by Wilde, Tanya
“It changes nothing,” Jo spat at Damien.
“It changes everything,” Brahm said.
Jo snorted. “You’ve learned our secret true, but it changes nothing.”
“You will escort Lady Madeleine back to her father,” Simon said with a voice that brooked no argument.
James’ muscles bunched. He did not like being told what to do. “There is just one problem with that plan, lad.”
“And what is that?” Simon asked, clenching his fists.
“The little lady isn’t here.”
“Where is she?” Brahm bit out.
“That’s the best part,” James replied with a smile, “We don’t know.”
“How can you not know?” Simon asked with suspicion.
Damien narrowed his eyes on all of them. “Willfully ignorant, I believe they call it. They cannot tell us where she is because Wheatby never told them.”
“What the hell were you thinking, Evelyn,” Simon snapped, “consorting with people such as this,” he glared at James, “to destroy other people’s lives.”
Evelyn’s temper exploded. “Destroy Simon?”
She marched passed James toward her brother, poking at his chest. The coat forgotten. “We are not destroying Madeleine’s life. We are saving it. Her loving father beats her so frequently she’s limped for the better part of her life. Or have you never noticed how she’s never present balls, and when she does make an appearance, she never dances. That is because she can’t,” Evelyn paused to glance at the rest of them. “He has betrothed her to a slime ball that tried to force himself on her. If it hadn’t been for James,” she said pointing in James’s direction, “and the people I consort with, he would have succeeded.”
“You are not supposed to run around saving people. That is why we have Scotland Yard.”
“What would they have done, Simon? They would have informed her father who would have beaten her for it,” she said, incredulously, not believing he could be so naïve. “Or haven’t you heard, we silly women have no rights, we only have silly woman phases.”
He flinched at his own words being tossed back at him. “It’s still not your problem,” he bit out.
“It’s everyone’s problem!” she shouted, pushing at Matthew when took a step between her and her brother. “What else are we supposed to do?”
“You could have come to me about it.”
Evelyn burst out laughing.
“You? What would you have done? Hatched some plot to manipulate her father to stop beating his daughter?”
“What the devil are you talking about?” Simon asked scowling, while Damien shook his head reverently. Her brother did not catch the telling note in her voice.
“I’m talking about,” she paused, her gaze flickering between Damien and Simon, “how you two manipulated me into fleeing to Bath, where my maid then conveniently got sick and our carriage conveniently broke down. My footman conveniently disappeared and I conveniently got my room mixed up. But let us not forget the most convenient part of all, my introduction to your dear estranged friend, the Earl of Grey, who you have now, in light our so called courtship, conveniently renewed your friendship with.”
Silence greeted her assertion. Two guilty faces stared back at her. No wonder St. Aldwyn never told Simon anything. Her brother already knew everything.
“Ah yes and don’t forget Damien’s visit to Bath,” she glanced at the rogue. “Impeccable timing, I daresay.”
Evelyn felt rather that saw Matthew stiffen at her accusation. “What the hell are you talking about?”
She raked a scathing glare over him. “And you, my dear Lord Grey. Your pursuit has been relentless, to say the least. A good act, I must admit, you playing the indignant lover, betrayed by his love.”
“Evelyn—”
She held up her hand. “Do not dare deny it,” she said gesturing between her brother and Damien. “Your lover called on me yesterday. She told me quite the tale.”
His surprise was evident. “There is nothing between that woman and me.”
“Aren’t we getting off topic here?” Brahm asked cautiously, aware of the volatile tension surging the air.
“It was just getting interesting,” James chuckled.
Evelyn looked away.
Matthew stared at her in silent contemplation before he turned his attention to her brother. “What is she talking about?”
It was Damien who answered. “Perhaps we should take this conversation back to the privacy of your home?” he suggested to Simon, avoiding Matthew’s question.
Matthew seethed. He hadn’t even been this furious upon finding them at the docks. Not surprising, considering he already knew they were up to something, but had let it go because he’d been the one the one who entered the ballroom with his former love on this arm.
His scowl returned with a vengeance as his gaze rested on Simon. “You will tell me now.”
Not surprisingly, everybody froze.
“And I want to know,” he said his voice soft and laced with steel, “who was involved.”
Evelyn straightened at his tone. He hadn’t known? Or was this, once again, some ploy at manipulation? If not, it didn’t bode well for Simon or Damien. She took a step back, glancing at the group uncertainly. “Perhaps we should discuss this in a more private setting.”
“Good idea,” Brahm put in. “Josephine and I have things to discuss as well.”
He held out his hand to Jo, but she glided past him instead. “I’m not a child, Brahm.”
He snorted, stomping after her as she made her way to a carriage that had pulled up only moments ago. James too, disappeared into the shadows, and just like that, their adventure at the docks was forgotten and the deception of her brother loomed over them like dark clouds.
Another carriage came into view and Evelyn marched toward it, leaving the men behind without a backward glance.
“Where are you going?” Matthew asked, reaching her in two strides.
“Home.”
“You are confined to you room, by the by,” Simon shouted after her, moving to follow.
Damn men and their simple minded reasoning. His simple minded rambling did not warrant a reply.
She started as Matthew’s hand settled at the small of her back. Her heart jumped at his touch. Probably afraid she might run away, Evelyn thought moodily. Little did he know, she planned to do just that.
Chapter 18
Once again Evelyn sat in her brother’s study, her supposed place of solitude. And once again, narrowed eyes stared at her, each expression different from the other. There was her brother, who by any definition of the word brother, had every right to be angry at her for her latest adventure, yet he seemed pensive and wary, a sure sign that the tables had turned.
There was his good friend Damien, who by any definition of the word friend, had no reason to be involved in family affairs. He appeared curious and amused, a sure sign he’d been part of the plot to ruin her. And that brought her the heart of the matter, Matthew, her brooding Earl.
He was absolutely furious.
She could not blame him. They had both been manipulated by her brother and his partner in crime, people she trusted. A sigh escaped her parted lips. She was just as guilty for manipulating situations that suited her. He had every right to be furious at her too.
Even so, the image of Charlotte still haunted her, and with it uncertainty and anger. And Evelyn was tired of being uncertain. Her heart ached, she was exhausted and anger churned inside her. She could not stay and marry Matthew. Not under such heavy uncertainty.
It was painful to admit—she loved him. And he loved someone else.
It was why she was going to do something ridiculously stupid.
She was going run away.
“So,” Simon said, breaking the silence. “How did you learn the truth?”
He darted a cautious glance to Matthew, who glared at him, rage pouring through his body like lava.
Evelyn on the other hand r
egarded her brother steadily. She should be just as furious, but in her heart, she knew her brother had meant well. He had concocted a hair brained scheme out of love.
In some ways they were much alike. They both possessed imaginations that would put a child to shame. In the end, she couldn’t stay mad at him, for he only wanted the best for her and if he hadn’t plotted and schemed, he would not have renewed a friendship that obviously meant much to him. Although, it remained uncertain whether her brother plotted to get her married or renew a friendship. That still didn’t mean she would let him off the hook so easily. Besides, one could argue the fact that she’d behaved rashly and according to him, out of character, because of his grand plan he’d put motion.
“I revisited every unfortunate circumstance and it came together after that,” Evelyn said finally, glancing between Simon and Damien. “But it was Damien and his presence in Bath that finally tipped the scales of realization.”
They exchanged a pointed glance. She crossed her arms over her chest.
“It should have given away your entire plan, but you knew that if things went according to your plan, I wouldn’t suspect anything.” There was no mistaking the hurt in her voice.
Matthew came to stand beside her.
“That and my maid confirmed she was paid by a stranger to become sick at a certain point of my journey.”
“So it’s true,” Matthew bit out, staring at Simon. “You manipulated us.”
Simon shifted nervously. “We only planned for you to meet,” he admitted wearily. “The rest was all you.”
“Why?” Evelyn asked her brother.
Simon sighed. “Because you were so determined to spend your life alone, planning to run off and explore godforsaken Africa. Even after you met Grey, you were still determined not to be bullied into marriage, leaving me to believe your plans haven’t changed.”
“My plans remain the same,” Evelyn muttered, aware Matthew’s eyes pierced her with intense scrutiny. “You were aware of them?”
“I’m your brother Evelyn, I’m aware of everything concerning you.”
Evelyn stilled. Everything? His tone of voice suggested he knew far more than she imagined he did.
“You know?” Horror seeped into her veins.
“No! Well that is to say,” he spared a brief glance at a very stiff Matthew. “I did not... that is… not until Grey filled me in on details… of your… thing. But I never spied on you! Well, at least not very closely.”
“What?” Evelyn exclaimed, turning to Matthew. “You said—”
“I never said anything Evelyn,” Matthew interrupted steadily. “You assumed I would not give the details to your brother, I just never corrected your assumption.”
The impact of his words hit Evelyn with a blinding force. “Never corrected my assumption? You lied to me,” she accused, shocked at both her brother and Matthew’s revelation.
“I never lied to you.”
“You might not have lied to me out right, but you omitted a very important detail of our acquaintance. Omission is just another form of lying, especially when you are doing it deliberately.”
“And you Evelyn?” Matthew asked, advancing on her. “You’ve been running around London lying through your teeth to everyone who loves you.”
“Throwing stones are you?” Evelyn shot back. “Or did you forget Lady Stocknose clinging to your arm, flaunting your relationship? Yet another one of your lies. I lied yes, but I have been honest about them. I admit I lie.”
“There is no relationship between that woman and me!” Matthew roared.
Evelyn’s temper exploded. “Then how is it, she came to hang upon your arm tonight? Am I to believe you did not escort that harpy? Your actions, my dear Lord Grey, speak louder than your words,” she hissed back at him, holding out her hand to stop him when he would have denied her claims. “You would never be caught in something as distasteful as a lie. So you decided not to inform me because it suited your purpose and I’m of no consequence beyond your own purposes.”
He said nothing, only clenched his jaw.
Evelyn stared at him incredulous. “I see.”
“Everything you do is of consequence to me,” Matthew bit out.
Evelyn shook her head. “But not the other way around?” she asked snipingly. “You are a man. A lord. An Earl. You own every right to do as you like without consequence.”
“That is not what I said,” Matthew bit out. His eyes glittered dangerously as they narrowed on her.
“You might not have said it, but I see clearly enough.”
“I don’t need to explain my actions to you.”
Evelyn stopped short at those venomous words. All else faded until there nothing but her and Matthew, and those words hanging above them. Utterly devastating words.
It was as though her whole life, her entire belief of equality and all she ever loved became hauntingly clear in light of those words. Hard words. True words. He didn’t need to explain anything to her.
“You are right, as always, my lord,” she said in a flat voice, determined not to let him see how his words affected her. “You don’t need to explain anything to me. We are of no consequence to each other.”
She turned her head toward her brother and his traitorous friend, cutting Matthew off when he would have spoken. “While I feel hurt and betrayed by your manipulations, I can appreciate the motive behind your actions. I therefore forgive you. I do not however, feel the need to explain my actions of the past week since they are self-explanatory. If you feel you need to punish me for them, I will accept the consequences gladly. I do however apologize for lying to you.”
Evelyn could see Simon wanted to argue, but he forced himself to only nod.
“Furthermore, I will not marry, regardless of the circumstances.”
Evelyn’s lips twitched at the protests gathering their eyes and continued, “I see no reason to attach myself to a man I would never be happy with. You will have to be content with your renewed friendship as the outcome of your plan; I however will not be party to it.”
The silence in the room was about as deafening as a roaring crowd but Evelyn forged on, determined to get everything off her chest.
“Regarding the matter of Lady Madeleine Loveday, it is done and cannot be undone.”
That was all she had to say on the matter.
Damien was the first to speak. “You are aware that there is a chance that Lady Madeleine’s father may learn of your involvement in the disappearance of his daughter.”
“Lady Madeleine did not disappear. I suspect she will return to London in a few days, whole and hearty. As to your concerns, her father will never find out what transpired and even if he did, it is a moot point now.”
“But we heard what you said on the docks,” Simon muttered with a frown.
“Eavesdropping is never a good thing Simon, regardless of what we said, we always had a follow up plan.”
Damien frowned, glancing at Simon. “I guess they outsmarted us after all.”
Simon nodded.
“Evelyn, may we please speak privately for a moment,” Matthew cut in stiffly, looking pointedly at Simon.
Evelyn refused to look his way. “We have nothing further to discuss, my lord.”
“I disagree. We have much we need to discuss.”
Evelyn shot a glare at her brother. “Do not dare to leave me alone with this brute.”
Simon sighed. “Perhaps it is best to settle matters between you. There seems to be some sort of misunderstanding.”
“There is no misunderstanding, just as there is nothing to settle.”
“Evelyn please,” Simon pleaded. “Hear the man out. If you still don’t want to reconcile your differences after that, I will respect your wishes.”
Evelyn regarded her brother intently. He meant every word.
“Very well,” she conceded. He may have faith in the Earl's ability to procure her, she did not.
Damien came to stand beside her. “I apologize fo
r my part in our little scheme,” he drawled, not looking sincere at all. “But I do not regret any of it.”
At least he was honest. Evelyn accepted his apology with a nod.
“Wait!” she said just as they reached the door. “What of the mystery admirer?”
Both Simon and Damien frowned. “We tried to determine who he was, but couldn’t.”
Good.
She suppressed a small smile. They didn’t deserve to have their curiosity appeased.
Matthew shifted before her.
She sighed, steeling herself for the battle that lay ahead.
“You need to stop,” he whispered savagely. “Stop resisting me, you, us,” he gestured with his hands.
Say you love me, not her, and I will stop.
The unspoken words hovered between them.
“No, you need to stop insisting on this match. I will not marry you just because you compromised me.”
“What do you want from me?”
Evelyn’s heart broke at the defeat in his voice.
“You are incapable of giving me what I want,” Evelyn admitted, her voice sad. “If we were to marry where would we live?”
“My country estate.”
“Why not here?”
He let out a frustrating breath. “Because I can’t stand this place.”
“My friends are here. Do you expect me to adjust my entire life to match yours?”
“Would that so bad?” Matthew asked.
“It would be when I’m the only one who has to compromise.”
“It’s not like I’m locking you in a dungeon. You may visit your friends.” He wasn’t about to let her out of the bedroom long enough to visit any place.
“And would they be allowed to visit us?”
“Naturally.”
“Wesley as well?” Evelyn asked with narrowed eyes.
“I don’t see why he would want to.”
Evelyn threw her hands up in the air in exasperation. “We’re not even married yet and you’re already dictating who I may or may not befriend.”
“Not yet? So you agree that we are getting married.”
“No! I only mean to say you would control my entire life, every decision I make would be weighed by you and if you find it lacking I’d be overruled. I refuse to live that way. I value my freedom too much to hand control of it over to someone else, even if that someone is you.”
