Page 79 of Tempting the Earl

But he couldn’t.

Lowering himself to a crouch beside her, he said instead, “You’re right.”

Her eyes widened and Ainsworth made a short sound behind him, but he went on earnestly, “You should’ve been kept better informed. You should’ve had the opportunity to give your thoughts and offer suggestions. I’ll do better going forward.”

There was a lengthy pause as the girl considered his words. Then she nodded and smiled before throwing her arms around him for a swift hug. “Thank you, Colin.”

When she pulled back again, she glanced to Thomas with a little smirk. “I told you he was reasonable and kind.” Then she looked over Colin’s shoulder to add in a tone that almost managed to sound contrite, “And I’m sorry, Worthy, for scaring you, but you ken I couldnae just do nothing.”

Colin stood as Ainsworth stepped forward.

“Aye, and I understand your desire to be more involved.” Her brows lowered. “But we’re going to have another wee talk about eavesdropping, lassie.”

Caillie gave a gentle roll of her eyes. “Aye, Worthy.”

The moment of brief accord was interrupted by Thomas as he roughly cleared his throat. He’d remained awkwardly to one side up until now when he stepped forward. “Have you news, then?” he asked gruffly. “On the lad?”

“We managed to delay the examination,” Colin replied, “but he remains in custody at Bow Street.”

“Did he do it?” Caillie asked quietly, her eyes wide. “Did he...kill someone?”

Colin replied honestly. “I have someone looking into the matter who believes he may be innocent. But it all depends on whether that can be proven.”

“All we can do now is wait for more news,” Ainsworth said, adding pointedly, “which will be directed to Wright House, which is where we should be.”

“All right,” the girl replied as she gave a gesture that brought Bramble to her side. Sliding her hand over the collie’s head, she glanced to Thomas. “You’re coming too, aren’t you, Beynon?”

Thomas stiffened and brought his dark stare to Colin.

“Of course, you’re welcome to return with us,” he stated without hesitation.

The heaviness in the younger man’s gaze didn’t ease even when he returned his attention to their sister and gave a slow nod. “I’ll come. For now.”

Caillie grinned. “Perfect.”

Chapter Twenty-seven

Back in the parlor at Wright House, Colin had to call upon every ounce of his willpower to remain seated in one of the tall-backed armchairs in order to keep himself from pacing anxiously about the room. If he gave in to the emotion churning inside him—the worry, the gratitude, and the uncertainty—for even a moment, he feared he’d be lost to it.

Caillie sat on the floor beside the tea table, Bramble curled up at her side, as she carefully assessed the assortment of sweetbreads Mrs. Athens had brought in along with the tea Colin had requested. The girl had missed breakfast and was carefully debating between a lightly glazed pastry filled with lemon curd or a freshly baked bread drizzled with honey.

Ainsworth sat in the corner of the sofa nearest Caillie. After filling the role of hostess and serving the tea, she talked quietly with Caillie, and though her gaze flickered frequently to Colin, she did not press to engage him in conversation. She did, however, send a couple pointed glances toward the man across the room.

As soon as he could, Mr. Thomas had taken his teacup and saucer in hand and promptly retreated to the corner where he stood at the windows overlooking the garden. His simple and somewhat rugged attire was slightly incongruent to the townhouse parlor. And Colin suspected the young man was quite aware of that fact. More than once, he noticed him tugging at his coat or brushing some unseen speck from his woolen trousers before he’d glance about with look of wary suspicion.

Colin knew he should say something to make his brother more comfortable but he feared doing exactly the opposite. Their previous interaction had not exactly been amiable and he suspected it was Caillie’s presence alone which kept the younger man from being more openly hostile. Colin hated how inept he was with this sort of thing and wished he could say something clever or charming to lighten the mood. But most of all he wanted to respect the other man’s obvious determination to maintain a bit of distance.

Thomas was here and that was enough for now. It had to be.

Colin had no idea what Caillie might have said to the angry young man at the inn, and though he never wanted her to run off in such a manner again, he knew Thomas would likely be on his way back to Wales at this moment if the girl hadn’t taken the matter into her own hands.

Shifting his attention from his brother to his sister, Colin felt a small bit of his tension ease as the girl popped the last morsel of her pastry into her mouth. Catching his eye, she flashed a sugary grin.

He couldn’t help but smile in return.

“Colin?” she asked thoughtfully, “Did I ever tell you of the time our local blacksmith lost his pet stoat and had the entire village searching for the creature?”

Suspecting the girl’s intention, he was no longer astonished at her perceptive abilities.

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