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“And did you provide them with the information they were seeking?”
Hilaria smiled slightly. “Sometimes. It really depended on circumstances.”
“Do you never answer a question completely?” Eastwood didn’t sound exasperated, but Hilaria still felt heat creeping up her neck.
“You didn’t allow me to finish, Eastwood.”
She had to catch her breath when a grin broke out on his face. Hilaria hadn’t found him attractive when they first met; she had been much too put off by his brightly coloured waistcoat. But with devilry dancing in his bright grey gaze, she could suddenly understand why he needed subterfuge if he was trying to avoid matrimony. Hilaria could well imagine that the man was pursued by women wherever he turned. With a blink, she cast the unwelcome thought from her mind, focusing instead on his words as he prompted her.
“Very well, then, continue, I pray you. Under which circumstances did you provide the information?”
Hilaria shrugged and felt her face heating further.
“Whenever I thought their interest was at least somewhat genuine. I suppose you weren’t wrong when you said men are followers. There were times that I suspected that some of them were only interested in Bel because some other gentleman was. As though it were a competition and he was just trying to beat his friend in the pursuit.” Hilaria looked away from Eastwood, unable to bear his scrutiny. “While my sister and I may not be the very best of friends, I could never aid someone in gaining her hand merely as a prize.”
When she finally brought her focus back to land upon the viscount’s face, he was frowning, as though puzzled. She became defensive.
“Surely, you wouldn’t expect that I ought to have done so under such circumstances.”
“Not at all,” he agreed promptly. “In fact, I’m somewhat surprised that you ever assisted any of them.”
Hilaria felt as though her cheeks were now burning, so fierce was her embarrassment. She didn’t want to admit it, but his air of expectation prompted her into further speech. “To be honest, I was anxious for her to wed.”
“Why? So she would get out of your way?”
His perception made her wonder if everyone had seen through her. She was a dolt. Her embarrassment made her begin to feel lightheaded for a moment. She couldn’t meet his eyes and she said nothing further.
“I suppose that’s perfectly natural.”
The buzzing in her ears almost prevented her from hearing what he had said.
“I beg your pardon?”
“I would imagine most younger sisters would want their older sister to hurry up and make a match. While there’s no law requiring it, I’m sure most families expect the older daughters to marry first. In fact, I bet your other sister, Vigilia is it? She’s probably scheming right this moment how best to get you foisted off onto some unsuspecting gentleman.”
Hilaria’s peel of laughter felt like a balm to her soul. She hadn’t thought she could ever like this man. She still didn’t like most of what she knew about him. But she found he had several redeeming qualities. A part of her might actually look forward to being in his company over the coming days. Perhaps. She would reserve judgment, at the very least. But the laughter had at all events made her capable of overcoming her extreme discomfort and change the subject.
“Enough about female schemes. Let us return to your scheme.”
“You mean our scheme, now, don’t you?” he interrupted.
Hilaria wouldn’t be sidetracked by his words. “That is neither here nor there. You never told me why you are so set against marriage.”
“I’m not dead set against it. I know it will be a necessity at some point. But I am adamant that I shall be the one choosing both the timing and the mate.”
“To be sure,” Hilaria agreed.
Eastwood’s elevated eyebrow made her laugh again.
“What? You thought I would be in full support of your mother trying to pick your wife? I suppose I can understand why your mother would take an interest, but I can also perfectly understand that you are the one that would have to live with the choice.” She paused as another thought struck her. “Unless, of course, your mother will be residing with you. In that case, I would think she would want more say in the matter, as she would probably be the one spending the most time with whomever you wed.”
His rich chuckle caused the small hairs on the back of her neck to shiver in delight. Hilaria blinked, hoping she was not revealing her reaction. She had, of course, experienced a slight physical reaction at times over handsome gentlemen, but this was a unique experience for her. Never had she reacted in such a way to a man’s laugh. And never when she didn’t even like the man. Hilaria smiled to herself. If she was going to allow him to publicly court her, she supposed she would have to try to find something about him to like. Besides his deep, delicious chuckle.
“I suppose you’re right there, Lady Hilaria, but no, my mother does not live with me. Nor do I ever anticipate allowing that to happen.”
“Do you not get along with your mother?”
“Would you want yours to live with you?” he countered.
