An Earl's Guide to Catch a Lady (10 page)

She spoke unsteadily but her words were clear, “I cannot marry him.”

“I know, darling. I know."

Chapter 8

Evelyn entered the drawing room a few hours later with some trepidation. Matthew had yet to return and while that was a relief, it unnerved her that he was out and about, making arrangements. Then there were the servants who kept hovering about, keeping stock of her every move. It was all incredibly ridiculous. 

She hadn’t the slightest notion what his plans entailed, other than her imprisonment, but the Earl would drag her to the country where he thought she would sit idly by, embroidering, for rest of her life? She would do everything humanly possible to avoid such an outcome.

He might still press his suit with Simon, but she wasn’t too worried about that. Simon might rant and rave and be highly disappointed in her actions, but he would not force her into a marriage that would make her unhappy. She held onto that belief for dear life. Nevertheless, she would return to London, post haste. If anyone learned that she had arrived in Bath, with her Aunt out of residence, her reputation would come into question and it would make it easier for the Earl to press his suit.

Granted, that might still not be enough to stop him from forging on with his plans and there were numerous ways to secure her hand in marriage, like kidnapping, which he had already proved he was not above.

With a heavy sigh Evelyn propped down on the chaise, her arms resting at her sides as she laid her head back against the soft material, her lashes dropping. Ah bliss. Sleep had been an elusive mistress, but this would do just fine.

“Evelyn!”

Her eyes popped open at the sound of her name being called in excitement, bringing her out of her reverie. A smile of delight and disbelief lit her face when she saw her friends, Lady Josephine and Lady Belle, rush into the drawing room.

“Jo! Belle!” She shot up from the chaise. “What are you doing here?”

Jo reached her first, embracing her in a hug. “When St. Aldwyn realized you’d never reached Bath he sent for us immediately. So here we are! And we have come to escort you back!”

Evelyn withdrew and regarded them with suspicion. “He did?”

“Yes,” Belle said kissing her on the cheek. “We are to be your shield should any unusual questions be asked about your departure.” Belle winked at her.

Dumfounded, Evelyn asked with a furrowed brow, “But how did you get here so soon?”

They both paused. “Well, we were on our way to you already,” Jo admitted finally.

“You were?” Evelyn asked even more confused than before.

“Well, when we heard of St. Aldwyn’s sudden departure, which happened to coincide with yours, we became curious.”

“Why? Was there something odd about his departure?”

Jo’s eyes turned serious. “The wager of Lord Harry on your dowry was just too remarkable, he is not destitute, you see.”

Belle nodded, her head bobbing up and down excitedly. “So we decided to investigate.”

“Oh,” Evelyn said overwhelmed by all this information. “What did you find?”

“Nothing,” Jo said in disgust.

“Yes, St. Aldwyn is as clever as they come,” Belle put in grudgingly.

If the notion wasn’t so ridiculous Evelyn might suspect St. Aldwyn was spying on her. Or perhaps stalking her? No, he could not possibly be stalking her. That was to say it wasn’t out of the realm of possibilities, but rather doubtful. Besides, he seemed sincere. Furthermore it seemed ridiculous that he could have been part of some plot, along with Lord Harry. What could any of them hope to gain?

“St. Aldwyn said he had business to attend in the area,” Evelyn offered helpfully.

Jo snorted.

Belle on the other hand gave Evelyn a wicked smile. “And then we arrived to learn that you were indeed compromised by the Earl of Grey. A notorious recluse everyone only whispers about, too afraid he might appear at the mere mention of his name.”

Evelyn gave them a level stare. “I take it Damien offered up that piece of information?”

Jo touched her arm in comfort. “He is concerned for you reputation. Is it true? Because we won’t believe him if you say it’s not.”

“I believed it instantly,” Belle proclaimed in a bold statement.

Jo shot a reprimanding look her way.

“It’s true,” Evelyn confessed.

“Ha! I knew it!”

“Belle!” Jo admonished before turning her attention back to Evelyn. “We are returning you to London, so that any rumors that might surface are quelled,” Jo finished firmly.

“Rumors?” Evelyn asked lamely. There were rumors?

“There are no rumors yet,” Jo put in quickly.

“But there could be,” Belle remarked on a nod. “That is to say if you aren’t planning to elope with the Earl.”

Evelyn’s stomach jolted. No. “I’m not wedding him, but he will try to force my hand.”

“Would it be so bad, Evelyn?” Jo asked with a gentle touch to her arm.

Yes! “He intends to isolate me in the country on his estate.”

“What!” Belle gasped in outrage. “That bloody rotter!”

“Darn it!” Jo voiced as well. “Tell us everything.”

She had no choice in the matter; they would hound her until they have devoured every detail of her reckless adventure. And she was glad of it.

“Very well, but I will tell you all on the way back to London. The sooner we leave the better for us all.”

“Splendid,” Belle said, smiling at her. “Let us leave then.”

“Yes, let’s.” Evelyn’s eyes sparkled at them. She felt her spirits rise for what seemed to be the first time since she left London. Life was always better when her friends were around.

“Yes of course,” Jo said motioning her hand to the door. “The carriage is waiting. St. Aldwyn warned us that a hasty departure might be prudent.”

“Of course he did,” Evelyn muttered, turning to leave, but hesitated when her friends remained motionless.

“Is something amiss?”

Wide eyes examined her from head to toe.

“Er, what are you wearing?” Jo asked with a tilt of her head.

Evelyn glanced down at her clothes. Oh! She still wore the clothing Tom had provided. But where it had once been unstained and neat it was now rumpled and dirty from her adventure.

“The most comfortable clothing you will ever come across!” she replied on a laugh.

Jo and Belle glanced at each other in wonder and disbelief.

“Well, I daresay this should make for an interesting ride home.”

Matthew paced the length of the front hall waiting for someone to tell him where Evelyn was. Apprehension formed in the pit of his stomach when nobody could answer that simple question and a feeling of foreboding crept up his spine. It was the same feeling that led to his bursting into her home and demanding to see her.

Earlier he’d forced himself not to go to her and take her into his arms, reassuring her that everything would be fine. He hadn’t even been angry that she’d lied about being betrothed to St. Aldwyn; his relief too great. Perhaps if he followed her, then he would not have this sense... that he was losing her.

Matthew came to an abrupt halt upon seeing Damien appear at the top of the staircase, a note clenched in his hand. A cautious air surrounded him and Matthew didn’t miss the flicker of pity that flashed in his eyes before it was gone.

“You bastard,” he bit out, his face devoid of expression. “You did this. You arranged this.”

“I admit I did not stop her from leaving,” Damien replied as he descended the stairs. He handed the note to Grey. “But it remained her choice.”

While his former friend read the note, Damien thought back to his exchange with the beguiling Lady Josephine.

“We are leaving,” she said as she drew closer, a hint of censure in her voice.

Damien’s hairs rose on his neck rise at her regard. He had the distinct impression that she found him lacking in every possible way. Had he not warned her it would be beneficial for all par-ties involved to make a hasty departure? Vexing woman.

He hadn’t mentioned his reasons for wanting Evelyn to return to London and that it had nothing to do with keeping her from Grey. Quite the opposite actually, it had been far too long since Grey had left the confines of his estate, and now that he had, Damien was eager to use it to his advantage.

But women were notorious trouble-makers, and the impression he got from Lady Josephine was exactly that. Trouble. He even asked her what they were up to, just to ruffle her priggish feathers. They would close rank around Lady Evelyn now, but that had been part his plan. Grey needed to let go of the past, and if Damien had seen one thing this day, it was that Lady Evelyn possessed the means to bring Grey back from the abyss.

He watched as Grey read the note for the third time and hid a smile. Why try and figure out holier-than-thou Lady Josephine when he only needed to sit back and watch events unfold.

“Damnation!” Matthew growled, breaking Damien’s chain of thought.

“She went back to London! Damn it all to hell!”

“That is where you will drag her after you force her to marry you, no doubt.”

“Go to hell.”

“I’m already there, old friend.”

Matthew cast him a scathing look. “We are not friends.”

“Perhaps it’s all for the best,” Damien said, unaffected by his denial.

“The best,” Matthew whispered softly, so dangerously Damien
almost
shivered, “would have been if you were never born.”

Three days later

“I still cannot believe that when you said you were leaving to visit your Aunt in Bath, it would be so... adventurous,” Lady Josephine murmured, stretching out on the bed beside Evelyn and Belle.

Evelyn clutched a pillow against her chest and regarded her friends with warmth. They had been nothing but supportive since she regaled them with her tale.

“Well, I for one can’t wait to fall in love and have my own adventure,” Belle said on a wistful note, a dreamy expression entering her gaze.

Jo gave an unladylike snort. “You fall in love every day and never with the same man, might I add.”

“True,” Belle replied with a sniff. Her complexion that was normally porcelain now resembled a fiery sunset. “I am merely searching for Mr. Unbelievably Handsome and unfailingly interesting that can hold my attention for longer than a day. Although I am beginning to suspect that no man will ever wear the title.” She leaned forward and although they were the only ones in the room, she lowered her voice. “In fact, as of now, I am changing the title from Mr. Unbelievably Handsome to Mr. Dark Brooding Rake.” Belle tried to sound serious but failed. “I might as well have fun becoming an old crone!”

“Don’t forget unfailingly interesting,” Evelyn said on a laugh.

“Belle! How indecent!” Jo replied laughing as well. “Dark, brooding rakes of the ton beware!”

Evelyn grinned at their foolishness and wished she shared their light spirits. Matthew, however, still weighed heavily on her heart.

“Be careful Belle, some of those rakes have no hearts,” Evelyn warned.

Belle’s smile deepened. “As I have absolutely no intention of giving them my heart, I would say I’m—”

“Destined to be ruined?” Jo finished her sentence.

Belle laughed.

Evelyn swatted Belle playfully. “I don’t know Jo, I’ve yet to a see a situation Belle couldn’t wiggle out from.”

It was the truth.

“Yes, but there has never been a rake involved,” Jo’s voice trailed with a touch of seriousness.

Evelyn nodded in agreement. “That would make it all the more interesting to see.”

“Care to wager on that?” Jo shot back, a twinkle in her eye.

Belle sat back and regarded her friends in thought. “I could very well wager on that,” she said after a moment. “Besides, I’m not looking for Mr. Dark Brooding Rake’s heart. He can keep that all to himself as long as I get to have the rest of him.”

Jo’s amazed gaze shifted to Evelyn. “Could you stop this madness?”

“Impossible. She enjoys her madness,” shooting an apologetic glance in Belle’s direction Evelyn continued, a smile spreading across her face, “but my money is on Jo.”

“Such a loyal friend you are,” Belle replied in a mocking tone.

As all of them shared a laugh, Evelyn reflected that for the first time in three days she felt happy. That is, except for the heaviness she carried in her heart. A sudden image of Matthew brought her up short. His handsome face hovering above hers and kissing her with heated passion.

The memory evaporated when she heard Jo’s matter-of-fact tone. “...definitely going to lose the wager, but first we help you get out this mess.” She touched Evelyn’s hand.

This mess, as Jo so eloquently put it, was the reason Evelyn tossed and turned at night. Since arriving back in London she’d expected Matthew to jump out at every corner. He hadn’t, yet.

It was mere luck that her brother had departed to attend business elsewhere. However, Evelyn suspected his business ran more in the way of a willing young widow.

“Why don’t you just marry Lord Grey? He’s an Earl and rumored to be very rich,” Belle asked in a breathless voice, a wicked gleam in her eyes. “He is also quite dashing. I would imagine he’s quite wicked too.”