Mr. Hunt, I Presume (Playful Brides, #10.5)(13)

“It turns out … Collin is here,” Lucy said.

And that was when Erienne slid down the wall to sit in a heap on the floor like a rag doll. No doubt her new employer thought she was daft, but at the moment, her entire body felt as if it was without bones. Her breathing came in short spurts that hurt her chest.

“Collin? Hunt? Is here? Now?” she echoed what she’d already said, something in the back of her brain prompting the words as if they would make more sense or seem more real if she repeated them aloud.

“Yes.” Lucy nodded. She lowered herself to sit on the floor across from Erienne and spread her green skirts around her. “It’s true. I’m sorry. I can see this is upsetting to you.”

“I’m not upset,” Erienne blurted. “I’m …” What in heaven’s name was she? She had no idea. Angry? No. Sad? Absolutely not. Upset? That would mean she cared, and she did not care. Surprised. Yes. That was it. Merely surprised. She hadn’t been expecting to encounter Collin so soon. That was all. Lucy had promised her she needn’t worry about it, and—No. No. She wasn’t worried, either. That would also imply she cared. And she did not.

“Dear, forgive me for pointing it out, but the fact that you’re sitting on the floor upon hearing the news belies your statement that you’re not upset,” Lucy pointed out.

Erienne met her sympathetic stare. “I’m sorry. I am. I’m just … surprised.” Yes. Surprised was the word she intended to use and keep using. Surprise was her emotion and her only emotion.

“I know it must be difficult for you to contemplate seeing him again after so many years,” the duchess continued. “But sometimes we encounter people from our past for a reason, and while it may seem uncomfortable at first, perhaps it’s precisely what you need. Fate rarely makes mistakes.”

Erienne sat in stunned silence for a moment before she said, “With all due respect to both you and fate, Lucy, I’m not certain precisely what I need at the moment, but I’m fairly certain that is not it.”

Lucy reached out and squeezed Erienne’s hand. “Your skin is cold as snow, dear. Please believe me when I tell you that Collin had written Derek to say he was coming, and Derek failed to mention it to me.”

Erienne nodded. She believed the other woman was telling the truth. Truly, she did. But that didn’t make the news any less … surprising. “Was that why Derek looked angry when he saw me?”

Lucy winced. “Not exactly. You see … I had failed to tell him I hired you, and we both realized that the potential reunion between you and Collin might be … awkward.”

Awkward? That was certainly one way to describe it. “I see. So this means … this means that … Collin doesn’t know I’m here?”

“Not yet,” Lucy said. “Derek went to find him and tell him.”

At that news, Erienne leaned her head back against the wall with a solid thump and closed her eyes.





*



The air had been sucked from Collin’s body. He couldn’t breathe, could barely think. He’d heard his brother’s words correctly, at least he thought he had, but while they played themselves over and over in his mind, they still did not make much sense.

“Lucy has hired Erienne Stone as the children’s governess?” he repeated numbly.

“That’s correct.” Derek paced in front of the study fireplace, his face lined with regret. “I swear to you, Collin, I had no idea Lucy had done it until I went to find her after you arrived this morning.”

Collin’s jaw tightened even more. “We are speaking of the same Erienne Stone we used to know in Brighton?”

Derek nodded curtly. “Yes.”

“You’re certain of it?”

Derek clasped his hands behind his back. “I met her myself. It’s Miss Stone, from Brighton.”

Collin studied his brother through narrowed eyes. “You cannot possibly mean to tell me this is a complete coincidence.”

Derek shook his head. “I wouldn’t insult your intelligence that way. Lucy was looking at letters from potential governesses last week, and I went through some of them with her. When I saw Miss Stone’s name, I mentioned that I knew her.”

“You mentioned that I knew her, you mean,” Collin said in a low voice.

His brother nodded. “Yes. My apologies. I truly never believed Lucy would hire her. I even made her promise she wouldn’t choose Miss Stone because of her connection with you.”

Collin blew out a deep breath. He was still trying to wrap his mind around this amazing news, and he wasn’t at all certain how he felt yet. “Lucy is Lucy, Derek.”

Derek hung his head. “I know. I truly am sorry. If I’d had any idea this would have happened—”

“What?” Collin cracked a smile. “You would have put your foot down? I’m not certain Lucy would have listened to you even then.”

Derek sighed and shook his head. “It’s true. But I love that woman madly no matter what sort of trouble she gets us all into from time to time. Look, I told Lucy we can keep you and Miss Stone separated. It shouldn’t be much trouble, and I can—”

“Does Eri …” Collin cleared his throat. “Does Miss Stone know I’m here?”