Page 2 of The Keeper and I

Lord Colfield drew closer, within inches of Samuel’s face. “I’ll lock her in her room.”

“We both know you’re too kind for that.”

“You think I’m not capable of discipline?”

“You’re capable of a great deal, my lord.” Samuel paused and held the earl’s gaze with resolve. “Except keeping us apart.”

Lord Colfield took a step back, though kept his head high. “She will never be yours, MacPhairse. She is promised to someone else.”

Samuel blanched, and his chest tightened. “You mean you’ve already…you’d give her to that animal?”

“Lord Seymour comes from a long line of worthy gentlemen—”

“He is a monster!” Samuel cried, ignoring the affronted look on Lord Colfield’s face at being interrupted. This was too important to worry about propriety, not when Samuel had seen Lord Seymour grab Caroline’s wrist so hard she winced and overheard him disparage her name when her back was turned. And, of course, the fear in Caroline’s eyes at the prospect of a lifetime with him. “He cares nothing for Caroline!”

“LadyCaroline to you,” Lord Colfield shot back.

“My lord, that man is cruel. He’ll hurt her. She’ll live her days in fear and—”

“At least she will not be ruined! I will not have a scandal in my house, and I will not allow my daughter to be banished from the society that is her birthright. She will marry him. And, by that time, you will be long gone.”

Samuel dropped his gaze to the floor. His mind raced. He still wasn’t sure how much Lord Colfield knew about how far things had gone with Caroline. If he played the truth card, he would be taking quite a gamble, not only with his fate, but Caroline’s as well. On the other hand, it could be their only chance. Perhaps, if her father knew, the engagement would have to be called off.

Caroline told him before she had no desire to remain in society. They had never been good to her, but she was hesitant to sever ties with her family completely. She hoped to discuss things diplomatically and that her father would allow her to leave on good terms even without her titles. After all, her brothers would be carrying on the family name. What did it truly matter who Caroline married? If he was going to speak, he needed to do it quickly. Lord Colfield was halfway to the door with his arm outstretched toward the handle.

“What if there’s to be a child?” Samuel blurted.

Lord Colfield froze. He turned slowly, his mouth slack and his eyes wide as they found Samuel’s face again. “I beg your pardon?”

“You heard me, my lord.”

The earl shook his head. “It’s gone that far, has it?”

Samuel glared at him with a lift of his chin, refusing to be ashamed. “We’ve been lovers for some time.”

Lord Colfield dropped his hand and shook his head. “You leave me no choice.” His gaze hardened. “I will see you at dawn.”

“Dawn, my lord,” Samuel confirmed with a curt nod.

“I’m sorry it has to end this way, Samuel.”

Samuel blinked, unaccustomed to hearing his given name, especially from the family. Well, from anyone but Caroline. They had dropped the formalities the day he first kissed her. He wondered if he had felt her kiss for the last time.

“I’m sorry too,” he said.

Lord Colfield’s eyes searched Samuel’s. Samuel willed him to see reason, to drop the charade, and to let them elope and live in peace. But the sharpness in the earl’s look was firm. He said nothing more and swept out of the room as quietly as he’d come in. Samuel heaved a sigh, and his shoulders sagged. Before he went for his pistol, he reached into his desk for some parchment. He wanted to leave his last words to Caroline, for this was not a duel he intended to win.

Chapter 1

Jordanfrownedatthecrowded pub. He didn’t mind meeting up with his sister when she was in town, but why did she always have to pick places with so many fuckingpeople?

Heaving a sigh, he opened the door and braced himself for the noise, which hit him like a wall. His height allowed him to see over the ocean of people and scan the room for Ava’s familiar face. The place was rammed from the bar to the booths and even to the street-facing window. People shimmied between bodies, somehow managing not to spill their carefully balanced beverages.

He spotted his sister at the bar with her legs draped across the seat her ass wasn’t in, and true to form, she glared up at a man standing beside her through her shaggy brown bangs and heavy black eyeliner. He watched her shout at the stranger who loomed a little closer. Jordan’s stomach gave a lurch. He pushed through the crowd.

“I told you, this seat’s taken!” Ava cried over the chatter, her Scottish accent in stark contrast to those around her.

“AndI told you, you can’t save seats in a pub this crowded!” the man shot back.

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