Page 20 (2/2)

Mr Gilligan’s face flamed beetroot red, and his head lolled forward

“Tell me,” Miles insisted

Silence ensued

“Mr Gilligan?” Miss Lovell said, but the steward failed to raise his head

The longer the man remained mute, the more Miss Lovell’s countenance altered Suspicion ant features Doubt and disappointment swaed with the huht have misplaced her trust

Miles shouldn’t care, but he’d witnessed the same look in his mother’s eyes soone’s world was a lie left a cavernous hole in one’s chest His father had chosen his mistress over his wife and heir How ironic that after such a betrayal it was the victi sense of inadequacy

“Allow“When a man arrives home after a five-year absence, he does not expect to find card sharps in his drawing room and doxies in his bed”

“Doxies? In your bed?” Miss Lovell blinked rapidly Her gaze drifted over his hair and dishevelled clothes “What on earth were they doing there?”

“I’ave hied for a card ga and invited a host of disreputable guests?” The latter was ood company

“It’s just a few friends, my lord, just a few friends”

“If they’re your friends pray tellin my bed?”

Gilligan kept his head bowed “The roof in the gatekeeper’s cottage leaks”

“And did I not release funds for you to have it replaced?”

“Replaced?”

“Yes, replaced Twelve ht approve the work If you didn’t get the roof fixed, what the hell did you do with the money?”