Enticing Eve: Scandalous Secrets, Book 2 (8 page)

Eve nodded and headed towards the main house. She slowed as she passed Victoria, who offered Eve a smile that never met her eyes before returning her attention to Colin. Eve quickened her pace, nearly sprinting towards the terrace steps.

Colin couldn’t blame her. Even he was unnerved by Victoria’s intense stare. So much so that he cleared his throat before trying to explain. “Victoria, I—”

“We should return to the main house. Emma and Nicholas are with their nanny now, and the rest of our party is beginning to gather,” she turned on her heel.
 

“Talk to me, Tori,” Colin was surprised that his tone sounded so calm when inside he felt like a naughty schoolboy about to be scolded by his governess.

“Are you certain that you are prepared for such a conversation?”
 
Tori rounded on him with a force he hadn’t expected, her stride brusque as she marched towards him. “I have a nagging suspicion that you’ll regret asking me to do so once you hear what I have to say.”

Colin smiled in spite of himself. Victoria caught it; the small action seemed to anger her further. She shot him a
don’t smirk at me
glare that made Colin’s amusement increase two-fold.

Victoria was his half-sister, yet neither knew of it until recently. Even still, she and Colin had fallen into an instant repartee as if they had always shared a connection.
 

“What did I interrupt?” she asked, her tone slicing through all formalities. It was apparent that his newfound sister didn’t pull any punches.
 

Colin contemplated walking in the opposite direction.
 
What were the odds that he could outrun her? Surely her skirts would slow her down. Though sorely tempted, he responded with, “Absolutely nothing.”
 

“Wrong,” she stepped in front of him, shaking her head with vehemence. “The correct answer would be that I just witnessed an intimacy between you and your betrothed’s brother—”

Victoria shook her head. “I meant your brother’s betrothed,” she articulated each word with care. “That is difficult to voice.”

It sure was. So much so that Colin’s first response was indignation. “We did nothing improper.” His cadence sounded defensive
 
even
 
to
 
his
 
own
 
ears, causing Colin to wonder whom he was attempting to convince – himself or Victoria.

“If that were true, you wouldn’t be making such a desperate yet rather futile attempt to avoid my questions.” Victoria’s tone turned rich with understanding. “We both know that the inappropriate intimacy to which I refer did indeed occur.”

Colin remained silent, waiting for her to continue. His half-sister didn’t keep him waiting long. “You are in love with her. The affection appears to be mutual.”

“What makes you think—”

“I saw the way you looked at each other, Colin,” Victoria reached for his arm. “Your mutual affection was obvious, and anyone standing in my position would have taken notice.”

He opened his mouth, desperate to deny her accusations; however, it was clear to him that Victoria wouldn’t accept anything less than the truth.
 

“You are quite astute, Tori. I do care for Eve,” he admitted in a matter-of-fact tone, to belie the importance of his words. “I have for a long time, well before she and Tristan became betrothed.”

Finally, he admitted it aloud. The words formed in his brain, and Colin knew what he was about to admit before he did so. Still, in spite of his attempts to sound nonchalant, the words hit him like an anvil.
 

Why did his declaration affect him so?

As if he hadn’t said enough, Colin continued. “I wanted to marry her. I waited too long, and as you well know, she is currently betrothed to my brother.”
 

Colin
 
paused,
 
unable
 
to
 
comprehend
 
why
 
he
 

was admitting so much to a stranger, blood tie or not. Was it because he sought absolution? Was it because he hoped for censure? To make it easier to do what he knew was right – to stay the course, away from Eve, his desires be damned?

Victoria tipped her head to the side. “Please tell me you’re not trying to steer Eve away from your brother.”

“No, I refuse to hurt Tristan,” Colin assured her. “You must believe that.”

She squeezed her eyes shut then began to rub her temples with her fingertips. “I believe you,” she mumbled.
 

“Could you sound a wee bit more convincing?” he drawled.

Tori again met his gaze. “Sorry, I was thinking,” she muttered, shaking her head before continuing, her tone now surprisingly blithe. “Shall we take a turn in the gardens?”
 

“I beg your pardon?” Colin blinked, reeling from the sudden change of subject.
 

“Walk with me,” she linked her arm with his then led him into the maze of tall shrubbery. As they rounded a corner, Victoria began, “I know we don’t know each other well. To the rest of polite society we are bound by chance, your sister married to my brother. But we know better, don’t we?”

She paused long enough for him to nod in affirmation. “You are my blood. As happy as Sebastian and I are to have found you, I realize how awkward this must be for you.
 
Discovering that your mother had an affair with our father and that you are a product of that tryst … what is good news for me has turned your life upside down.”

Colin studied his shoes. Although he had no doubt that Victoria’s motives were pure, the topic of his parentage was one he tried to avoid at all costs.
 

“We may not have grown up together, you and I, but you are still my brother and I love you already, Colin,” her words were rich with sincerity. Victoria crossed in front of him, forcing him to face her by tipping his chin up. “I want you to be happy; I truly do.”

“However …” he tilted his head to one side, waiting for her to continue.

She frowned. “I want the same for Tristan, and the more I consider what I just witnessed, I believe that he deserves better than to marry someone who is in love with you.”

“I beg your pardon?” Colin gaped at her, confused by the sharp turn in direction his discussion with Victoria had taken.

“What I witnessed isn’t as innocent as you wish me to believe,” Victoria wrung her hands. “There was meaning there, history and a depth of emotions that I suspect neither you nor Eve is prepared to face just yet. Tristan deserves better.”

Frustrated with the course of their conversation, Colin pulled away, tossing the rose Emma had given him earlier in the grass. “What would cause you imply that Eve is in love with me?”

“The fact that she does indeed love you,” Victoria’s voice was steady, her expression full of candor. “Don’t feign ignorance. Not to me and not about this. You and I both witnessed Eve’s heart on full display for you.”
 

Again unnerved by her intense gaze, Colin proceeded to a marble bench surrounded by rosebushes. Their heady fragrance filled his lungs as he slumped upon the hard seat. What in bloody hell was it about roses today? Between Eve wearing one when she visited him earlier and now a garden filled with their scent … roses would always remind him of Eve, from this day forward.

“What would you like me to say, Victoria?” he asked, glancing upwards, studying the azure sky dotted with white frothy clouds, a complete contrast to his now foul mood.

Victoria sat beside him, tracing the stitching in her periwinkle satin skirts with her forefinger. “I know you don’t want to hurt Tristan, and that is honorable. What happens when Tristan realizes that his wife doesn’t love him and that he was her second choice?”

“You honestly don’t think that she loves him?” Colin turned towards his half-sister while every inch of his skin was suddenly prickling, alert.
 

“I don’t know,” Victoria shook her head, her eyes fixed on his. “She’s so reserved with him. Even when she thinks they’re alone, I have never witnessed her gazing at him the way she does you.”

Colin considered Victoria’s statement. Could it be true? Did Eve really love him more than Tristan? Is it possible that she does not love Tristan at all? If either possibility was correct, neither Eve nor Tristan would be happy, which led Colin back to the same predicament.

He refused to hurt his brother.
 

Victoria must have read his thoughts, for she added, “If it is true, Tristan will be devastated even if you don’t pursue a relationship with her. He is far too intelligent and intuitive not to notice.”
 

“What do you suggest I do?”

“Discover the truth?” She patted his knee, as if in encouragement. “It’s not a pleasant proposal but what other choice do you have? You know better than anyone what damage duplicity can cause. If Eve doesn’t love him or if she loves you more, the truth will eventually be uncovered, and Tristan will feel like a fool. We both know that he is a proud man and would never forgive such a betrayal.”

Colin studied her. Victoria’s eyes were brimming with understanding, and at last her genuine concern made sense to him.

“You’re in love with him,” Colin said, his tone much more accusatory than he intended.
 

Victoria yanked her hand away from him as if his very statement had seared her skin. She then stood, “We must return to the main house. They’ll be wondering where we’ve gone.”

She began to retrace their steps, but this time Colin was quick on her heels, reaching for her arm and turning her to face him.

“You love him,” he said. This time his voice was gentle, understanding.

“Tristan considers me to be a friend, a fact that I accepted long ago. I assure you that I am not encouraging you so that he may become eligible.”
 

Victoria’s eyes locked with his, radiating truth. She cared for his brother so much that Victoria wanted him to be happy even if it meant Tristan living a fulfilling life with another.
 

Colin felt the same about Eve.
 

In that instant, it became imperative that he discover if Eve truly loved his brother. God help him. Colin couldn’t rest until he knew the answer.

“You are exceptional,” he chucked Victoria under the chin. “Tristan is a fool for not seeing it.”

“No, he’s not. He may be blind and completely lacking in common sense when it comes to yours truly,” she quipped, her animated tone meeting her wry grin. “But he isn’t foolish. I wouldn’t care for him if he were. After all, I have much better taste than that.”

Colin laughed then retraced his steps, picking up the rose Emma had given him then handing it to Victoria.

“A discarded rose,” Victoria exclaimed, clutching it to her chest with great fanfare. “To what do I owe this great honor?”

“For being a wonderful sister,” he offered her his arm as they proceeded to the main house.

Victoria arched her brow. “You hardly know me. I could be the most imprudent woman in all of England.”
 

“Then God help me for taking your advice,” he shook his head. “No, if there’s one thing you should know about me, it’s that I have excellent intuition. I’m never wrong about my first impressions.”

“Is that so?” she asked, looping her arm through his. “You must be entertaining at parties.”

Colin smiled at her sarcasm; a familial trait to be sure.

As they approached the main house, Victoria stopped and turned to face him. “I have always considered myself fortunate to have Sebastian for a brother.”

She paused for a moment, studying the rose as she twirled it between her fingers before adding, “I realize now that I am the luckiest of ladies,
 
for I am

blessed with not one, but two such brothers.”

Victoria kissed him on the cheek. “Welcome home, Colin.”

Colin watched her ascend the stone steps leading to the terrace, his feet planted firmly on the thick lawn blanketing the earth.
 

Home.

What does a home comprise, after all? Is it merely a dwelling with bricks, mortar, and furnishings? Or is a home more than a physical building? Is a place considered home because of those who reside there?
 

He never expected to feel such acceptance anywhere, let alone at the family estate of his illegitimate father. His newfound sister surprised him, Victoria’s words and actions leaving him speechless. Surely, he was the fortunate one for Colin knew he didn’t deserve such family.

As Colin watched Victoria climb the steps, he turned, surprised to find Eve’s intense stare boring down upon him from the terrace. The moment was fleeting as she quickly turned on her heel and disappeared from view.

Why did she glare at him like she was jealous?

With each step he took, Colin silently pieced the events together. Eve didn’t know Victoria was his sister, of that he was certain. Gwen had assured him that the family had told no one of it, not even their closest friends. So the scene Eve witnessed between him and Victoria could be perceived as questionable.