Chapter Twenty-Three
It was a risky business taking Lilly out in Hyde Park. All would spot her and the gossip would circulate before long. Everyone would question who this mysterious woman was and someone likely knew the answer. He was going to expose Lilly to a vicious and horrible world.
But when he glanced at the beautiful woman beside him, her curls fluttering in the breeze as he guided the carriage past the statues and delicate spring blooms, he could not regret it. Her eyes were wide with delight and her lips parted. He had spent so much time in London, the excitement of being in the busy city had long since waned but through Lilly’s eyes he began to see it for the vibrant, exhilarating place it was.
Still, he intended to take her back to Oxfordshire as soon as possible. Once he had spoken with a magistrate he knew on the likelihood of opening an investigation into Eleanor’s death, they could leave. If only Whitley stopped taking so long dallying around the country with his new bride. Damn the man. He didn’t wish to risk Lilly being exposed to further derision.
He directed the horse to take them over the Serpentine River. With the fine weather, people from all classes crowded the lake and several other open carriages drove past, their passengers nodding in greeting.
Evan masked a yawn and forced himself to concentrate on driving the carriage. Avoiding the people on bicycles was no easy task. He bit back a curse as one zipped past him. He and Lilly had made love more times than he could count the past few days but that was not what fatigued him. No, a dream had come to him the previous night, or more aptly described as a nightmare. The carriage had struck Lilly fully in his imaginings and she had been nothing but a crumpled mess by the end of it.
The vision still haunted him and stabbed his heart with knifelike sensations. He had come far too close to losing her. He shook his head at himself. All the while, the echo of time passing resounded in his head, reminding him their days together were limited. Inevitably he would lose her and there was little to be done about it.
Lilly’s hand snuck under his jacket and she laid her white glove on top of his thigh. He bit back a groan and glanced at her to see her impish smile. She wore a gown of teal—or so she had told him when he had declared he liked her in green—that made her pale skin lustrous and her coral pink lips divinely kissable. How a mere dress did that, he could not fathom, but somehow she grew more beautiful every day.
Her heavy skirts brushed his legs as she leaned into him. “Thank you for bringing me out.”
Evan felt his heart melt a little. What was the woman doing to him? That she had come all the way to London to stop him from acting rashly still astounded him. Yet, it shouldn’t have. Had he not already learned of her impulsive, bold nature? And inevitably, she’d been right. He couldn’t put Mrs. Davenport at risk out of his thirst for revenge.
And he could not be parted from Lilly yet. She acted like a balm to his temper. His annoyance at the bicyclists vanished with her sweet touch. Confident he had the ability to hold it in check with her, he planned to keep her for the year as planned. Frankly, he dreaded parting with her at all.
“We shall return to Oxfordshire in a few days,” he told her, “but I shall endeavor to show you what sights I can.”
“I appreciate that you cannot take me everywhere,” she replied so softly he had to lean in to hear her.
His gut curdled. That society should see this wonderful woman as anything other than special made his lips tighten. And he had done nothing to help her reputation. Not only was she illegitimate but she was now fallen. All thanks to his greed. Still, if anyone could withstand salacious gossip and being snubbed by ignorant folk, it was Lilly.
Evan glanced at the sky and noted the gathering clouds. It might not rain but he would not take the chance. Whether her assertion that she never got sick was correct or not, he refused to risk her getting wet.
Steering the carriage out through the grand arches, he headed back to the house. In spite of the busy roads, it didn’t take long. Kensington was within walking distance of the park but a carriage ride was a superb way of not only seeing the sights but keeping Lilly away from wagging tongues.
He pulled the carriage to a stop and aided Lilly down. A delightful rosy hue graced her cheeks and he found himself longing to brush his lips over them. Damnation, would this desire for her never cease growing?
As she took the last step down a crack resounded through the air and splinters of wood flew around him. Lilly stumbled and fell against him. It took a moment for him to recognize the sound.
“Bloody hell.”
A gunshot. For one God-awful moment, he thought she had been shot, but it seemed she had just been startled into stumbling. He dragged Lilly from the carriage and toward the house. Another bang echoed and he shoved her in front of him as he urged her to walk faster. Stone pinged off the wall in front of them and Evan instinctively ducked, dragging her lower with him so that his body shielded hers.
The front door opened and they tumbled inside. “Shut the damn door, Higgins,” he commanded. “Someone is bloody well shooting at us.”
Door shut, Higgins eyed him with confusion. Evan ignored the look and cast his gaze over Lilly. “Are you harmed?” A tiny streak of blood marred those cheeks he had been admiring, and he drew out a handkerchief and placed it to her skin.
“I’m fine.” She held it in place and allowed him to frantically pat his hands all over her, reassuring himself she was unharmed. “Evan, was someone really shooting at us?”
“I believe so.” Two shots, one after the other and too close to hitting them could not be blamed on a ricochet. He glanced at the butler. “Higgins, have Mary fetch some tea. Lilly, you should go to your bed. You’ve had a fright.”
Her eyes hardened. “Don’t be silly, I am fine. I shall sit and gather my breath for a moment. Come, Evan, let us retreat to the drawing room.”
“The shooter may still be out there. I shall not have you in the front of the house,” he pointed out. “Go to the dining room. Higgins, where are my pistols?”
“In the pantry, my lord.”
“You cannot be thinking of going out there?” Lilly declared.
He dropped his grip from her arms and nodded. “If you think I am waiting here for some madman to batter down the door or shoot you through the window, you’re sorely mistaken.”
“Shoot me? Why should someone shoot me?” She grabbed his arm as he turned to fetch his guns. “Don’t go out there,” she pleaded.
“What shall you have me do? Send Mr. Higgins?”
Higgins arched a brow, telling him his butler would indeed happily face down a lunatic gunman but Evan ignored the look.
“Stay here. Someone is bound to report the noise to the police. Let them deal with it.” The grip on his arm increased. Her nails dug into him through his jacket.
“You overestimate the London bobbies, Lilly. They are far too busy to attend what someone thought sounded like a gunshot. Now, be a good girl and do as I tell you.” She scowled and he knew he was going to pay for that remark later. If he survived, of course. “I will not come to harm, I swear it.”
He spotted the fear burning bright in her eyes as she nodded. Lilly walked stiffly to the dining room while he escorted her in. He shut the door firmly and strode off to get the pistols. Once he had them in hand, he handed one to Higgins. “Should anyone but me try to enter the house, shoot them.”
Higgins nodded gravely.
“And tell the staff to stay away from the windows.”
“My lord, do you think it is wise—”
“Since when do you question my actions?”
“Since you decided to face down a gunman on your own,” he replied, nonplussed.
“I shall not sit idly by while someone takes shots at my… at Lilly. Now, step aside.”
The butler did indeed step aside and Evan gritted his teeth. They had wasted so much time, he would be lucky if the shooter was still around. The hot need to repay the scratch on Lilly’s face seared
through him.
When he stepped outside, he noted the staff had already taken care of the carriage and horses. He peered around but all appeared normal. Pistol tucked to his side lest he frighten any passersby, he systematically searched the small grounds of the house. Frustration built when it became apparent the gunman had vanished after his failed attempt.
He paused to take a look at the wall and grimaced. Sure enough, a lead bullet was embedded in the red brick. Someone had been shooting at Lilly. But why? He knocked on the door and shouted at Higgins to let him in. The man opened it cautiously, gun barrel pointed at Evan’s gut.
“Put the gun down,” Evan barked. “The shooter has fled.”
Releasing an audible sigh of relief, Higgins stepped back to allow him entrance. “Could have been an accident, my lord.”
“It was no accident.” He handed the butler his gun. “I shall have to take Lilly back to Oxfordshire at the first opportunity. It’s too dangerous in London.”
Evan swiped his clammy hands down his trousers and stalked to the back of the house. Lilly jolted in her chair as he entered and he found Mary sitting by her side, consoling her. Mary quickly excused herself and Lilly leapt up and flung her arms around his neck.
“I thought you were going to get shot!”
Unable to resist, Evan wrapped his arms around her waist and held her tight. “Let me assure you, my dear Lilly, that I have no desire to get shot. However, I fear the shooter is targeting you for some reason and I think it imperative we leave as soon as possible.”
“Why should someone target me?”
“I don’t know. Can you think of some reason?”
“No.”
He eyed her gravely. “Are you sure?”
“No, Evan!” She dropped her hands from his neck but he refused to release her. “I am no one. I have spent most of my life hiding in the country. Why should someone take a disliking to me? Until I met you, I had never done anything!”
Regret bounced around his insides. Regret that he had not done more for her. Regret that soon enough, their time together would end. He searched her face but knew she hid nothing from him.
“I shall hire an investigator, I think. Perhaps a professional can get to the bottom of this. Letting it slide doesn’t appeal to me.”
“Are you sure it was not just some madman?”
Perhaps it was, but misgiving clawed at his gut and told him it was something more. “I will not take that chance.” A knock at the dining room door made Lilly jolt in his arms and he released her. “Enter.”
Mary came in and bobbed as she apologized. She held out a silver platter with a letter on it. “This came for Miss Claremont earlier.”
Lilly scowled as she took the letter. “Who could know I’m here?”
“It’s from your cousin, miss,” Mary explained. “The messenger is a friend of mine and works at the Grosvenor Hotel. He said your cousin is staying there.”
Inwardly, Evan grimaced. He hoped that fool did not want to visit. And if he knew of Lilly’s presence here, that meant gossip had already begun to circulate. He dismissed Mary with a thanks and intended to leave Lilly to her letter but her face paled as she scanned the missive.
“Is something amiss?”
The paper shook in her hands and she lifted her gaze to his. “He plans to sell my house,” she declared.
“Can he do that?” Evan pulled out a chair and coaxed her to sit.
“I don’t know. It is held in trust until I turn five and twenty, but Father never intended to leave me homeless. He had told Henry to ensure I was looked after. I would have thought with his debt to you gone, he didn’t need money. I anticipated returning there after… after…”
He sat beside her and gripped her hand. “I shall speak to my lawyer. I’m sure he cannot do such a thing. Though if he intends to keep the money from the sale invested for you, perhaps he can,” he mused.
Lilly gave an unladylike snort. “You have met my cousin. He may be harmless, but he is not savvy. I shall lose everything.”
Her eyes shimmered and his heart pulled. He would have to speak with Henry and come to some arrangement. How could he let Lilly lose the house she had been brought up in? “Don’t worry.” He squeezed her hand. “I shan’t let it come to that.”
She offered him a weak smile. “What did I do to deserve you, Evan?”
He groaned inwardly and tugged her onto his lap so as to embrace her. He didn’t deserve one moment of her time and in spite of her forced circumstances, she had been giving and loving. Did she not realize that he thought himself the lucky one?
Chapter Twenty-Four
When Lilly walked down the stairs the next morning, Evan scowled at her. “We are going to miss the train.”
“I couldn’t find my hat,” she muttered, flinging an irritable look his way.
He waited for her to finish her descent and instructed his driver to fetch her luggage from her room. She didn’t have much but he had taken the time to buy her a few pieces to keep her going. The man had raced up and brought down her case before Lilly had come to stand in front of him. What had her so irritable?
“Is something amiss? Lilly, you look paler than usual.”
She waved away his concern with her free hand. “I am fine. Just a little headache.”
The white cast to her cheeks gave way to a red flush and he saw her tremble. “Truly, you look quite unwell.” He took her elbow and guided her to the chaise in the hall.
In spite of a mumble of protest, she sank gratefully onto the padded cushions. He remained standing, peering down at her. When she craned her neck to see him, she wavered and ended up lying across the chaise.
Evan dropped down to his knees and flattened a hand to her head. Her skin felt aflame. “You’re burning up.”
“I’m fine,” she protested weakly. “I never get sick.”
“Be quiet, you silly woman,” he snapped. “You are almost certainly sick. Mary,” he called, “send for the doctor. Tell the carriage we will not be going anywhere. I’m taking Miss Claremont up to bed.”
Mary appeared at his side and peered around her master to view her. Concern flickered in her expression before she turned and went about her duties.
“And fetch some water,” Evan muttered as he scooped Lilly into his arms.
She tried to cling to him, but her limbs seemed to refuse to cooperate. Evan held her tightly, his heart beginning to pound in a sickening beat. What was wrong with her? She had been perfectly well at breakfast.
He raced up the stairs, breathing heavily, and carried her into the bedroom. As soon as he laid her down in the room—the one she had shared with him for her entire stay—he started tearing at her clothes.
She tried to push him away but her weak protest had little effect. “Stop,” she mumbled. “You shall ruin it.”
“It’s not the first dress of yours I have ruined and it will not be the last. But I’ll be damned if I let you overheat in all that fabric.”
He had her stripped to her undergarments after a fight with all those damned layers and plenty of cursing. He dragged up a chair to her bedside and seated himself next to her, elbows on his knees as he studied her. Her skin shone with perspiration and she peered at him through half-open eyes as if fighting fatigue. Evan rubbed his jaw and glanced at the mantel clock. That doctor had better hurry.
“Don’t look so worried. I never get sick.”
“How long have you been feeling like this?”
“Only since this morning.” Her voice shook. “Shortly after breakfast I believe.” He tapped his chin and his eyes widened when she moaned. “Evan, I need…”
A hand flailed around the bedding and he grasped her meaning. He leapt to his feet and pulled the chamber pot from under the bed, getting it to her just in time. Lilly flopped back once her stomach was empty. Her undergarments had gone almost see through, the cotton sticking to her clammy skin.
Mary entered with a washbowl and placed it on the chiffonier. Evan brushed
Mary’s hand aside as she tried to dab Lilly’s forehead and he took the cloth himself. “Did you send for the doctor?”
“Of course.”
Shivers wracked her when Evan started dabbing at her hot forehead. She struggled to keep her eyes open now and she tossed and turned. Mary took away the chamber pot and returned in time for another gagging fit but there was nothing left in her so she wretched uselessly.
“You should not be seeing me like this,” she panted.
“Nonsense. I’m going nowhere.”
Horror churned in his own stomach. To see the strong Lilly brought so low by some mystery illness made his hands shake as he wiped her down again. They’d enjoyed a pleasant breakfast and she, as usual, had plenty of frank observations for him. Her descent into illness had been so rapid.
The doctor, a surprisingly young man with a thatch of bright blond hair, finally arrived and shooed everyone out of the room. Evan paced outside, scuffing the green carpet with his foot and pausing to listen at the door though he heard nothing. He hoped that whelp of a doctor knew what he was doing.
After far too long, the doctor opened the door, nearly causing Evan to stumble in. The doctor began packing away his case. “A case of food poisoning, I suspect. She needs lots of fluids and bed rest. There is little more we can do.”
“Food poisoning? How is that possible?” Evan asked, hands on his hips.
“It could well be something she ate. We cannot say what for sure, but I should have your staff check the kitchen for any sign of contamination and throw away all your food supplies.”
Evan nodded to Mary who hurried from the room. Poisoning? This was too great a coincidence. First she was shot at and now she had been poisoned. Had someone gained access to the kitchen or the food delivery? And why had only she been affected? He considered breakfast and recalled he hadn’t eaten much, mostly because he had been too keen to rush back to Oxfordshire where it was safe.
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