One spark can set the world ablaze.
Phillip Vallence, Earl of Edais has moved to the island of Eden to personally oversee his new plantation and learn the operation. When he learns that his books were being done by a mysterious Fyre, he demands a meet only to discover the meticulous keeper is a woman.
Gwen “Fyre” Parker loves numbers. She works at several jobs in the small town to help support her brother’s family. Upon meeting the new earl, she is pulled into working for him more.
Fleeting glances become more. Time spent together grows. Feelings deepen.
Phillip wants her to choose him because of her feelings for him, not because of who he is but when she has a falling out with her brother, he steps in, determined to protect her. There is a plot to harm people on the island he is fast considering his and he will do what it takes to protect Fyre, the island and her people. But what will be the cost?
Will he have the chance to give this woman everything she deserves and more?
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Chapter One
Phillip Vallence, Earl of Edais and current owner of the sugar and tobacco plantation Hawk’s Cove, stared at the books on the large mahogany desk he sat behind. The desk was massive even by his standards, and he loved the intricate work on the edges, along with the stamped brass ornamentation.
He sighed and pushed a hand through his hair, curling up his lip at the ever-present feel of sweat on his skin. Something that hadn’t been much of an issue most days in England. Blowing out a breath, he tore his attention from everything else that it found and placed it back onto what he needed to focus on.
The books.
Funds.
Money.
Livelihood.
All of it was boring to him. He had a man in England he’d entrusted with his estates there, but here he didn’t have anyone of his own yet. Right now he waited to go over the numbers when the man he’d summoned to look over them with him showed up.
This was a working plantation, but he didn’t have slaves. He paid a wage to every worker here and was going to continue to do so. More of a wage if he could figure out how to make sense out of the other man’s style of ledger keeping.
Otherwise, it looked like he would have to continue to pay the man to keep his books. He’d spoken to shops in the small nearby town and had confirmed he was in good standing with them all. In fact, all he’d heard was praise on how his accounts were never late.
The knock came and he bade them enter without looking away from the intricately neat printing of numbers. Phillip didn’t think his London-based steward would be on board for coming down here. Even though the weather was sublime and he had quickly fallen for the allure of this island. The sweat was something he’d had to get used to, still was in some respects, and knowing his man back home, he wouldn’t be interested in moving here.
“You requested my presence, my lord?”
He reached for his drink and sipped as he took his time gazing over Elonne. Not overly tall, his dark skin also had a sheen. The man was fit and his clothing had seen better days.
“Come in and sit down. Elonne, was it? Can I call you Elonne?”
“You can call me what you wish, my lord.”
Despite the tone and the smooth way the response fell, Phillip felt the undercurrent of tension in the words. He understood it—well, as much as a man of his station and position in life could.
His visitor remained perched on the edge of the chair as if he expected it to move back so he landed on the floor.
Phillip nudged the books toward him, the three of them that were chock full of lines overflowing with numbers and calculations that made his own head spin.
“Your books, my lord.” A slow blink as the gaze moved from him down to the books, where it hovered a moment, and back up. Not so much with fear, but with confusion as to what reason he’d had to be summoned. “Is there a problem?”
“No problem. I would just like to learn the method you used to do these so I can follow along without having to ask you to explain it all.”
“You’re not… I mean, of course, sir. I can come by tomorrow and tell you.”
His nose itched. Always had when he smelled a lie or an untruth. Leaning back in his chair, he steepled his fingers.
“Now works best for me.” He made sure to hold Elonne’s gaze when he spoke.
The man glanced down for a moment, his lips moving before he lifted his head once more. “I’m sorry, my lord. I cannot.”