Emma nodded, unsure how to reply. Home. The word felt foreign when paired with this place, this man. Yet there was something in his tone, if not warm, then at least sincere, that made her believe he meant it.
Evan turned to the waiting staff, issuing brisk instructions. “Her Grace will need everything to her liking. Whatever she requires, see to it.”
The butler bowed. “Of course, Your Grace.”
Inside, the air was cooler, tinged with the faint scent of polished wood and distant lavender. The grand entry hall stretched before them, flanked by gleaming marble floors and high ceilings adorned with intricate plasterwork. Emma’s unease deepened, but she kept her composure as Evan gestured toward an adjacent corridor.
“This way,” he said, his tone more casual now. “I’ll show you the library. I believe you might like it.”
Curiosity sparked faintly in her eyes, and she followed without a word. The library was tucked away from the grander spaces of the house, its walls lined with rich walnut shelves, each brimming with books in various states of use. A large windowoverlooked a manicured garden, and a fire burned low in the hearth, giving the room an unexpectedly inviting warmth.
Emma’s expression softened. “It’s lovely,” she said, the faintest trace of wonder in her voice.
“What do you enjoy reading?” he asked, settling his hands behind his back.
She hesitated before replying. “I do enjoy reading, but more than that, I write. Stories, mostly.” A faint blush colored her cheeks as she admitted this.
He arched an eyebrow, intrigued. “Stories? What sort of stories?”
“Oh, nothing grand,” she said quickly, brushing it off. “Little tales, sometimes for the children at the orphanage. They’re hardly worth mentioning.”
“Nonsense.” His tone was firm but not unkind. “You must show me sometime.”
Emma’s blush deepened, but before she could reply, he gestured toward the far wall. “There’s another library in the east wing. Far grander than this, if I’m honest. Though I think this room has more charm.”
“You have two libraries?” she asked, faint disbelief coloring her words.
“Three, technically,” he admitted, a touch of amusement in his voice. “But one is more of a glorified reading room. I’ll show you the others when you’re ready.”
Emma let out a soft laugh, shaking her head. “You make it sound as though books are spilling out of the walls.”
“Nearly,” he said, a small smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.
As her gaze wandered, it landed on a large portrait hanging above the mantel. It depicted a stern-looking man and a woman of striking beauty, both seated in regal poise. Their faces bore a striking resemblance to Evan’s.
“Are those your parents?” she asked quietly.
He followed her gaze, and a shadow passed over his features. “Yes,” he said shortly, the warmth in his tone cooling instantly.
Emma hesitated, unsure whether to press further but emboldened enough to try. “They seem?—”
“They’re gone,” he interrupted, his tone curt. “Long gone.”
The abruptness of his reply left her taken aback, and she instinctively retreated, her shoulders drawing inward. “I see. My apologies. I didn’t mean to pry.”
Evan seemed to catch himself, his lips parting as though he meant to say something more, but the words never came. Instead, an awkward silence settled between them, the warmth of their earlier exchange dissipating. He turned slightly, his posture stiff.
“If there’s anything else you require, you’ve only to ask,” he said finally, his voice measured but distant.
Emma nodded, retreating further into herself. “Thank you,” she murmured, her tone polite but subdued.
She cast one last glance at the portrait before turning away. Whatever softness she had glimpsed in Evan seemed to have retreated as quickly as it appeared, leaving her once again uncertain of where she stood in this unfamiliar world.
She followed Evan out into the grand hall again but instead of carrying on with her tour he walked to the corner and pulled the bell summoning – she was uncertain who.
“If you will excuse me, I have business to attend to.”
“Today?” she asked, confused. “I thought we might… That is to say…” Hadn’t he just told her he would show her the house? She’d hoped that this was a sign that their relationship would not be as horrible as she had feared but evidently Even was far more mercurial that she’d realized.
