“Philip told me about the promise he extracted from you.”
“Yes?” I replied cautiously, knowing that careless tone. Wiser people than I had failed to heed it and walked straight into whatever trap Alana had set for them.
Realizing I wasn’t fooled, she turned to look at me. “Why are you pretending to be so adverse to his company?”
“Whose company?” I asked, feigning ignorance.
“Give over, Kiera. You know exactly who I’m speaking of.” She crossed her arms over her chest and leaned into the bed with her hip. “You can’t just ignore him. You’re going to have to speak with Mr. Gage.”
I glared at the pale silk wallpaper between the bedchamber’s two windows and wished my sister would mind her own business. If I had wanted her advice on Gage, I would have asked for it.
“Are you worried there’s something between him and Miss Remmington?”
I scoffed. “No.”
“Because if you are, that’s just silly . . .”
“I’m not,” I told her firmly.
“Good,” Alana replied, seeming to be at a loss for words. Unfortunately that lasted only for a moment. “Then why are we back to the same antagonizing behavior that began your acquaintance?” I opened my mouth to deny it, but she spoke over me. “Don’t think I missed the looks you sent his way last night. And Philip told me about your argument after I left the drawing room. You do realize the man is showing every sign that he cares.”
I scowled and mumbled under my breath, “Except being honest with me.”
She frowned. “Did you ask him why he left Gairloch the way he did?”
I glanced up at her, suspecting for the first time that she really did know more about what went on between Gage and me than she let on. “I tried, but the man is as tight-lipped as a corpse. You realize, I know next to nothing about him. And what I do know I’ve had to glean from others’ comments.”
Alana smiled in commiseration. “I’m sure you know far more about him than you think. At least, as it pertains to what matters. You’re just missing some of the details.”
“All the details,” I groused.
Alana crossed the room to rub her hand over my back. “Give him time,” she told me gently. “Men are secretive creatures—Mr. Gage more than most. When he’s ready, he’ll tell you. And when he does, you’ll know just how much he esteems you.”
*
My maid was harder to convince of the necessity of my staying at Dalmay House. Upon returning to my chamber to change out of my walking ensemble into a morning dress, I found Lucy preparing to pack my bags. And when I told her to do the reverse, and unpack the rest of the gowns that had remained in my trunk, she didn’t hold back from conveying her displeasure. She pouted and fussed and, as she’d done the previous night, tugged and jostled me as she helped me to dress. I was so out of sorts with her by the time we finished that I nearly ordered her to return to Gairloch on the next mail coach. The Dalmays would have a maid I could borrow for the duration of my stay, and I could find a new lady’s maid when I reached Edinburgh. All that kept me from doing so was a last-minute confession in which Lucy once again admitted her anxieties about William’s much-gossiped-about “malady.” But, in light of Lucy’s generally poor attitude and performance over the past week, my sympathy extended only so far, and I left my bedchamber before I said something I would later regret.
Charging down the corridor, I turned the corner to find Gage and Philip standing near the top of the grand staircase in heated conversation. My brother-in-law’s back was to me, but I could hear him speaking in sharp, clipped tones, even if I could not make out the words, while Gage glared at him.
My steps slowed. I did not particularly want to encounter either of them at that moment, but given my intended destination and my promise to Philip, I knew I couldn’t avoid Gage for long. I considered postponing my plans and retreating to my room, where more of Lucy’s theatrics awaited, or to Alana’s room, where her maid would simply ignore my presence, but at that moment Gage’s gaze shifted, bringing me into view over Philip’s shoulder. I could see the icy displeasure he had aimed at Philip in the depths of his eyes. Philip glanced my way to see what Gage was looking at, his face still tight with anger, before turning back to finish whatever he had been saying.
I narrowed my eyes, having a strong suspicion they were discussing me. I stiffened my spine and marched toward them as both men turned to observe my approach.
“When will you be departing?” I asked Philip.
“Within the hour.”