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“Gil.” Evan was at her side in an instant, his voice still even but now with an undercurrent of a growl.
She looked to him. He hadn’t said anything to admonish his brother. Only said his name. Peculiar. Maybe as twins one-word grunts spoke volumes.
Evan grabbed her elbow and started to tug her away from his brother. “You’ll excuse us, Gil. You’ve had too much whisky tonight.”
Gilroy didn’t let them retreat, stepping forward, his arm waving in front of him. “Have I?”
Evan planted his feet and stared down at his brother. “Aye.”
“And when did you get to decide such a thing for me, Ev? When did ye ever care enough to decide such a thing?”
“Gil.” Evan shook his head, his glare not faltering.
Gilroy stumbled two steps forward, the side of his fist slamming onto Evan’s chest. Evan didn’t flinch.
Pulling his fist away, Gilroy looked up at his brother. “She lost another babe two days ago.”
Evan’s head shook, startled. “Ness did?”
Gilroy nodded, the butt of both his palms rubbing at his eyes. “A boy.”
Evan’s hand dropped from Juliet’s elbow and he reached out to set his palm on his brother’s shoulder as his voice went soft, calm. “I am sorry, brother.”
“Are ye?” Gilroy’s glare shifted to Juliet, the snarl returning to his lips. “It doesn’t seem like you’re sorry in the slightest, what with bringing this one here.”
Juliet glanced at Evan, then looked to Gilroy. “Your wife lost a babe? May I visit with her?”
She’d seen the pain of it many times. Some babes were wanted. Some babes were not. Either way, losing one was something no woman should suffer through alone. And if what Evan said about the lack of females here at Whetland was true, Nessia would need another woman by her side.
Gilroy stared at her for a long silent moment before lunging forward, pulling to a stop only a hair away from her, the stench of the whisky on his breath invading her pores. “I don’t care what you do to her, ye witch.”
Gilroy instantly jerked to the left as Evan yanked him away from her. His fist bunched into Gilroy’s collar and he leaned over him. “Too far, brother. I know you’rewrecked,but you go too far.”
Her heart thundering in her chest, Juliet stepped away from the men, her fingers splayed in front of her. “I will go and find Nessia—I’ll have the footman I saw in the hallway show me to her room.”
Evan tore his look off his brother to glance at her. “I’ll come with you.”
“No. I’ll introduce myself. It will be best for the state that she must be in. Gentle.”
Evan gave her a nod, his fist not relaxing, holding his brother in place.
Juliet turned and escaped from the room with a weak nod across the room to the earl.
Stopping outside the door to the library, she paused, letting her back fall against the puckered stone wall.
Three breaths. Three breaths to get her posture about her.
Three breaths and she stepped away from the library.
Whatever was happening in there with Evan and his brother was none of her business.
Couldn’t be any of her business.
She was here for one reason only. She’d fulfill the job and be on her way.
Best not to get involved.
{ Chapter 11 }
