfather’s, and somehow it seemed fitting on this occasion. Certainly, their servants must be cleaning, bustling about, yet none could be heard.
 

How odd. It was mid-morning, yet no one was near. It was in complete contrast to her grandmother’s estate where, at this time of day, one would hear Hattie humming some cheerful tune that was familiar yet altered by the sweet woman’s tone-deaf ears. In addition, the servants would be cleaning under Durstan’s instruction.