Page 16 of An Enchanting Dare

“Then why speak of him so, as if you dislike him?”

Aisling gathered up her embroidery and began putting it away in the carpetbag she carried for the purpose. “I do not dislike him, only what he stands for. He uses women and then discards them. I do not wish for Cara to see a pretty face and believe that is all there is to such a man. I do not wish for her to be used and cast away, Conor. She must have her eyes opened. Society is cruel, and debutantes are so much sport for some men.”

“That may be true of some men, but from what I know of Villen, I think you do the man a disservice. I think the women use him as much as he uses them, but more to the point, just who has opened your eyes to this behaviour, deirfiúr beag? For if anyone has—”

“No one,” Aisling tsked, waving this away before he could pursue the notion. “I have eyes in my head, and you would be astonished what people will let slip in front of a wallflower. Oh, Conor, forgive me and my ill temper. I despise society, and it always puts me in a bad skin, but you can see as well as I can that Cara will be a beauty. She will attract attention in a way I never have, and we must prepare her for it.”

“Mama will deal with that. She prepared you, did she not?” he said, apparently unconcerned.

Aisling swallowed. “She did. Of course, she did, but I worry for her. She is too innocent, too—”

Conor shook his head at her, his expression one of fond exasperation. “She’s sixteen, love. Let her keep her innocence a little longer. Mama says she won’t have her come out until she’s eighteen, no matter how Cara protests. She has time yet.”

Aisling let out a breath and nodded, forcing a smile to her lips, but she was not comforted. The season was not the only place that held unseen dangers, and sixteen was not too young for a girl to discover that to her cost.

25th June 1841, Trevick Castle, Warwickshire.

Holy mother of God.

Sylvester stared at the behemoth that was Trevick Castle in awe. He’d known Aisling’s father was an earl, and a wealthy one. Of course he'd known. He'd known Trevick Castle was vast. He hadn’t spent his entire life under a rock. She was above his touch. Yes, he’d known that too. Yet, he hadn’t. Not in any real sense. He had not truly considered the family to which Aisling belonged. He considered it now.

“What is it?” Alana stared up at him impatiently. She had been a surprisingly entertaining travelling companion, and the journey had passed quickly. Now he wondered if he ought not to turn around and go straight back to Marcross.

“Nothing,” he said, pulling himself together.

“Well, come along then!” Alana urged him, hurrying inside after the footmen who were carrying their belongings. The enormous place swallowed her up, and Sylvester shook himself out of his stupor and went after her.

“Alana!”

Sylvester looked up as Lady Cara flew down the stairs towards her friend. Another young woman followed her at a more decorous pace, and he guessed this to be Lady Violette, Aisling and Cara’s adopted sister. Beside her was the earl.

“Mr Cootes, I must thank you for bringing such precious cargo to Trevick.”

Sylvester regarded the man. His hair must have once been the vibrant red of his youngest daughter’s, but it had faded somewhat, now touched with white at the temples. He had a warm smile though and appeared friendlier than Sylvester had expected.

“It was a pleasure to do so, my lord.”

“Yes, he’s hoping you’ll keep me,” Alana quipped, grinning.

“We might yet,” the earl said, resting a hand on Lady Violette’s shoulder. “We have been known to keep our favourite guests and not let them go. You might become part of the family if you’re not careful.”

“That does not seem a terrible prospect,” Alana said, gazing about her in wonder. “Though Mama and Papa might have something to say about it.”

The earl laughed. “I am certain they would. Now, the excellent Mrs Wilson here is our housekeeper and will show you to your rooms. I know she will have made the perfect arrangements, but if there is anything you need—”

“What the devil are you doing here?”

Aisling’s furious voice rang out across the entrance hall, and everyone stopped to stare at her. The earl turned as well. Too late, Aisling realised her error. She blushed furiously, and Sylvester found himself torn between amusement and mortification on her behalf for the blunder.

“Aisling?” her father said sharply, regarding her with concern. “Is something the matter?”

“No, Papa,” she said, though the words sounded choked, as if she’d forced them past her lips.

“I am afraid your daughter does not appreciate the finer points of my company, my lord,” Sylvester said ruefully. “Indeed, she may have mentioned ‘the most vexing man who ever lived?’”

“That does ring a bell,” the earl replied mildly, looking between them with interest.

“Well, that’s me.”