A Duke in the Night(92)

“What?” Now it was her turn to sound stymied.

“This house—was it sold? Do you own it?”

“No. We’ve leased Avondale from the Earl of Rivers for years. From his estate now, I suppose, until they decide what to do with it.” She paused, and he could hear suspicion seeping from every syllable. “Did you know him? The old earl?”

Eli opened his mouth before closing it. He finally settled on, “Yes.”

“Then you’re what? A friend of the family? Relative?”

“Something like that.”

“Which one?”

Eli drew in a deep breath that wasn’t wholly steady. He tried to work his tongue around the words that would forever commit him to this place. That would effectively sever any retreat.

He cleared his throat. “I am the Earl of Rivers.”