Page 84 of Seduced By a Scoundrel

Chapter Twenty

“You should have marked my name,” Keir muttered for the third time. “Not yours.”

They were warmly ensconced in the carriage. Sybil was feeling quite pleased with the evening’s work. Keir, less so. She snorted. “No one would ever believe that Lord Blackburn, Marquess of Decorum and Dignity, would keep company with such men. But they don’t know Lord Singleton well enough to make that judgment.”

“I don’t like it.”

She patted his thigh and tried not to be distracted by the feel of his warm, solid strength. “Cheer up, this might not work at all.”

“If only that were true. Your plans always work, in some way or another.”

She beamed at him. “I’ve missed you.”

He smiled, though the lines of worry between his brows did not budge. “I’ve missed you more.” He rubbed a hand along his jaw. “I do not like it, but I have to go home tonight for Sophie. I am very sure her newest chaperone did not last the day.”

“I did not care much for governesses and chaperones either,” Sybil said with some sympathy. “They quit at an alarming rate.”

“She will have to get used to it until she is back at school.”

“She does not care much for school either,” Sybil reminded him gently.

“She does not. But you cannot always get what you want. Even as a Montgomery.”

“Which would be reasonable advice if Sophie wanted a unicorn. All she wants is to be with her brother.”

Keir stared at her. “She scoffs at everything I say.”

“She is sixteen and scoffs at everyone. Not to mention, you do say a great many things that are scoffable.”

“Thank you so much, Lord Singleton.”

“You’re very welcome, Lord Blackburn.” She sighed, shaking her head. “You really don’t see it, do you?”

“Are you about to call me a pocket pig again?”

“Sophie gets herself sent down from school so she can be with you, you big, rock-headed lummox.”

“She does not like me.”

“She loves you.”

“She cannot possibly live in that dour old house. It’s not good for her.”

“It’s not good for you, either.”

He shrugged. “I’m used to it.”

“That’s the problem,” she insisted. “The house is exactly as it was when your father lived there. He haunts it far too comfortably. But it’s not his house anymore—it’s yours.” She meant every word and was a little disgruntled to find they applied to her as well. “I escaped that cellar. And you escaped your father. We need to act like it.”

He exhaled slowly. “You are annoyingly wise, Sybil.”

She flashed him a grin. “I also find it annoying.”

“I don’t know the first thing about raising a sixteen-year-old girl.”

“You’ll learn. She’s nearly raised; she just needs her big brother around. The rest will sort itself out.”

“You sound very sure.”