She felt foolish for even thinking about marriage.
A few seconds later, the door opened again, and their guest stepped inside. Lord Trevelan was a bit more sallow than usual, and he had an uneasy look in his eyes. “My lady,” he said, bending at the waist. “It is good to see you, as always. I hope you are well.”
“I’m well enough,” she replied, stealing a brief glimpse of Nicholas.
Trevelan swung his walking stick backward, flattening it against his elbow. “Good. I’ve… uh, I’ve come to speak to you about a very important matter, my lady.”
“Oh?”
“Would you like me to leave?” Nicholas asked, taking a step toward the door.
“No, stay,” the older man entreated, “for I believe it concerns you as well. You are, in a sense, the head of this family. What I have to say concerns your cousin, Lady Evangeline.
When Trevelan uttered the words this family, it made Nicholas a bit uneasy. It sounded like the viscount was including himself in that lot. Trevelan wasn’t a part of the family!
But he certainly intended to be.
“I would like to ask for Evangeline’s hand in marriage,” Lord Trevelan went on, turning to the girl’s mother. “I don’t think this should come as a surprise. Your husband, rest his soul, had always advocated the match. I should have married her awhile ago, so he might have seen his daughter happily settled. But you see… I was waiting for her to get a bit older. To mature.”
Anne squeezed Nicholas’ handkerchief in her hands. “And you think she has matured?”
“I’m not sure. She’s certainly not the little girl I used to know. She’s a very charming young lady, and I’ve cared about her for quite some time. I have reason to believe she thinks very fondly of me.”
Anne didn’t know what to say. Lord Trevelan was a decent man, but she was sure Evangeline didn’t return his affections. Evangeline didn’t seem to care about matters of the heart. All she cared about making a good match. Anne wished her daughter would be a bit more fanciful about love. If Evangeline married Lord Trevelan, she would be in a loveless marriage with a much older man. Anne was too familiar with that scenario.
Trevelan must have read her mind. “I know you think I’m too old, Lady Penworth, but I’m sure I could make her happy. I won’t ask her to marry me unless I have your blessing.” He glanced over at Nicholas. “And yours, of course.”
“You’ll hear no complaints from me,” said Nicholas. “I want my cousin to do what pleases her.”
It was Anne’s turn to reply. She took a deep breath before she started. “Based on my personal experiences, I am initially inclined to refuse you. However, I understand what Nicholas is saying. Evangeline should live her own life and make her own choices. If you ask her, and she agrees to marry you, I would not object.”
Trevelan’s shoulders seemed to relax a bit. “Thank you, my lady. You have no idea how much this means to me.”
“Shall I have Stevens fetch her now?” Anne asked.
“Oh, yes… yes, of course.”
While Anne asked the butler to find her daughter, the men conversed quietly amongst themselves. “I apologize for my lack of hospitality, Lord Trevelan. Please, take a seat. Would you like any refreshments? Some tea, perhaps?”
“No, I’m quite alright,” the other man replied, lowering himself to a rickety chair. He certainly didn’t look alright. In the few minutes since he’d arrived, his skin had gotten more and more wan.
When Evangeline entered the room, Anne and Nicholas politely excused themselves. They meant to give Lord Trevelan some privacy while he made his proposal, but they left the door slightly ajar.
“Richard!” Evangeline said with a smile. “How very nice to see you.” Her mother’s sudden exodus from the room was disconcerting, but Evangeline didn’t show any signs of unease on her face. Whatever Trevelan had to say, it couldn’t be good.
Trevelan rose from his seat and took Evangeline by the hand. “I’ve been thinking about you more and more lately. You’ve grown into such a handsome young woman.”
“Thank you,” she responded, her smile quivering. Evangeline knew exactly where the conversation was headed. She knew what he was going to ask.
But how should she answer? She wasn’t sure.
Trevelan waited for Evangeline to sit and joined her on the sofa. He never let go of her hand. “I came to talk to you… partly about your father. You see, I met him when I was still a very young man. At the time, you were just a baby. Even so, your father and I became fast friends. We had… a bit of an arrangement.”
“An arrangement?”
“Well, not officially,” Trevelan went on, “but he always hoped you would marry me someday.”
“Oh.” Evangeline tugged her hand away from him. If he was going to propose, he would have to do better than that. Not that it would change the outcome. “Lord Trevelan, if you are here out of obligation, then you should leave now. You don’t have to marry me because my father wished it.”
“I’m not here out of obligation!” he insisted. “I’m here because, over the years, I’ve grown very fond of you. I can’t think of anyone who would make a better wife.”
“Are you asking me to marry you?”
“Yes,” he said with a nod. “Yes, I am.”
Evangeline moved further down the sofa, putting a little distance between them. “Can I be completely honest with you, my lord?”
His heart was sinking already. “Yes…”
“I like you very much. But the feelings I have for you are… friendship,” she said. “I am happy to have you in my life, but I couldn’t picture myself as your wife. If my father was still here, I would be sorry to disappoint him. At the same time, I don’t think he would want me to be unhappy.”
“You don’t think I’d make you happy?”
“Richard… I’m sorry.”
Slow and steady, Trevelan rose to his feet. “Well, I have my answer. I won’t linger around and make you feel sorry for me.”
“I am sorry. I feel terrible.” Surprisingly enough, it was true. The girl who used to be utterly self-absorbed was aching with guilt.
“Please… don’t. I don’t want you to feel sorry for me. It would ruin our friendship.” His tone was mocking, and he meant for it to be so. “Good day, Miss Fremont.”
“Good day, Richard.”
“Good day,” he repeated again.
And then he went out the door.
* * *
Anne and Nicholas were waiting outside the door. Nicholas laid his ear against the wood, listening hard.
“What did she say?” Anne whispered. She kept her voice as low as possible, not wanting to be discovered. “I can’t hear as well as you can.”
“I think she just rejected him.”
“She did?!” Anne peered through the cracked door. She saw Evangeline with her head down, as if ashamed.
Nicholas leaned closer to Anne’s ear. “I can't say it surprises me. He’s old enough to be her father.”
“I am surprised. You don’t know my daughter as well as I do. Most mothers try to pressure their daughters to make the perfect match, but Evangeline and I are the opposite. Ever since she was a little girl, she talked about making a good marriage. She’s very serious about it.”
“Oh…” Nicholas grabbed Anne by the arm. “I think he’s leaving. Come on.” He pulled her into the nearest room and quickly closed the door. “We don’t want to be caught eavesdropping.”
When they were out of the clear, Nicholas continued to hold her by the wrist. His face was very close to hers. If he bent his head ever-so-slightly, his lips would touch hers. For a moment, Anne wondered if he was going to kiss her again.
But he didn’t. Which was a shame. For the first time, she thought she might welcome a kiss.
“Too bad for Trevelan,” Nicholas said, clearly amused. He tried to stifle a chuckle, but he couldn’t. “Poor old sop. Regardless of what you say, I never thought he had a chance.”
&nbs
p; Nicholas eased his grip on her arm, but she didn’t move. She stayed as close to him as she could. She could feel the warmth from his body, and it wasn’t altogether unpleasant. Anne liked him much more than she could ever confess. “This might sound harsh, but I don’t feel sorry for him. She doesn’t love him. I can’t condone a match that doesn’t involve love, especially where my daughter is concerned. I have much higher hopes for Evangeline than she has for herself. I want her to be happy.”
“Me too,” said Nicholas. “I feel very protective of your daughter. I have her best interests at heart.”
Nicholas’ hand curled into a fist. When she saw it, Anne asked, “What’s wrong?”
“I… worry about her,” he said. “I’m afraid she’s set her cap for my friend.”
Anne was puzzled by his response. “Jonathan? But why would you be worried? I know he’s your valet, but Mr. Winters is a fine young man. In fact, I haven’t thought of him as your servant as long as he’s been here. He seems like more than that. He’s an intelligent man, and very much a gentleman.”
“I wasn’t taking about Jonathan. I was talking about Eldrinn Fairweather.” Nicholas took a deep breath and slowly let it out. “That is why I worry.”
Chapter Twenty One
No matter how much she liked her new beau, Evangeline missed Jonathan. She missed his sly smiles and playful banter. For the first time, Evangeline regretted Jonathan’s absence during breakfast. Ever since the arrival of Eldrinn Fairweather, the valet stopped taking meals with the family. Evangeline couldn’t really complain about the new arrangement, as she enjoyed spending her mornings with the handsome Mr. Fairweather. From the time he woke up to the time he said goodnight, he looked like a god. As she nibbled on her eggs, Eldrinn never took his blue eyes off of her. She enjoyed the constant attention.
However, compared to Jonathan, Mr. Fairweather seemed a bit daft. It wasn’t as if he had attics to let, but there were a few cobwebs in his head. If his face wasn’t so breathtaking, Evangeline wondered if she could overlook his lack of wit.
All of a sudden, in the middle of breakfast, Eldrinn tapped his glass with a fork. The sound was so alarming, Evangeline nearly dropped a jar of jam.
He addressed the three people eating with him—a small party that included Nicholas and Anne. “We must have a picnic today!” he declared. “It is the perfect day for it. The weather is fair, and no one knows fair weather better than Fairweather!” He smiled at Evangeline, who was less than amused by his attempt at humor.
“A picnic isn’t a bad idea. What do you think, my lady?” Nicholas asked, addressing the woman beside him.
“Of course. I think it’s a fine idea,” Anne replied.
Naturally, all eyes turned to Evangeline. She was, after all, the only one who hadn’t responded.
She hoped they didn’t see her wrinkle her nose. Evangeline hated picnics. She didn’t like to share her food with six-legged creatures, but her distaste for the outdoors was overruled by her desire to impress her beau. If Eldrinn wanted a picnic, she would pretend to love it. “A-A splendid idea, Mr. Fairweather.”
“I know the perfect location for our picnic. I’ve been wandering the grounds a lot, you see,” said Fairweather. “There’s a little hillside overlooking the lake, not far from the house. I imagine the view would be breathtaking.”
“I’ll help Cook prepare a basket,” said Anne, rising from her chair.
“And I’ll help you,” Nicholas echoed, following her out of the room like a loyal puppy.
Evangeline stood, but Fairweather grabbed her arm.
“I hope this will give us a chance to get to know one another,” Eldrinn said. He turned her hand and placed a kiss on her wrist. Pressing his nose against her skin, he took a deep breath. She smelled delightful. “Ah. You smell like strawberries.”
“Really?” Evangeline lifted her arm and gave it a sniff. “I must have gotten some jam on it.”
Eldrinn chuckled. It wasn’t exactly the response he was looking for, but he had to laugh.
* * *
After she broke her fast, Evangeline spent the entire morning thinking about Eldrinn Fairweather. She tossed on her bed, dreaming of his face. She wondered what kind of husband he would be. Would he be romantic? Would he be passionate?
Little did she know, she would be thinking about Mr. Fairweather for the rest of the day. But she wouldn’t always think the best of him.
When the four of them met for their picnic, Evangeline’s smile couldn’t get any wider. Nicholas and her mother walked ahead of them, and Eldrinn pulled a flower from behind his back.
A pink rose.
“For you, my dear,” he said, “though its beauty pales in comparison to yours.”
His sentiments were a bit shallow, but she appreciated them nonetheless. As she took the flower, she said, “That’s very thoughtful of you, Mr. Fairweather. Thank you.”
“You are a goddess, my lady. As soon as I got here, you seized my heart.” He reached for her arm and tucked it under his. “I hope you never let it go.”
“I think that’s entirely up to you… whether your heart stays with me or not.”
“Believe me, it’s yours for the taking.”
“Then I’ll never let go of it, if you’re serious.”
He leaned closer, whispering to her. His warm breath tickled something deep inside her ear. “I’m very serious.”
When they arrived at the hillside, they spread a blanket and sat. The men talked about inane subjects, and they all enjoyed a picnic of sandwiches and fruit. It was nothing out of the ordinary; however, there was one small surprise. Anne drank so much wine, she started hiccupping. Everyone agreed it was out of character for the prim and proper woman.
As the food started to disappear, Nicholas offered to take Anne for a walk. Before they headed off, Evangeline teased, “Be kind to her, my lord. My poor mama is a bit foxed.”
“Don’t be silly, Evangeline,” her mother protested. Her words were only slightly slurred. “I have all my wits about me. I always do.” She turned to Nicholas. “We can’t wander too far. I don’t want to let Evangeline out of my sight.”
“Oh, mama!” Evangeline grumbled. “You don’t have to treat me like a child! Honestly!”
Even if the mother was close by, it wouldn’t stop Eldrinn from doing exactly what he wanted to do. If they saw him, so what? He didn’t care. And he certainly didn’t think Evangeline would care.
Eldrinn reached over and grabbed her thigh.
Evangeline’s head swiveled in his direction, her eyes wide with shock. “Mr. Fairweather! Remove your hand this instant!”
“Are you sure that’s really what you want?” he asked, bending down to plant a kiss on her thigh, right above his hand.
“Mr. Fairweather!” Shouting his name, she shoved his head away from her. “How dare you treat me in such an ungentlemanly manner? If you don’t remove your hand, I will be forced to box your ears!”
Eldrinn was undeterred. He had plenty of experience with women who resisted him, and most of them eventually succumbed. Ignoring her warning, he started to massage her leg. “What’s wrong, my dear? You don’t care for me?”
“You’re being im-impolite! And improper!”
Her feathers were ruffled, and it showed. If Eldrinn had his way, his little bird would be cooing. He grabbed her arm and kissed it, right above the elbow. “You smell so sweet, Evangeline. So sweet…”
Evangeline yanked her arm away from him. How dare he?! “Please stop this, sir. If my mother sees us, she’ll--”
“She’ll insist I do the honorable thing. I’d have to marry you. I don’t see anything wrong with that.”
Evangeline moved as far away from him as she could. She didn’t want to draw attention to herself, or she would have been long gone. After his bad behavior, marrying him was the last thing she wanted. Her infatuation with Eldrinn Fairweather ended as quickly as it began.
Eldrinn slithered toward her, eyes flashing with desire. H
e always got what he wanted. Always. Evangeline Fremont was nothing special. She would be no different from all the rest, or his name wasn’t Eldrinn Fairweather. “Don’t be so shy, you silly girl. I see it in your eyes. You want to be close to me.”
“Hardly!” she said with a snort.
Eldrinn’s hand came forward again, circling her calf. His hand slid up her leg, under her dress.
Evangeline reacted in the only way she knew how. She kicked him. On the nose. It wasn’t a hard mark to miss, as it was the largest thing on his face.
Eldrinn reeled backward, clutching his nose. “Bloody hell! What’s wrong with you?”
“I should ask you the same thing, Mister Fairweather!”
“I think you broke it!” he whined, his voice muffled by his hand. “I think it’s bleeding.”
Evangeline rolled her eyes. “Move your hand, Mr. Fairweather.” Eldrinn’s anger was plainly written on his face. Slowly, his hand fell away from the nose it was protecting. “It’s not broken or bleeding. You’re completely overreacting.”
“You’re overreacting! I just wanted to have a bit of fun with you! You don’t think I’d try anything indecent with your mother standing nearby, do you?”
Evangeline crossed her arms over her chest. He could try to smooth it over all he wanted, but the damage was already done. She knew what kind of man he was. He was the sort of man who reached under a young woman’s dress! “You already did try something indecent, groping me like you did. You can take your loutish behavior elsewhere. I’m a lady, Mr. Fairweather, in case you didn’t know!”
Eldrinn grumbled something unsuitable for a woman’s ears, and he hoped she didn’t hear it. He wanted Evangeline Fremont, and he would have her. He hadn’t predicted this little setback, but he would recover from it. He always did. “I… I’m sorry, my dear. It’s just… you have such an overwhelming effect on me. I’m sorry if I’ve been rude.”
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