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Chapter 24
Eloise awakened from the knock on the door. Had she dozed off?
She raised her head and looked around. Apparently, she had dozed off, with her head on the edge of Keyon’s bed, her hand in his. She sat up, and he shifted in bed. His hair was in his face, and he looked deliciously warm. She wanted to crawl up beside him and spend the rest of the day in bed.
Eloise brushed the lock of hair away from his face. She slowly caressed his cheek with a tender smile, and he seemed to have fallen back to sleep.
Eloise stood and turned to see her brother at the door, watching her with a fierce frown on his face. She padded toward him as he exited the room, leaving the door open. He paced in front of the door like a wild beast.
“Ford,” Eloise said as she stepped out of Keyon’s chamber.
“You can’t be serious,” he growled. “Him?”
Eloise frowned. “I told you—”
“I thought you were delirious! Or temporarily gone mad! You can’t truly want to stay here. I slept in this mansion, Eloise. I ate with the bandits and it’s preposterous to think that you know what you’re getting yourself into!”
“I know, Ford. It might be difficult for you to believe, and I might not understand it myself, but… I love him. I love this place, and I’ve grown fond of the people here.”
“How can you even share bread with these people?”
Eloise frowned. “And have you never shared bread or…anything elsewith harlots?”
Ford stilled. “That’s not my point.”
“Then what is your point?” she cried. “Because I know for a fact that you dine with thieves, and you’ve spent more than one night in brothels and hells.”
“My point is that is not what I wanted for you!”
“What did you want for me? A loveless marriage? A life without passion?”
“For goodness’ sake, Eloise!” Ford barked and ran a hand through his hair. “I wanted you to have a better life. Better than mine.”
Eloise swallowed. “Your life isn’t so bad.”
“Isn’t it? Chasing after thugs all day to put food on the table, only to have my sister fall in love with the worst of them all.”
“Ford!” Eloise admonished.
The door to Keyon’s bedchamber opened then, and Keyon peeked out. He seemed sleepy, his hair disheveled, and Eloise wished they weren’t arguing so loudly with Ford in the corridor.
“I’m sorry we were being loud,” she said.
Keyon shook his head. “Darling, do you mind if I speak to your brother for a moment?”
Ford bristled in indignation as he shifted from one foot to another.
Eloise looked at him, then back at Keyon, and bit her lip. Keyon was still weak, and she didn’t want Ford causing him undue stress.
She finally nodded. “Of course.” Then turned to Ford. “Please, be polite.”
Ford huffed a breath and entered the room. Keyon winked and closed the door behind him.
* * *
Keyon turned to the hostile-looking thief-taker the moment the door closed shut. “I didn’t have time to talk with you. To ask for your sister’s hand.”
Gunning scoffed. “You took more than her hand without waiting for my permission.”
