A look of almost comic surprise crossed her face as her fingers touched her lips lightly. “A promise?”
He couldn’t suppress the smile tugging at his mouth from her bewilderment. “Aye. I’ll be back and we’ll be wed. Until then I leave Sir Evan at your disposal.”
He quickly took his leave before he spouted any more foolishness.
Gillian was still standing in the center of the room, fingers still pressed to her mouth, when Rose slipped into their chambers. She closed the door, jabbing a thumb over her shoulder.
“Why is Kincreag’s man standing outside our room? Lord Kincreag is with Father.”
“Oh!” Gillian cried, hands fluttering. “I have a knight!”
Rose’s brows shot up, duly impressed, as Gillian hurried to the door to inspect her knight. Sir Evan leaned against the wall opposite the door. He was an attractive man with close-cropped, dark brown hair and sun-bronzed skin. His sword belt was strapped over his chest, the hilt visible over his shoulder, and he was fairly bristling with other weapons—several dirks and two guns.
As soon as he saw her, he straightened. “My lady.”
Gillian laughed nervously and glanced at Rose, who’d joined her at the door. “I’m not ‘my lady’ yet.” She quickly composed herself, straightening and donning a serious expression worthy of a countess. “Well met, Sir Evan.”
He inclined his head solemnly. His pale blue eyes looked right through her, lifeless. “Will you be needing me tonight?”
“Uh . . . no, thank you. You may go about your business. I’ll summon you if I need you.”
He bowed smartly and marched down the hall, weapons clanking.
Gillian closed the door and turned to her sister. “Isn’t he marvelous?”
Rose’s lips drew down in a grimace. “A bit peculiar, don’t you think?”
“Not him! Lord Kincreag!”
Rose eyed her curiously. “Something happened.”
Gillian’s fingers touched her lips again as she remembered the feel of his mouth on hers. Her bloodraced, the fluttering in her belly returning. “Kincreag kissed me.”
Gillian didn’t think it was possible for Rose to look astounded, but her jaw dropped in shock, and her midnight eyes, usually catlike in appearance, were as round as an owl’s. “For no reason?”
Gillian had not told her sister about the contract—in truth, it was rather embarrassing, but she told her now, as well as her suspicions that Kincreag meant to evade ever marrying her by waiting until their father died, and then deeming her unsuitable. “I wanted to get married before he left in case aught happened to Da. When he refused, I accused him of planning to never marry me. He kissed me then. He said it was a promise.”
Rose tapped at her teeth thoughtfully. “You might be right. He probably thinks he can charm you along, then drop you when Father dies.”
Gillian shook her head in disbelief. “You weren’t kissed by him . . . it didn’tfeelfalse. It felt . . .” She paused, biting her bottom lip as she remembered. “It felt like a promise of . . . of . . .” Well, she didn’t know quite what. But something warm and wonderful that made her quiver in anticipation of more such kisses, and the eventual fulfillment of what they promised.
“Oh dear.” Rose shook her head sympathetically, auburn brows arched. “It never doesfeelfalse. Did he put his tongue in your mouth?”
Gillian blinked. “No . . .”
“Well then!” Rose said, as if that explained everything. When Gillian just stared blankly at her, sheelaborated. “When a man really wants a woman, he puts his tongue in her mouth.”
“What? Where do you learn these things? Has a man ever put his tongue inyourmouth?
Rose smiled wisely. “A few have tried.”
Rosedidseem very knowledgeable about relations between men and women. Gillian frowned, her heart sinking. The earl was remote and cool, but she’d not thought him false. But what about the contract? He’d told her he didn’t want to marry her, but she’d believed him when he’d said he meant to anyway. Was it just to appease her so she didn’t complain to her father?
Gillian plopped down in a chair near the fire and buried her face in her hands. “I’m so confused!”
Rose was beside her immediately. “What is it? Is your headache back?”
Gillian straightened. “No. It came back earlier today but then was gone again seconds later.” She’d told Rose about what had happened at their mother’s grave. Rose had been puzzled, and when she’d passed her hands over Gillian’s head, she’d found nothing amiss.
