She shrugged. “Again. Thank you.”
“Fine. Don’t discuss the details with me,” Ewan said. “Though, I have to say, I don’t think it helps ye much to stay quiet.”
She shook her head. “I may very well discuss the details with you at some later juncture, but I don’t know you as of yet, you see.”
He scowled. “The thing that makes ye both so difficult is how right ye are.”
“I fail to see how that’s a problem.” But she couldn’t help but grin.
His face grew even darker. “If ye don’t want to talk out the details with me, ye’ll discuss them with Isabella and Bash. Ye can’t remain with Ivinhart unwed. One way or the other, this has to come to a conclusion soon.”
Her stomach dropped. She’d grown used to being at Noah’s side, just the two of them. “Is my cousin coming here?”
“They are in Dover. Easy trip from here with my ship.”
Her heart began to pound in her chest. He was talking about her leaving Noah to discuss her future? Did she want to do that?
Avery had told Noah that she didn’t wish to wed him. Of course, that meant she’d have to leave, but she’d assumed she’d have more time. Time to really consider, especially because of late, she’d contemplated changing her mind.
“I need time.”
“Time?” Ewan rumbled. “Ye don’t need time. The answer is clear. Honor Bash’s agreement and marry a bloody earl.”
Now she stood, her fists clenched at her sides. “How dare you?”
He stood too, his massive arms crossing as he looked down at her. “How dare I what?”
“Tell me what to do.” She crossed over to him and poked him in the chest above his arms. “I’ve only just escaped one man’s tyranny, I’ll not be subjected to yours.”
“Tyranny?” he bellowed. “Good sense. That’s what I’d call it.”
“Avery?” Noah’s voice called from the door. “Are you all right?”
She spun to look at him and to her horror, she realized that tears were misting her eyes. “I’m fine. I just…” She’d missed Noah today. He was tough and strong when he needed to be, but he’d been nothing but gentle with her. “I’m tired from the journey. That’s all.”
“I understand,” he replied.
She swallowed down a lump. “I think I shall take dinner in my room.” Then, lifting her skirts, she raced for the door.
She passed Noah as she went but he didn’t try to stop her. Part of her was relieved. She didn’t wish for either of them to see her cry.
But part of her wished he’d held her in his arms.
There was a distance between them that hadn’t been there before, and she didn’t like it. Not one bit.
Noah didn’t want to let her go. He itched to reach out and pull her close. First because she looked upset. He hated to see her like that, with tears welling in her eyes. Her beauty was already so fragile.
But also because he missed her.
He’d dallied in his study for the longest time, not coming to the music room. He shouldn’t wish to be with her all the time. He needed to start creating space between them.
But Ewan’s arrival was a reminder. He had an obligation that needed to be fulfilled and the only way to successfully complete it was to eliminate the emotional connection he’d developed with Avery.
She passed by him and he turned, watching her go, half wishing to follow, but Ewan’s voice called him back. “We need to talk.”
He might hate Ewan. “For such a big, rough-looking fellow, you do a lot of talking.”
“Is that so?” Ewan snorted. “I can use my fists instead.”
Noah narrowed his gaze. “I had Bash’s permission to bring her here.”
“Under the pretense ye’d wed her.” Ewan moved to the fire as he leaned down to look in the flames.
“I don’t know if you noticed but she’s rather hardheaded. I asked her. She turned me down with a sniff of that cute little nose and iron in her chocolate brown eyes.”
That made Ewan laugh, his voice so deep it echoed in the heavily furnished room. “Ye like her, don’t ye?”
Like her? His heart gave a loud thud. He more than liked her. That was the problem. “Yes.”
“And so ye’re going to make sure she says aye?”
He hesitated, his chin drawing back as his lips thinned over his teeth. “I…”
Ewan pushed back away from the mantle. “I’m going to repeat that without the question. Ye’re going to make sure she says aye.”
“She doesn’t want to marry; she wishes to remain a spinster.”
Ewan shook his head. “That is of no consequence.”
“It is to me.” He knew he was lying. He was hiding behind Avery’s reasons and he was a damned coward for doing it. But he wasn’t about to tell this ape of a man that he couldn’t push her because she didn’t wish to be pushed and she’d hate him for it. Nor could he share that it would crush him to watch another woman he loved die. Loved? Damn. He’d gone and fallen in love despite his intention to keep his emotions at bay. And while his head knew death wasn’t a forgone conclusion of childbirth, his heart didn’t seem to agree. The risk was too great.
“Her guardian, a duke no less, has made the request. Ye’ll honor it or ye’ll answer to him.”
Noah spread his feet wider his arms crossing. “Then he can come and demand his answer.”
Ewan let out a growl. “Fine. I’ll have him here inside the week.”
Noah winced. That must mean that Bash had gone to his home in Dover. Once Bash arrived here, the duke likely would insist on the match. He raked his hand through his hair. He needed to think all this through. He hadn’t planned on falling in love, and that was certainly what had happened, but caring for Avery complicated everything.
“While you’re gone, Avery and I—”
“Ye’ve lost yer mind,” the man muttered. “Avery will be coming with me to fetch Bash. Ye were only allowed
