But, unfortunately, her brother was always faster than her, and before she could reach the front door, he was grabbing her arm and turning her around so she had to face him. Thankfully, he had on his breeches.
She struggled to get away from him, but he led her into the drawing room. After shoving her in, he shut the doors behind him and locked them.
“You can’t keep me here,” she snapped.
“You have no right to be upset,” he replied then pointed to her. “You ran off with that cad when I specifically forbade you to. I don’t care if you went to Gretna Green and married him. I don’t care if you’re carrying his squalling brat. I’m your guardian, and I won’t stand for it. The marriage will be dissolved at once.”
“You can’t do that.”
“Yes, I can. You married without my permission.”
“I don’t need your permission. I’m twenty-one. I turned twenty-one before I left for Gretna Green. There’s nothing you can do to dissolve the marriage.”
He stared at her for a moment, his face getting red. “That can’t be true.”
“Don’t you even remember when my birthday is?”
“Sure, I do. It’s…” He hesitated, and she could see him mentally calculating all of her birthdays. When his eyes grew wide, she knew he had finally remembered. Then his gaze hardened. “You tricked me.”
“I can’t help it if you care so little about me that you don’t care when I have a birthday. The error was on your end. You couldn’t have prevented me from getting married when you told Nick he didn’t have your permission. I was already twenty-one.”
“A fact you neglected to tell me.”
“A fact I didn’t have to tell you.” Then, recalling the fact that Lady Eloise was upstairs in her bedchamber, she said, “Just as you didn’t feel at liberty to tell me you were having an affair with Lady Eloise.”
He snorted. “Why do you think she let you into the group?”
She gasped. This wasn’t the first time the two had been together?
“You’re not popular with the Ton, you’re not all that pretty, and you’re boring. I had to make sure she had a reason to put up with you.”
“Well, she’s no longer in the group, so why are you still,” she shuddered, “with her?”
“Why not? She came over to cry about her awful husband, and I’m not going to turn down a chance to enjoy making love to a lady, especially one who’s skilled in bed.”
“But you were with her in my bed.”
“We’ve been there before.”
She gagged. “You two are disgusting. You should keep your activities to your own bedchamber.”
“Eloise finds it more exciting to be in yours.”
She suspected he enjoyed telling her that even though he was shrugging as if the whole thing bored him.
“Of course, I mean, your old bedchamber,” he amended. “Now you have another bedchamber. Who knows what ladies your husband will bring to your new bed when you’re not around?”
“Nick isn’t like you. He’s doesn’t get joy out of disgusting other people.”
“Tara, I realize you’re not the most intelligent lady in London, but even you have to know he only married you for money.”
She didn’t think her brother knew about Nick’s financial situation, but she decided to call her brother’s bluff. “He didn’t marry me for my money. He married me because he wanted to spend the rest of his life with me.”
Basil threw back his head and laughed. “You don’t believe that. You’re only saying that because you don’t want me to know you were so desperate to marry anyone that you would give up your money for the first gentleman who was willing to take you.”
She shook her head in disbelief. “How did you turn out to be such a rogue? Even given our parents’ faults, you weren’t raised to be like this.”
“I never claimed to be a gentleman, nor would I waste my time being one. One thing I am, however, is smart enough to find out who Nick is, and as it turns out, he’s a pauper. His situation is so bad, in fact, that he is due to go to debtor’s prison. Of course, he managed to sweet talk you into believing he actually loves you in order to get his greedy little hands on your money.”
She wondered if other people knew, or if it was just her brother who’d figured it out. But even so, she didn’t dare give away her apprehension that others might know. It would hurt Ladies of Grace if word got out that she’d married someone with no wealth, even if he was attractive and had a good title.
“Nick didn’t marry me for money,” she lied, meeting her brother’s gaze and keeping it. “He happens to fancy me. I’m beautiful, witty, and intelligent. Just because you don’t see those qualities in me, it doesn’t mean they don’t exist. Now, I need to return to him before he misses me too much. I only came by to instruct the servants to gather my things to bring to my new residence. I advise you and Lady Eloise to take your activities elsewhere unless you want one of them to find you two together.”
Taking her gaze off of his, she stepped around him and unlocked the doors. She hoped that letting him know the servants would be going to her old bedchamber would prompt him to hurry back to Lady Eloise. Thankfully, the ploy worked. He rushed up the stairs to the bedchambers. She didn’t know if she would ever see her jewelry or keepsakes again, but at the moment, all she wanted to do was get out of this townhouse.
***
“I would be happy to take the payment if I was still owed the money,” Lord Fields told Nick, “but Evermont paid me. You owe the money to him now.”
Nick stood in Lord Fields’ drawing room, baffled by the turn of events. Up until his trip to Gretna Green, he had owed Lord Fields and seven other gentlemen money. But today, as he visited each one, they ended up telling him the same thing: Evermont had settled on the debt Nick was supposed to pay off. Which meant that Nick now owed Evermont the entire debt.
“Do you know who Evermont is so that I may visit him?” Nick asked, hoping Lord Fields wouldn’t tell him the same thing the others had.
Unfortunately, Lord Fields said, “I’m sorry, but I don’t know his real identity. Everything was arranged through missives.”
Nick hid his disappointment. The other gentlemen had said the same thing when he’d asked them. He shouldn’t have assumed he would be able to find every single creditor mentioned in his father’s ledger once he could pay them off.
“If I had known you’d be bringing me the money today,” Lord Fields continued, “I would have told Evermont no. He paid me less than what you owed. I was so happy to have something that I took the deal.”
Nick couldn’t blame him. He’d do the same if he was in his position. Since there was nothing else to say, he thanked Lord Fields and left the townhouse.
He didn’t know where to go. He’d already visited the other creditors. There was nowhere else to go but home. Shoulders slumped, he headed down the sidewalk in the direction that would take him back to his family. It’d be nice if he could assure them that everything was resolved. But he couldn’t do that. What a bitter irony this whole thing was. Now that he had the money, he couldn’t pay off the debt.
Who was this Evermont? Surely, that wasn’t his actual name. If it was, it would be Mr. Evermont. And if it was his title, it would be Lord Evermont or the Duke of Evermont. For whatever reason, this particular gentleman had decided it would be clever to use a simple “Evermont” to identify himself. Nick didn’t think it was clever. It was downright annoying. How could he avoid going to prison if he couldn’t clear his father’s debt?
A carriage pulled to a stop next to him, and without thinking, he paused and turned to it. It was Lord Edon’s carriage. He’d recognize the family crest anywhere, especially since Lord Edon was the most popular gentleman in London. Even if he wasn’t accepted by the Ton, he had more influence than any of the Ton’s best members did.
Lord Edon opened the door. “Your Grace,” he called out, waving Nick to come closer.
Nick approached the carr
iage. “Good afternoon, Lord Edon.”
“Is it really a good afternoon? I heard you ran off with Miss Webb to Gretna Green. She comes from one of the wealthiest families in London. I would think that’d mean your troubles are over, but you look like the world is falling in around you.”
Nick wasn’t sure how much he wanted to disclose about the whole thing, but then he thought Lord Edon might know Evermont. He, after all, knew more about the people in London than most others did.
Before Nick could say anything, Lord Edon motioned for him to come into the carriage. “We’ll have more privacy in here.”
Glancing at the others who were passing by, Nick decided he was right and got into the carriage, surprised that Lord Edon wasn’t alone. Mr. Christopher Robinson and Lord Whitney were with him. Perhaps this wouldn’t be a good time to discuss Evermont.
“We just left White’s,” Lord Edon told him. “I offered to drop everyone off at their home. Are you on the way home?”
“Yes,” Nick said as he sat by Lord Whitney. This put Lord Edon and Mr. Robinson across from him. “Good afternoon, gentlemen.”
Lord Edon’s footman shut the door. Nick blinked. He hadn’t realized the footman had been behind him.
“You don’t need to stand on formalities with us,” Lord Edon told Nick. “Come out and tell us what is bothering you. Did your wife turn out to be a shrew?”
Though his face warmed, Nick shook his head. “No, Miss Webb is a lovely person. There’s nothing shrewish about her.”
“Then why do you look so glum?”
Nick glanced at the other two gentlemen. Should he really answer the question around two people he didn’t know?
As if Lord Edon could read his mind, he said, “Don’t worry about my friends. They’re discreet. No one else needs to know what we’re talking about.”
“He’s right,” Lord Whitney replied. “We’ll treat this matter as if we’re at White’s, and everything that happens at White’s stays at White’s.”
Nick knew that to be true. Gentlemen did a lot of things at White’s, and if anyone were to reveal those things to an outsider, it would be immediate dismissal from the club. He cleared his throat. He supposed it might be safe enough to talk as long as he was careful in how he worded things.
“I’m having trouble paying back a creditor,” Nick began. “Does anyone know someone named Evermont?”
Mr. Robinson’s eyebrows furrowed. “Lord Evermont?”
Nick shook his head. “No. This particular gentleman only goes by Evermont.”
“That doesn’t make sense,” Lord Edon said. “Everyone uses something in front of a last name or title.”
“It’s not necessarily a name or a title,” Lord Whitney spoke up.
“If it’s not a name or a title, then what would it be?” Nick asked.
“Well,” Lord Whitney began as he shifted in his seat, “it could be a nickname. People in the past have taken on a new name to replace their real one, and this is how the others were to address them. Evermont could be something that represents the gentleman. It could refer to a certain trait or quality he possesses. It could be something like The Black Knight.”
“Something like The Black Knight makes sense,” Mr. Robinson said. “We would know he’s a knight who does horrific deeds. Evermont isn’t the least bit specific.”
“I’m not saying it’s exactly the same thing as The Black Knight,” Lord Whitney argued. “I’m saying that it’s similar in that Evermont could be a term that masks his real identity.”
“If he’s going through that kind of trouble, then doesn’t it stand to reason that he’s got something to hide?” Lord Edon asked.
“Obviously,” Lord Whitney replied. “If he didn’t have something to hide, he’d go by his real name or title.”
“Maybe he is a she,” Mr. Robinson said.
Nick’s eyebrows furrowed. “Would a she be collecting on people’s debts?” He couldn’t think of a single lady who gave out loans.
“It’s possible,” Lord Whitney allowed, “but it’s unlikely. I think we’re dealing with a gentleman.”
“How do you deduct that in what little we know?” Mr. Robinson asked. Then he turned his gaze back to Nick. “That is all you know, right?”
“This person is one of my father’s creditors,” Nick replied. “I don’t know anything except that he paid off my father’s other creditors. He didn’t even pay the full amounts due to each gentleman. I’m sure he’ll expect the full amounts when I finally figure out who he is.”
“Or she,” Mr. Robinson pointed out. “I still think there’s a good chance this is a lady. Ladies can do many things gentlemen can do. They just hide their activities better. They have to. The Ton would never accept what they’re doing if they let those activities go public.”
“That doesn’t seem like something a lady would do,” Lord Whitney said. “I think we’re dealing with a gentleman.” Ignoring Mr. Robinson’s shrug, he directed his gaze to Nick. “Has Evermont contacted you?”
“No,” Nick replied. “I only know he’s one of the gentlemen I owe money to because there’s a record of him in my father’s accounts.”
“It’s ridiculous you have to pay your father’s debt,” Mr. Robinson said.
“That’s not uncommon,” Lord Edon told his friend. “Creditors don’t care if someone dies. They’ll go after the next of kin for the money.”
Mr. Robinson shook his head. “I still think it’s wrong.” He gestured to Nick. “He didn’t go into debt. Why should he be punished for it?”
“Because greedy gentlemen want their money, and the circumstances surrounding the debt doesn’t matter to them,” Lord Edon replied. “I’ve seen ladies and children end up in debtor’s prison for unpaid debts. It’s why I make it a point to never borrow money. You never know what trouble you’ll unwittingly cause.”
Well, Nick knew he’d never borrow any money. It caused way too many problems. He didn’t want his future son to be stuck in the predicament he found himself in right now. Who knew if his son would be fortunate enough to find a pleasant lady to marry? And who knew if another Evermont would come along to make things more difficult for him than they already were?
“If you owe Evermont money,” Lord Whitney began, interrupting his thoughts, “then it stands to reason he’ll send you a missive.”
“You think he’ll do that?” Nick asked.
Lord Whitney nodded. “I would stake my life on it. The only thing you can do right now is wait for him to send you something.”
“Will you let us know who this person is when you find out?” Mr. Robinson asked.
“What if Evermont doesn’t want Nick to find out?” Lord Edon asked his friend. “It could be that Evermont will never let him meet him in person.”
Mr. Robinson didn’t hide his disappointment. “Yes, I suppose that’s a possibility. I hope he, or she, does. I’d be interested in knowing who is going around London as Evermont. I’ve never even heard of such a person until today.”
“Me, neither,” Lord Edon said. “I’d help you if I could, Your Grace,” he told Nick, “but I’m as baffled by this as you are.”
“It’s all right,” Nick replied. They had tried to help him. That was all he could ask. Lord Whitney was right. At some point, Evermont would contact him. He’d deal with him then.
Chapter Eleven
“Did you know the Duke of Ravenshire didn’t have any money when you married him?” Stacey asked Tara as the two drank tea in Stacey’s drawing room.
“I did,” Tara replied, reluctant to disclose the details until the lady swore that she’d keep things a secret. “I can’t have you telling anyone else, though. Swear you’ll keep this matter to yourself.”
“I will,” Stacey promised after she sipped some tea. “So far, no one except a couple of people know, and these people won’t tell anyone in London.”
Tara could only hope that was true. “I don’t want anyone to know. Nick told me about his situatio
n when he proposed marriage to me. His father accumulated a good sum of debt, and after he died, Nick found out about it.”
“I didn’t realize it was his father’s debt.”
“That’s because his family did a good job of keeping things quiet.” Tara finished her tea then set the cup on the table. “Nick is actually a very sweet and humble gentleman. It’s not common to find that in London, especially not with someone as attractive as he is. Anyway, he didn’t pretend to be someone he wasn’t. He was upfront and honest with me. Those are two things I respect most in another person.” Especially after the years she’d spent with her brother. “Since I had more than enough to pay off his father’s debt and knew he’d be an asset to our group, I agreed to marry him.”
Stacey released her breath. “I’m glad you knew. When I thought he was going to marry Miss Wilmington, I had warned her. I didn’t even know you had run off to Gretna Green with him until after you’d been gone for a day.”
“Wait,” Tara interrupted. “You told Miss Wilmington?” She paused then amended, “I mean, Lady Blakemoor?”
She nodded. “I told her right before I married Piers. I didn’t think you were going to marry the duke instead. Please believe me. I never expected things to turn out the way they did.”
“Are you sure the Ton doesn’t know why I married Nick?”
“I’m sure. It would be in the Tittletattle if they did.”
Tara wasn’t so sure her worries were over. Just because no one was saying anything right now, it didn’t mean they wouldn’t at some point. And Lady Blakemoor wasn’t a pleasant adversary.
“I made things difficult without meaning to,” Stacey said, her tone laced with guilt.
Tara smiled at her, a part of her relaxing. “You were only doing what you thought was best, and besides, I never told you I was going to marry Nick. I had kept that a secret because I didn’t want my brother to do something to stop me.”
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