“Forgive me, cousin,” Ewan rumbled. “But Noah and Bash made an agreement. Rules have been broken and consequences must be enforced.”
Her hand tightened on Noah’s shoulder. “I am prepared for the consequences. Always have been.” And by that she meant her own ruination. He was the only person in her entire life to ever really take her wishes to heart.
For the first time in her entire life, she felt valued. It made her consider what he’d said. Was marriage an option?
She’d told him and herself that she didn’t wish to be dominated by a man, but she realized she’d had a deep fear after her father. It ate at her.
Avery had worried that no man would ever really love her. But Noah, he gave her hope.
“I wasnae discussing yer consequences, Avery, but his.” Ewan pointed at Noah.
Noah looked back at her, his gaze hard and unreadable. “I won’t force you. The choice is yours.”
Her heart swelled with emotion as she looked into his grey green eyes. “Thank you.”
“Ye can speak tae me,” Ewan rumbled. “Bash sent me here to oversee ye.” Then he looked back at Noah. “We need to have a chat. Because yer making promises that aren’t yers to keep.”
Noah was still taut as a bowstring under her hand. “You think you’re the man to force me?”
Ewan stepped forward, lifting his chin. “I’ve come because Bash sent me,” Ewan fired back.
“How fortunate for Bash.” Noah drew out the name. “He has an army of men traipsing about England doing his bidding.”
Ewan chuckled at that. “I’ll have ye ken that I wanted to come. The other girls are all settled but Avery…” Ewan shrugged. “And the man is a duke.”
Avery lightly tapped on Noah’s shoulder. “Perhaps we should go sit to finish this conversation?”
He gave a stiff nod and gestured for Ewan to move toward the front parlor just off the foyer, but as he turned to escort her, he kept her tucked at his side, his body still blocking hers.
And while she knew she had nothing to fear from Ewan, she liked the gesture all the same. Noah was standing up for her rights even against her family. Her chest swelled with appreciation.
They all sat, Ewan seeming to fill an entire settee. “So, I’ll ask again. When is the wedding?”
Avery blinked. Ewan was her family and she appreciated him coming here but had the man not heard a thing she’d said? Not understood?
She looked at Noah, whose jaw looked like it was carved from granite. “The lady is not ready to marry.”
“As her nearest male relative, I must insist,” Ewan returned evenly.
Avery’s heart jumped in her throat. While she was beginning to think marrying Noah was the path that would make her happiest, she was not ready for a well-intentioned family member to force the issue. She still wanted a choice. “Ewan,” she held out her hands. “We’ve all just arrived after a long journey and you’re here to chaperone now. Can’t this conversation wait until we’ve all had an opportunity to settle in? I can assure you nothing has happened that would make this conversation a pressing matter.”
Ewan relaxed a bit, giving a stiff nod. “Ye’re right, of course.”
Noah looked no less irritated as he stood. “With that in mind, I shall instruct my staff to get rooms ready for both of you.”
And then he exited the room without looking back.
Chapter Nine
Avery sat in the music room as they awaited dinner and stared at her long-lost cousin. Noah had yet to arrive, a turn of events which was curious in a gut-wrenching sort of way. She’d grown used to his company, and spending the day without him had been lonely.
The truth of the matter was she’d barely slept the night before, either. She’d missed his heat, the feel of him against her body and under her head. She’d struggled all night to find a comfortable spot on the pillow.
She sighed, wondering what was keeping him now.
“I suppose we should take this opportunity to talk,” Ewan murmured after clearing his throat.
“Must we?” she asked. It was odd to discuss such intimate dealings with a stranger. Even more so without Noah. When had he become such an extension of herself?
“I’m sorry I didnae help ye sooner.”
She waved her hand. “I went straight from my father’s care to Bash’s. In many ways I was luckier than the Carrington sisters. Our cousins.”
He grimaced. “And yer father?”
“There was nothing you could do on that front.” She shrugged. “A father is allowed to do as he chooses with his daughter.”
“I ken yer right, but I still wish…”
She raised her brows. There was no point in wishing, and honestly, Ewan’s intervention had come too late. Not only was her father gone, but Bash had seen to her care and then Noah. “I haven’t heard the best things about your father either.”
He frowned, pulling back. “That’s not yer concern.”
She held up a finger. “It likely isn’t.” She gave him a knowing look. “Was my comment a reminder that discussing very personal issues with distant family is rather uncomfortable?”
His eyes widened. “Yer a lot more like Eliza than I first imagined.”
That made her smile. “Eliza is one of the toughest people I know. I’ll take that as a compliment.”
He gave a quick nod. “Ye should.”
“Thank you,” she replied. “Though if I may add, my point stands.”
He scrubbed the back of his neck. “I suppose it does.”
“So you understand that it might be uncomfortable to discuss all the issues in my past that make me wish for more time to consider my options for marriage?” She didn’t bother to add that one option was not to marry at all.
Ewan grimaced, his brow furrowing. “Now wait just a minute.”
“Tell me more about your father. Was he a criminal like mine or just cruel?”
He stood. “We’re not discussing my father.”
“If we’re discussing mine then we’re discussing yours.” She stayed in her seat, her hands folded in her lap.
He plopped back down again, the floor trembling a
