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had taken a drink of tea but hadn’t touched the food. “This cheese with a bit of apple is quite delicious, my lord. Won’t you try a bite?”
    “I don’t need you to feed me, Lady Skye. In fact, I can prepare my own meals if need be.”
    Skye nodded sagely. “You must have learned as a spy.”
    His brows narrowed on her again. “What is this obsession of yours with my career?”
    She kept her expression innocent. “I cannot help but be curious.”
    “Your curiosity will have to remain unsatisfied.”
    “I understand completely. Aunt Isabella said all your secrets must remain shrouded in mystery.”
    He gave something like a snort. “She has already revealed far too much. I intend to throttle her when I next see her.”
    “You need to forgive her, my lord. Moreover, I hope you will forgive me for wanting to cheer you up. It is long force of habit, dealing with my brother and cousins. And I know from their experience, vast quantities of brandy won’t settle well in an empty stomach. You can drink more if you eat something first. So if you wish to drown your sorrows, you would do best to take at least a few bites.”
    Hawkhurst stared at her for a long moment. She thought he might growl at her again, but he smiled unwillingly, as if he was amused in spite of himself. With his knife, he cut a piece of softened cheese and laid it on a piece of toast, then chewed quickly. “There, are you satisfied?”
    “It is a start.”
    Her desire to comfort him was only natural, Skye reflected. She wasn’t imagining the lines of sadness etched into his handsome face. Once more she noticed the burn scars on his hands. The sight deeply stirred her compassion. By all accounts the Earl of Hawkhurst had lived a fairy-tale existence until fate had intervened so cruelly to shatter his life.
    In truth, they had that much in common at least. Fate had taken her beloved parents from her. But she’d had her brother and cousins and uncle to help alleviate her grief. He had to be lonely, living in near solitude in this enormous house, dwelling on his tragic memories—a situation she could help rectify if she was allowed to stay.
    Her fair hair and delicate features made her appear angelic, but she was far from an angel. Her sense of mischievousness had gotten her into trouble more times than she could count. A dose of mischievousness might be precisely what Hawkhurst needed to enliven his dour life, although tonight was likely not the most appropriate time.
    Still, she could attempt to put him at ease and coax him to lower his guard with her. Her best approach might be to ask him about his breeding stables, Skye decided. “Aunt Isabella says you raise magnificenthorses—that you have crossed Thoroughbreds with Barbs for stamina and speed.”
    “Yes. This past week I purchased two broodmares and a stallion.”
    “I should like to see them. I am very fond of horses myself.”
    His gray gaze found hers across the table. “You won’t have time. You will be leaving early in the morning.”
    “You know, I don’t
have
to leave. If you are concerned about propriety, I could ask Aunt Isabella to come here to act as my chaperone.”
    Hawkhurst shot down her suggestion with a curt word. “No.”
    “There could be some major advantages to having us both here for a time,” Skye continued, still hoping to convince him to let her stay. “A great deal more work needs to be done on your house beyond construction and repairs. If you want to impress your new bride, you could use a woman’s touch.”
    Silence was his only reply, although he did swallow a slice of apple.
    Skye pressed on. “You said you have only an aging caretaker and some women from the village to cook and clean for you. At the very least, I could aid you in hiring a full-time housekeeper and other household servants. For that matter, I could ask my cousin Katharine to hire staff from an employment agency in London.”
    Hawkhurst drained his teacup. “Has anyone ever told you