“You don’t trust Michael?”
“No,” he stated decisively, surprising me with his forcefulness. “He has already shown he is willing to lie for his brother’s benefit, heedless of the effect those lies have on the welfare of others. Think of how Caroline must feel. She clearly cares for Michael, and was ecstatic to be marrying him, and yet now she faces a broken engagement as well as the knowledge that her fiancé lied to her when his first consideration should have been for her above everyone else.”
His argument silenced me, but only for a moment. “Then what about Lord Keswick?”
“Gage is the only one I trust to see to your safety, Kiera.”
I clenched my fists at my sides. “But he does not want me to even speak with Will. He will keep me away from him, and then how am I supposed to help him or prove him harmless?”
“I will tell Gage that he must allow you to meet with Dalmay. However, you will have to yield to Gage’s judgment as to whether he is in a calm state of mind.” Seeing my livid expression, he shook his head against the other arguments forming in my mind. “I will not budge on this. If you wish to remain at Dalmay House, you will have to accept Gage’s escort.”
I ground my teeth in frustration and paced away from him to consider the matter. I was furious that Philip was playing me so easily into Gage’s hand. How was I supposed to do Will any good with that infuriating man hanging over my shoulder? For all I knew, Gage would interfere with any attempts I made to meaningfully engage with Will.
No, that wasn’t fair. Gage was not unreasonable. His presence would make my interactions with Will awkward, but not impossible. Gage might even have something useful to contribute; if he could set aside his ridiculous notions that Will was out to hurt me.
I huffed and returned my gaze to Philip, who waited for me to speak. I knew my brother-in-law was just looking out for me in the best way he thought he could. He couldn’t know the history between Gage and me, how the man tied me in knots. Although he must realize that things had not ended happily between us at Gairloch. After all, he was there the morning I confronted Gage before he departed with the dawn mist. Being in such close proximity to Gage was going to be uncomfortable at best, particularly as he seemed determined to prove that Will was dangerous.
But then again, I suspected there was more to Gage’s presence here than a simple visit to a friend, and I had a sinking feeling it had something to do with Will. How was I to uncover what that was if I avoided his company?
“Agreed,” I bit out.
Philip looked as if he might want to press me on the issue but held back. I had never given him reason to doubt my word. Forcing the point would be insulting, and he clearly realized this. He gave me a single, decisive nod, and the matter was finished.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Philip and I returned to the house via a path that wove through the woods south of Dalmay House to meet up with the drive several hundred feet from the manor. We passed through the main door we had entered upon our arrival the day before and into the grand entrance hall with its portraits and sweeping staircase. But before we could begin our ascent toward our assigned bedchambers, the butler intercepted us.
“My lord, my lady,” he pronounced in solemn tones, “Mr. Dalmay wished to see you upon your return from your constitutional. May I have your things sent up to your rooms?”
Philip and I glanced at each other. Clearly the majordomo took his job seriously. He wasn’t going to allow us to escape without following his master’s wishes. I stifled a grin and permitted the man to help me out of my pelisse, and then handed him my gloves and bonnet.
“Very good. This way, please.”
He led us through a set of doors and down a hallway carpeted in the same plush crimson as the stairs. Marble-topped tables stood between each doorway, each holding a vase of fresh flowers or the bust of some ancient Greek or Roman. On the walls above the flowers hung mirrors, reflecting the light spilling through the tall window at the end of the hall, while various uninspired landscapes graced the spaces behind the busts. At the second-to-last door on the right, the butler rapped twice before pushing it open.