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clung since he hadn’t bothered to shave upon rising. He simply hadn’t expected guests, hadn’t expected anything that had occurred. “Now that the assumptions are over, perhaps we can get on with the business at hand.” He swallowed, still uneasy in the petite dervish’s presence. Given enough time, Eloisa would undoubtedly be a first-rate meddler. He allowed his gaze to roam over her. From the top of her blonde head with its soft, golden ringlets framing her round face, to the tantalizing curves hidden by the simple day gown of soft lavender, and down to the matching slippers on her tiny feet, she was everything he disliked in the female of the species, even disliked the typical fair, blonde coloring. Women should be vibrant and full of spunk.
    He worked his jaw. She’d be the delicate sort, completely unsuitable for anything above embroidery work or perhaps painting. Did she play the pianoforte? He blew out a breath. It didn’t matter, but most likely. A whole sort different from what he remembered of Maria, who’d spent her time outdoors and always on the cusp of something scandalous. No passion behind Eloisa’s ladylike exterior. No, definitely not the type he’d find interesting even if he wanted a romantic tendre .
    Which he did not. Especially when it seemed his last liaison had resulted in quite the problem, which now rested against Eloisa’s legs. Gah, what a coil!
    “What, exactly, is the business at hand, beyond me hoping you’ll keep the child quiet so I may work?” She’d narrowed her eyes and had taken possession of a napkin with which she cleaned the worst of the mess from Daniela’s hands. The girl murmured a protest but didn’t pull away.
    “I wish to know what business you’re rushing to keep that demands absolute silence from your neighbors.” Provoked to a slight ire, he continued, “Do you also wish the waves to stop crashing against the shore for your blessed silence?”
    “Don’t be undignified.” She heaved a sigh that sounded as if it came from her toes. “If I tell you the truth, do you promise you won’t breathe a word to anyone around Brighton? I’d rather not have the family’s dirty laundry flapping in the proverbial breeze before matters can be attended to.”
    “I promise.” After all, who would he talk to anyway? He had no plans to meet any of the other neighbors, especially not now that Daniela was under his roof. Dear God, how exactly was he supposed to go about normal life with the child?
    Eloisa frowned. She wrapped one of Daniela’s thick curls around her index finger. “My brother, Charles, has let gambling get the better of him. He’s lost an exorbitant amount to the foul Lord Everly, so in exchange for covering the debt, he’s promised my younger sister, Helen, to the lord in marriage.”
    “Now I understand your need for concentration.” What was wrong with people? This wasn’t the Middle Ages anymore. This was supposed to be Polite Society. Did anyone have the right to trade women as property? Unfortunately, the answer would probably be yes. They weren’t all that advanced as he would like. “I don’t remember many of the Peers, but isn’t he the one who looks like a stuck pig with a pocket watch?”
    She nodded. “Just so. The very same. He’s horrible and I cannot let my sister be thrown away on the likes of him.” She stroked a hand down Daniela’s hair. “Or anyone for that matter. Marriage—or any sort of relationship—is difficult enough without being forced into it.”
    “I agree.” His thoughts strayed to Maria. For all her passion and wiles, she hadn’t really warmed to anyone else in his life. Once, he’d brought her around to meet Felix, just before he’d been injured and sent home. The woman had given his brother all the greeting of a frost queen and hadn’t let her personality shine. When asked about it, she’d replied she hadn’t trusted him and hadn’t wanted Oliver to be swayed by his brother into leaving her.