He sighed. He had said that. And while he loved that Avery sparred with him, this was a pointless discussion. “They’ll all know you’re not my sister.”
“You can still introduce me as Mrs. Everly.”
That was true. He should have, however, come up with a better explanation for both Avery and his staff. He’d had the entire morning to consider it, but he’d been too busy studying the gentle curve of her nose and the way her lips pressed in thought. He’d stared endlessly at her long dark fringe of lashes and…
He sighed. He should have slept more last night. But he’d lain in bed, alone, missing the feel of her pressed to his side. Two nights and he didn’t want to sleep without her. What a ninny he’d turned out to be.
“We should have gone with Mrs. Carrington instead of Everly. Someone at that last inn recognized me.” At least this was a partial truth and might soften her to the eventual declaration of their nuptials.
She blinked. “Who?”
“I don’t know.” He shrugged. “But if they know who I am then they likely know I don’t have a living sister, certainly not a married one.”
She pressed her lips together. But he couldn’t see more as the veil slid over her face. “What does it mean?”
“I don’t know yet.” Lie. The footmen snapped open the door and Noah climbed out, helping her down.
He held out his arm to her, her hand slipping into the crook of his elbow. “Hmmm,” she murmured thoughtfully, but he didn’t ask more as introductions began.
Did she have some insight into their path forward? On the surface the answer was simple enough. They should marry and be done with it. But the idea filled him with both excitement and dread.
They’d no more made their way into the foyer when the door opened again.
A large, dark-haired Scot strode into his home. Noah wasn’t a small man, and he was well built, but this man dwarfed him in both height and sheer size.
“Who is he?” He leaned down toward Avery, pulling her closer.
Her other hand pressed to his biceps. “I don’t know.”
That surprised him and he looked down at her. The ship was here, and it was from Carrington Shipping. Clearly this man had come for Avery. How could she not know?
He stepped forward, pulling her hand from his arm. He heard her noise of dissent but truly, he only meant to put himself between her and this man. With a hand, he tucked Avery behind him. “Can I help you?”
“Ye can,” the large Scot said. Even his voice was huge, echoing throughout the two-story foyer. “I’m here to see me cousin, Avery.”
“Ewan?” Avery cried behind him. Her hand came to his shoulder as she stood on tiptoe, peeking over his shoulder. “Is that you?”
“It is, lass.”
“What are you doing here?” she asked, her voice rising in excitement. “How did you find me here? Last I knew, you were in Scotland.”
He cleared his throat. “I’ve got a great deal to tell ye.”
Noah crossed his arms not stepping out of the way. “You can start right now.”
Her cousin Ewan was here? Now? It made no sense. Avery’s mother had two sisters. One of those sisters had married Lucas Carrington. Of course, they’d had four daughters and the five of them, Avery, Isabella, Eliza, Abigail, and Emily had grown up together for better and some for worse. But the third sister had married a Scottish laird and the families had had no contact for over a decade.
Isabella and Eliza had sent letter after letter to Ewan, begging for his help, but those notes had gone unanswered.
Until now…
Ewan looked down at Noah, his stare hard. “Ye’re Bash’s friend?”
“He’s Devonhall to you,” Noah answered. “Or Decadence if you want to be familiar.”
The other man chuckled. “Ye can’t tell me what to call my in-law. Ye think being an earl makes ye my keeper?”
Noah snorted.
Avery considered stepping around Noah, but she stayed put. This was his home and what was more, he’d done an admirable job of keeping her safe. She’d trust his judgment.
“I’m not your keeper, but I am hers.”
“Ye’re no’,” Ewan replied quickly and rather loudly. “If anything, I am. I’m her kin. Sent by the man who’s her current guardian.”
“Where have you been then?” Noah fired back.
Ewan paused, his features drawing tight. “I arrived in London months ago. Shortly after the first letter.”
She gasped. It couldn’t be true. Her cousins had been all alone with no male protector when their father disappeared. Her father hadn’t allowed her to help them. He’d wanted their shipping company. “It was you. You were the mysterious Scot that Isabella and Eliza were trying to identify. But why not help us if you were in London all that time?”
He grimaced. “I found Dishonor first and he needed my aid in catching the thieves.” He scrubbed the back of his neck. “I infiltrated the ring of criminals, keeping my identity secret from everyone.” He clasped his hands in front of his body. “I’m still not sure it was the right choice but overall, you girls seemed to have landed on yer feet. Still, I did not mean to abandon ye.”
She tapped Noah’s shoulder, excitement skittering through her. “And were you successful? With the thieves?”
He grinned at that. “I was. Emily’s kidnapping was the last attempt of a dying organization. And ye are the last of the female cousins unwed.” Then he cocked a brow at Noah. “Is she unwed?”
Noah’s jaw clenched. His muscles bunched under her hands. “Yes.”
“But ye’ve plans? Bash said…”
“Bash did not discuss those plans with me,” Avery chimed in. “I’d like to speak with him first.”
Ewan’s brows shot up and he gave Noah a look that clearly noted his disapproval. Even Avery bristled at that. Noah allowed her space because he cared about her wishes. It mattered to her
