Jealousy tore through Sin’s chest. “How fortunate for you.”
The smile slipped from Vice’s face. “Your turn for happiness is coming again soon, cousin. I’ve no doubt.”
Sin shook his head. Falling in love meant making one’s self far too vulnerable. “Thank you for saying so. I’m not sure I even strive for happiness. Stability would suit me fine.”
Vice winced. “You have achieved that financially.”
“I have. And with help from you that I appreciate more than I could say. Now if I could just get Anne on the right path, I would consider myself content.”
Vice sat straight in his chair. “So you’ve decided to hire Mary to help you then.”
Sin grimaced. He couldn’t hide it. “I did. But…” He didn’t know quite how to express his hesitation and the employment probation he’d decreed.
Vice leaned his elbows on his knees. “You trusted me when I told you I could help you financially. Taking over the club has given you the funds to hire the staff you need. Now trust me when I say that Mary can help your daughter. She’s got an intuition with these sorts of things that can’t be explained.”
Sin let out a long breath. “She hadn’t been here five minutes when she questioned my parenting choices.”
Vice sat back in his chair, his lips pulling up at the corners. “Ah, yes. Don’t you love their feisty spirit? The Chase women are quite the handful and I mean that both figuratively and—”
“Thank you,” Sin cut him off, not needing to add to his visual picture of the woman. “You’re talking about a potential member of my staff.”
“I was talking about my wife, actually.” Vice winked. “But you shouldn’t be afraid of strong-willed staff. Your butler is a beast.”
His butler was, in fact, a rather opinionated man. But not when it came to the areas that Sin was actually vulnerable. And besides, Reeves’ strength was part of what had carried him through the past few years. Right or wrong, he’d needed the man. “He keeps the rest of the staff in check.”
Vice raised a brow. “He’s too familiar.”
Sin stood, crossing to the fire. “So your point is that I should hire more people to push me around?”
Vice chuckled. “Well said. And no. Mary is a good woman and she’ll learn her place. In the meantime, Anne will only benefit from the Chase strength of character.”
“Is she strong?” Sin murmured. “Mary that is. She looks so—”
“Beautiful?” Vice asked.
Sin turned back to Vice, the other man’s eyes sparkling with mischief. “I was going to say delicate. Fragile. Perhaps…” The sort of woman Sin might grow attached to. His chest ached with the pain of the past.
Vice shook his head. “Don’t let her size fool you. Strength of character comes from within.”
That was a bloody good point. “If you truly think she’ll help Anne, then she’s worth trying.”
Vice winked again, his hand lacing behind his head. “I think she’ll do a world of good in this house.”
Sin assessed his cousin, his thoughts twisting about in his head. Did Vice also think he was failing Anne? And even if Mary was the answer, how would he survive their cohabitation?
Chapter Four
Mary stood as Ada entered the room. “You didn’t need to send Vice away.”
“Yes, I did.” She pushed up her glasses and stopped just in front of Mary. “Tell me what’s wrong.”
Mary looked at the wall to her right. Words filled her mouth, wishing to spill all her worries to Ada but then again, Ada might tell Vice, who might then share with Sin. “Nothing is wrong.”
“Liar,” Ada reached for her hand. “You’re upset.”
Mary rubbed her temples, shaking her head. “I insulted his parenting right to his face,” she whispered. “Lord Sinclair almost didn’t hire me. As it is, he’s going to bring me on for a fortnight to test out the arrangement.”
“A fortnight?” Ada squeezed her fingers. “I like Lord Sinclair a great deal, but he needs major help in the parenting department and I am so glad you’re able to give it to him. Even if he might not keep you on permanently. Though if anyone can convince him to change, it’s you.”