Abigail straightened her shoulders. “Of course, Your Grace.” Then she turned to Everly. “I’m out getting a gift for Diana. Hopefully, it will make her feel better after this tragedy.”
Everly felt the blood turn cold. “What happened to Diana?”
“You didn’t hear?” Abigail asked. “It was quite the tragedy.”
Everly waited. When the woman didn’t go on, she said, “Well?”
Abigail took a moment to dab false tears from her eyes. “He’s… gone.”
“Gone? Who?” Everly thought of all the men in Diana’s life. Her brother, Lord Renner…
“Goliath,” Abigail said.
Everly gasped. “Goliath is dead?”
“Missing,” Abigail sighed. “Stolen actually. Would you know anything about that?” The accusation was clear.
Her friends giggled behind their fan, but they all stopped as their gazes turned to Asher.
A muscle ticked in his jaw. “What was that, Miss Christensen? I hope you were not implying what I think you were.”
Miss Christensen’s eyes widened. She tripped over her words. “No, Your Grace. I only meant that Everly should have been notified, considering Diana is her cousin.”
Everly grabbed Asher’s arm. “I have to see my cousin.” She didn’t care about Abigail and the dimwitted troupe that followed in her wake.
Asher turned to her, nodded, and then escorted her to the carriage.
∫ ∫ ∫
2 9
Everly found her cousin in great despair in her private drawing room of the townhouse she shared with her husband.
“Who would steal Goliath?” Diana asked. “Who could?” Goliath had the power to overtake most men. Everly had seen him topple more footmen than she could count. It meant the dognapper had to be a very large man himself or there had to have been more than one.
Diana was leaning against pillows on the couch. Her nose, cheeks, and eyes were red. She looked sick, and Everly worried she’d make herself so if she didn’t stop crying. “My father gave him to me. Do you remember?”
“I remember.” Everly smoothed Diana’s hair back. “You wanted to call him June.”
“I thought him a girl.” She smiled weakly. “Then my father pointed out his privates and also noted how large he would become by how large his paws were and…” She started weeping again, silently.
“Where is Lord Renner?” Everly asked. Asher had gone in search of him and answers. It pleased her that he was willing to get involved in her family’s affairs. Not once had he dismissed the matter by stating Goliath was only a dog.
“My husband has been questioning the servants all morning.” She sniffed. “Someone had to have seen or heard something. Abigail was here earlier. We were planning my first London party as Lady Renner. Now? I couldn’t bear the thought of celebrating without my dog.”
Everly understood. “Was Goliath in the house?”
“No. The yard.” Her lips trembled as she tried to calm herself. “He didn’t even bark. Perhaps… he wanted to go.”
“No, Diana. Goliath would never willingly leave you.” Everly was sure of that. The dog was at times inconsolable when Diana left him at home.
Everly heard the sound of footsteps and then Asher and Lord Renner arrived.
Diana straightened. “What has happened?”
“One of the footmen claimed to have seen Goliath walking with a certain man last evening,” Lord Renner told her. “He didn’t recognize the gentleman but assumed him to be someone from the household since Goliath was so compliant.”
“Was it a servant?” Everly stood and moved to stand by Asher.
“Likely not.” Lord Renner sat by Diana’s side, taking Everly’s place. “They were all accounted for during the night. Each claims to have seen the other. Only the one who’d stood guard by the back door saw the gentleman.”
“It was a gentleman?” Everly asked.
Asher answered. “After some pressure, the footman revealed that he thought he saw something gleam at the man’s throat. Clearly, it was a lord wearing a pendant on his cravat.”
“But who would take Goliath?” Diana asked. “It doesn’t make sense unless they wished to hurt me.”
Asher narrowed his eyes and Everly could visibly see the wheels turning in his mind. “Perhaps, that was the point all along. To hurt you.”
“What?” Lord Renner looked at Asher. “What are you saying?”
“I’m saying this could be the reason Everly was accused of stealing the diamonds,” Asher said.
Lord Renner stood with muted hostility. “You’ll not blame my wife for those missing jewels.”
“That’s not what I mean,” Asher stated quickly. “Lord Fallen claimed the thief to be a pretty redhead wearing white. What if he mistook Everly for Diana?”
“But I didn’t steal any jewels,” Diana said.
“And neither did I,” Everly stated as she understood what Asher was getting at. “But Diana and I don’t resemble one another that much.”
She looked at her cousin and then at Lord Renner, who was looking at Asher. “Do we?”
Asher turned to her. “When we visited Lord Fallen, did you notice how he looked at the note the footman brought in?”
Everly thought for a moment. “Yes. He had great difficulty seeing the letters.” She gasped. “You think he thought me Diana?” Then she thought about that night. “He didn’t say my name to the constable.”
“But Lord Fallen has been nothing but kind to me,” Diana said.
“It’s true,” Lord Renner said. “Despite loyalties, Lord Fallen would not betray our friendship.”
“Loyalties?” Everly asked before Asher could.
Diana and Lord Renner looked at one another and then Lord Renner turned to them. “The Earl of Stoutner is Fallen’s cousin. I believe Fallen will inherit once Stoutner dies.” Everly’s eyes widened. Stoutner was the man Diana had begged her brother not to marry. He had reason to loathe both women, but only Everly if he suspected just how much she’d encouraged Diana to speak up.
Diana stood. “He might have Goliath. Goliath would know him. Whenever Stoutner visited my brother, he’d see Goliath.” She turned to Lord Renner. “Do you think he’ll kill my dog because I married you?”
“I don’t know. I…” The young lord’s eyes widened. “The diamonds. They might have come from Stoutner.” He clicked his teeth. “Why didn’t I see it before?”
Asher shook his head. “I’ve been trying to figure out why Lord Fallen would wish to ruin Everly’s reputation. Now it makes sense. This wasn’t about Everly at all.”
“We should go.” Lord Renner turned to Diana. “Stay here, my dear. I will bring your dog back to you.”
Everly turned to Asher and opened her mouth.
“I know,” Asher said. “There’s no way I’ll get you to stay, so I won’t even ask it.” He appeared mildly irritated.
Everly smiled.
“I wish to go as well,” Diana said. “I’ll die from not knowing what’s going on.” She looked hysterical.
Lord Renner wrapped an arm around her. “All right. Let’s leave quickly then.”
They rode together to Lord Stoutner’s house.
Even before the footman could show them into the sitting room where they were to be received, Diana began to shout, “Goliath!” She moved farther into the townhouse, crying the animal’s name.
Lord Renner moved to quiet her.
But then everyone stilled at the bark in the distance.
Diana gasped and became a woman undone. “Goliath! Goliath!” She ran down the hall and everyone followed.
“What is this commotion?” Stoutner stepped into the hall and narrowed his gaze, but they all rushed right past him toward the door that led to the kitchens.
Goliath was there. The great dane had been chained to the wall. In the small space, he looked more like a horse than a dog.
The servants were crowded on the other side of the room, gazing at him in fear.
Diana rushed to Goliath and the animal tried his best to show his own happiness. She wrapped her arms around him and didn’t mind when the animal tried to climb on top of her.
Lord Renner turned to Stoutner, who’d followed the group. “You’ll regret this.”
“I did nothing wrong,” Stoutner claimed. “I saw the thing standing alone on the road and took him home.” He refused to meet anyone’s eye and shuffled his feet.
“We’ll see if a magistrate believes that!” Renner shouted. “Now, get someone over there to unchain our dog.”
Stoutner waved a servant over to do the deed.
Everly sighed with relief.
“This will not go well for you,” Asher said in a cool voice. “A man’s dog is a sacred thing. Nearly every magistrate in England has one. They’ll not think well of a lord who takes what is sacred when he doesn’t get his way.”
“Goliath belongs to Miss Diana,” Stoutner countered with visible fear. “She’s a woman.”
Asher’s voice was cold. “But Miss Diana is now Lady Renner. The dog belongs to her husband. And though you’ll likely only be fined an insignificant amount, I wonder what such a tale will do to your reputation when it’s discovered that you stole a dog because a woman decided she’d not have you.”
Stoutner’s face turned red. “It was like I said. I saw the dog on the street.”
Asher ignored his words. “I can imagine other gentlemen will think you have no honor and likely no wits.”
The earl looked ready to explode. “How dare you!”
“I’ll see you ruined myself,” Asher went on.
Stoutner turned to Renner. “Surely, this matter can be handled privately? Name your price.”
Lord Renner looked at his wife and then at Stoutner. “Lady Everly’s freedom. You’ll have Lord Fallen retract his claims of theft.”
“That has nothing to do with me,” Stoutner said.
The room remained quiet.
Stoutner turned to Everly and sneered. “I know this was all your doing. Your father never learned how to keep you in your place.”
All the air was stolen from Everly’s lungs. Pain shot through her chest.
Stoutner went on, grinning. “I told him aplenty he was being far too soft with you. Told him to break you—”
“Another word,” Asher growled. “And I’ll call you out.” His arm went around Everly just as her knees weakened.
Stoutner turned to him, glaring. “Consider my nephew’s diamonds found. Now, get out of my house.”
∫ ∫ ∫
3 0
Asher was forced to all but carry Everly to the carriage. She was silent during the ride from Stoutner’s house.
Lord and Lady Renner had left before them. Asher had asked a footman to show Everly to the carriage while he dealt with Stoutner.
He’d witnessed the man write and send off the letter to Lord Fallen. Then, after issuing a warning against so much as looking at Everly again, he’d joined her in her carriage.
And though it was inappropriate and nearly impossible to do gently with the rage that burned within him, he held Everly the entire ride. With his arm about her shoulders, he tried to shield her from things he knew he couldn’t.
Old pains destroyed from within.
In the quiet of the carriage, he thought of all the ways he’d gladly dismember Lord Stoutner. The man would regret his every word. Asher would make sure of that.
He’d do anything for Everly. He’d build armies and wage war on her behalf.
He was glad to notice their return home went undiscovered by his family who had likely returned.
He steered her into his office and closed the door.
She stood in the middle of the room, seeming so alone. Her back was stiff, but he saw the vulnerability in her eyes. It matched what dwelt in his heart. “I don’t want to speak about it. I can’t.”
“Very well.”
Her chin jutted with surprise.
“I understand the feeling,” he told her as he approached. “There are things I don’t wish to discuss as well. How can I force you to do what not even I would do?”
“Are you talking about your brother?” she asked with new sympathy in her gaze.
He wondered now if he’d revealed too much. He’d felt a connection with her and life’s circumstances had all but forced them together, but now that was no longer the case. “How does it feel to not have to face the magistrate?”
It was as though the idea hadn’t crossed her mind until he’d said it. “I am free, aren’t I? I can return to my own townhouse?”
Free.
Which meant everything would return to the way it had always been.
He tried his best to hold back the despair that seemed to cave in on him.
For a moment in time, she’d been his.
He tried to make light of the moment that seemed so very depressing. “I suppose we can both add this to our growing list of novelties. Now we both know what it’s like to live with the other.” He said the words as though he were relieved that all would be put to rights.
Everly smiled. “You weren’t the worst warden, I’m sure.”
Warden. What else could he have been to her?
She filled in that final steps that separated them and said, “I do hope we can remain friends after all of this.”
“I would like that very much.” Though Asher knew it was time for him to begin building his walls again.
For a few days, he’d allowed her glimpses of his heart but no more. He planned to return things to how they’d been.
He’d avoid her. He didn’t know how to function otherwise.
A high scream from somewhere in the house ruptured their silent musing.
“Brinley,” Everly whispered.
Asher started from the room and tore through the house and up the stairs.
He stopped at the sight of Lore pacing outside the room he shared with his wife.
His brother looked up at Asher with wild eyes. “She’s having the baby.”
“Is the midwife here?” Everly asked, appearing at his side.
Lore nodded, but the gesture was hard to follow. He was shaking. His face was pale. His brow was covered in sweat. He looked ready to faint.
Brinley screamed again, and Lore cringed. “Oh, what have I done to her?”
Everly placed a hand on his arm and smiled. “It’s all right. It’s quite normal for women to—”
The cry of anguish came again, and Asher stiffened.
Lore covered his face and groaned.
Everly gave a worried look down the hall. “I’m sure she’ll be fine. Let’s go sit in the drawing room and have tea brought up. The child will be here in no time at all.”
No time at all ended forty-five minutes later, and Asher was astonished that Lore survived. His brother had paced the room and looked ready to throw his head through the wall. Then he’d fall on his knees and began to pray, chant, and rock, resembling a monk from a monastery.
Hero had held Beatrix especially tight and had gazed into nothing as though recalling a rather haunting memory.
They heard crying once again, but this time, it belonged to a child. It was a sweet sound wrenched from what Asher knew to be the smallest of lungs, accompanied with hushed murmurs of people speaking.
Asher looked over at Everly and saw tears running down her cheeks. Joy was in every feature of her face.
Lore looked around the room and began to smile, but then Brinley screamed again.
He shot from the room and there was a commotion when he burst into the other room. “What’s happened?”
“You can’t be in here!” Brinley cried.
“I can’t not be in here!” Lore said. “I’m losing my mind with…”
There was more murmuring, but the words could not be understood.
“What!” Lore shouted.
Fear chilled Asher’s blood. If Lore lost Brinley…
Everly’s hand slipped into his, and they sq
ueezed one another.
He stood, as did everyone else did. Their hands remained joined.
“Oh, no. I’m so sorry...” Lore was saying. “Here. Let me—”
Brinley simply screamed again.
The midwife was saying something.
And then there was more crying.
Asher was confused and started from the room.
Brinley was still weeping, but she did it quietly now.
The stronger wails came from the baby, but now there was something wrong with its voice. It seemed to echo and move in impossible ways.
A maid came out and smiled at the group. “Lady Laurel and the babies are well.”
Asher sighed with relief.
“Babies?” Beatrix asked.
“Yes,” the maid said. “She’s had twins.”
Everly’s hand locked on his, and he knew at once where her thoughts went.
Their bet. He’d completely forgotten about that stupid bet.
Everly asked, “Are they boys or girls?”
∫ ∫ ∫
3 1
Asher glared as Lore’s valet once again presented him with an assortment of clothes.
“That one definitely,” Lore said, pointing to a waistcoat made of shimmering golds and browns. “The ladies always said it bought out my eyes, so naturally it will bring out yours as well.” He grinned.
The valet added it to the growing pile of waistcoats and jackets on the bed, all in an assortment of colors that Asher would never wear.
He wore black, white, and if he were in the mood, a cool gray. Asher suspected that by evening, he’d feel just as ridiculous as he had at the masquerade ball.
“Naturally, you’ll have to have the jackets let out a bit,” Lore was saying. “Your shoulders are just a hair wider than mine. It’s unfortunate that Everly would not allow you one week to prepare.”
Indeed, she had not.
After Brinley had given birth and all had been given a chance to look at the new additions to the Curbain family, she’d departed. Brinley had tried to get her to stay a few more days. So had Valiant.
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