Highway Revenge

by Millard, Nadine

  “What does?” he asked hoarsely.

  “You obviously don’t make much use of your own heart, my lord. But I do. And it’s terribly unfair of you to break it into a thousand pieces.”

  Without another word, she turned and left the room, her shoulders slumped in defeat.

  Andrew knew that even if he lived to be a hundred, those words would haunt him for the rest of his life.

  Evelyn, tired of crying tears for a man who didn’t deserve them, scrubbed impatiently at her eyes and willed her mind to think on something else.

  Surely, after all this time, she wouldn’t allow her plans for revenge, for justice, to be scuppered because she’d had her head turned by a notorious rake?

  She thought back to weeks ago, a lifetime ago, when Anna had revelled in telling Evelyn the most scandalous stories about Lord Ashdon.

  Evelyn had been outwardly horrified. Inwardly, she was ashamed to admit even to herself, she had been rather excited at the stories of his escapades.

  But now, having been involved in one of them, she realised it wasn’t fun and romantic at all. It had been intense and passionate and wonderful, but when it ended it was devastatingly, heartbreakingly bad.

  And… and he had said he loved her. Her mind shied away from even attempting to sort through her feelings about that!

  She had escaped to one of her favourite spots, a small summer house by the river that ran through her uncle’s estate. She knew she would be safe from company, since the weather was so deplorable. The family enjoyed the place during the summer when the willows offered shade from the intense sun, but this time of year was Evelyn’s favourite; when the russet leaves were dropping from the branches of the surrounding oaks, when pinecones and chestnuts littered the ground, and the only sound was the happy babbling of the brook.

  Today, she rather wished it would shut up but, in the interest of fairness, had to admit that her current mood wasn’t the river’s fault, and it should really be allowed to babble as loudly as it wished.

  Then, of course, she was worried for her sanity because really, why was she so affected by the noises a river made? And it couldn’t be heard now in any case, with the wind screeching so loudly and the rain pounding relentlessly against the windows.

  “Eve.”

  Evelyn froze at the sound of his voice. Was there to be no escape from him?

  She whipped round to face him, her anger immediately flaring back to life.

  “What?” she snapped. “What do you want now? I thought I made my feelings perfectly clear.”

  “You did.” He looked and sounded as upset as she, and that angered her further still.

  He was the one who had hurt her. What right had he to be upset by the consequences?

  “I’m not here about us,” he said, and Evelyn was surprised at the sharp stab of hurt at his words.

  Wasn’t that what she wanted after all? And really, the fact that he would so willingly give her up just proved further how little she meant to him.

  “Oh” was the only answer she could manage.

  “I’m here about your uncle,” he said, watching her intensely, the mossy green of his eyes seeming more pronounced somehow.

  She wished he wouldn’t look at her so. It was most distracting.

  “I searched the study and even the library after — well… last night,” he said adroitly, skimming over his encounter with Jonathan, as though the words weren’t burned into her memory. “I found nothing.”

  Evelyn wasn’t surprised to hear it. She’d lived in the house since childhood and knew it better than he. If she couldn’t find anything, it was no shock that he couldn’t.

  “Well, thank you for trying,” she said politely, though he didn’t deserve it.

  “My thoughts are that there’s a hidden safe somewhere, so I’m going to watch him more closely. He hasn’t left the estate since the night of the robbery, nor has Grant, so those letters must still be here somewhere.”

  Evelyn frowned in confusion. Surely he didn’t think to still help her after everything that had happened? Before she could voice her thoughts, he began speaking again, stepping ever more closely to her.

  “As soon as I’ve found the safe, I’ll retrieve them.”

  He sounded so calm, so logical. He had thought of everything, it seemed. Well, almost everything.

  “How would you even be able to get them if they’re in a safe?” she asked, distracted from her anger at his high-handedness for a moment.

  The grin he gave her was heart-stoppingly beautiful, and Evelyn felt her breath catch.

  “I can get into one little safe, darling,” he said confidently.

  His endearment and her own reaction to it brought Evelyn back to the matter at hand.

  “Well, I thank you for the information and the idea. But this doesn’t concern you anymore.”

  She watched the smile fall from his face. He looked at first surprised then devastated before that mask he used to wear, the one that hid all of his emotions, was firmly back in place.

  “Yes, it does,” he said simply.

  Evelyn huffed out a breath. “No, it do—“

  “Evelyn,” he interrupted, and she stopped talking because he’d never called her by her real name before, and it hurt more than it should. She was no longer his Eve. “I understand how furious you are. How hurt. And it kills me to know that I caused such feelings in you.”

  He was close enough now to reach out and stroke a gentle thumb along her cheek.

  Evelyn steeled herself against any sort of reaction and gave her heart a stern talking to for its fluttering at his touch.

  When she pulled back slightly, he dropped his hand with a sigh.

  “But as angry as you are, it does not change the fact that I love you more than I ever thought possible.”

  He’s lying, she reminded herself fiercely. This is some sort of game to him.

  “And because I love you as much as I do, I will spend the rest of my life trying to make it up to you, trying to convince you that what I feel is real, if you will let me.”

  He paused, probably waiting for her to speak. But she couldn’t trust her voice at that moment, so she stayed mutinously silent.

  “But even if you don’t forgive me, even if you never speak a word to me again, I will not stand by while you put yourself in any more danger.”

  Her eyes, which had been studiously ignoring his, snapped up at his words.

  “It’s none of your business what I do or where I put myself,” she seethed.

  “Yes, it is,” he argued stubbornly.

  “Why won’t you just leave me alone,” she cried in exasperation. She couldn’t keep arguing with him. Her defences weren’t that strong.

  “Because I bloody well love you, I said!” he yelled at her.

  His declaration echoed round the glade, mocking her with the truth she desperately wished to hear in them.

  “I heard every word you said last night, my lord. Every word.”

  He muttered an oath that should have offended her, but since the sentiment echoed her own, she couldn’t judge.

  “Eve, I hadn’t even told you how I felt, I wasn’t about to confess everything to your cousin. He’d probably shoot me on the spot, and I couldn’t have told you anything if I were dead, could I?”

  It sounded so plausible, and she wanted to believe him so desperately, but, in the hours since she’d heard him, Evelyn had almost managed to convince herself that it was for the best that they be parted.

  And her reasoning was sound.

  He was a viscount, rich as Croesus and soon to be a powerful earl. She was an orphan of unknown fortune, thanks to her uncle, and a highway robber to boot! It could never have been anything more than a temporary seduction, which he would forget and she would remember through her absolute ruination.

  “Well, it does not signify any longer, does it?” she mumbled miserably.

  He leaned forward and grasped her shoulders.

  “Can you really not
forgive me one, stupid mistake?” he asked hoarsely.

  Evelyn forced herself to meet his eyes.

  “It makes no difference, not really. We are so very dissimilar Andrew. You will go back to your life, and I will stay here with mine. Whatever this was, it wasn’t real. We could never be—“

  Her words were cut off by his lips suddenly capturing hers in a wild, forceful kiss. Every thought, every word flew from her head, and she wrapped her arms around his neck, holding on tightly as her knees buckled.

  All too soon, he pulled back to look down at her.

  “Don’t,” he said softly. “Do not dismiss what this is. Do not say it isn’t real.”

  Evelyn opened her mouth to respond.

  “Eve,” he spoke again, “please. Do not say anything you may come to regret.”

  Evelyn’s head was beginning to pound. This morning she’d been so sure of her course, upsetting as it was. But now, when it was just the two of them once more, when he kissed her like that and told her he loved her; she just didn’t know what to do.

  “I cannot think straight,” she said, wanting desperately to lean into him and borrow some of that strength and power he always exuded.

  “Nothing has changed, as far as I am concerned,” he said, pulling her closer to him and placing a soft kiss atop her head. For a moment, just for a moment, she allowed herself to enjoy his embrace. “I will still help you to bring your uncle to justice. And I will still try to convince you to be in my life when this is all over.”

  “Andrew, I-I don’t—“

  “I’m not asking you to do anything except give me a chance, Eve. That is all.”

  She wanted to. So, so badly. And, she had to admit that it had been wonderful feeling like she wasn’t in this mess alone, that somebody was on her side and wanted to help.

  “All right,” she said tentatively and was rewarded with another of his breath-taking smiles. “I’ll think about it. But I must return to the house,” she murmured, feeling emotionally wrung out and, suddenly, bizarrely shy. But she’d never had a man angrily shout his love for her, so that probably accounted for the unusual emotion.

  “I’ll walk you back,” he said, offering his arm.

  Evelyn hesitated. Much as she would jump at any chance to touch him, to be with him, she needed some time alone to sort through her thoughts and emotions.

  And though she desperately wanted to believe in his love for her, there was the niggling seed of doubt that his words to Jonathan had planted. She would try not to cultivate it as was her wont with any negative thing people told her about herself, but it was there nonetheless.

  It would take time for her to fully trust him again.

  “I-I would rather return by myself, if you do not mind.”

  He looked for a moment as if she had slapped him, but then he smiled kindly and shook his head.

  “I do not mind, if that is what you wish.”

  She turned to go, feeling as though the weight of the world was upon her shoulders.

  “Eve, I do love you. Please, if you believe nothing else, believe that.”

  She wanted to believe him. She wanted to be free to tell him that she felt the same way. But so much had happened, and so much was still yet to come.

  Rather than give him an answer, she turned and hurried to the house.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

  He’d found it!

  Andrew was careful not to make a sound as he removed the painting of two bloodhounds from the wall of Spencer’s study.

  As hiding places went, it was cleverer than most because, although Andrew had searched behind all of the hangings thoroughly, he’d never before noticed the draft coming from this one.

  He had the ongoing storm which had lasted for days to thank. That and his determination not to rest until he’d done something to help Eve, to try to make up for his mistake.

  Never had he been as terrified as he had for the last couple of days, since their conversation by the river.

  Although she’d agreed to allow him to continue to help her, she was avoiding him at all costs, going out of her way not to be left alone with him.

  It hurt, he had to admit. He missed her so much it was driving him slowly mad. He missed her smile, her laugh, her sharp wit — and God how he missed holding her, touching her, kissing her.

  He loved her. She had to know that, didn’t she? She hadn’t said the words in return, but he’d been so sure she’d felt the same. Until that damned, stupid conversation with Jonathan.

  Andrew had considered going straight to Jonathan, to her uncle, to the local newspaper when she’d left him that day. Anywhere it took to get her to believe him.

  But, he reasoned, taking out an advertisement in the newspapers would only embarrass them both, and, until her uncle was safely brought to justice, he didn’t want to draw more attention to her than necessary.

  Andrew shook his head, determined to focus on the task at hand. Thoughts of Eve never failed to distract him.

  The wind took up its lonesome wail again, and, once again, the draft swept from behind the wall. There was an opening of some sort here, he was sure of it.

  Running his hand carefully over the smooth, wooden surface Andrew finally came across a lip in the wood, so subtle that one would hardly know it was there.

  Pressing against the wood, he allowed himself a grin of triumph as the panel sprung forward, revealing a safe hidden behind.

  His grin widened as he remembered Eve’s concern at how he would get into a locked safe. Taking a small, sleek blade from his pocket, Andrew bent to his task.

  Opening the safe was the easy part.

  Using whatever was inside to help him win back her trust was the challenge.

  “Oh, my dear you look simply heavenly. I knew the pink would be spectacular on you.”

  Evelyn had been studying her reflection in the looking glass and looked up now to catch her cousin’s eye.

  Anna looked stunning in bronze satin, the colour making her pale hair seem even lighter, her eyes darker. The contrast was beautiful.

  Evelyn had never felt particularly beautiful in her whole life, especially growing up in the shadow of Anna’s incomparable looks.

  When she and Andrew had— well, for a short time she really had felt quite pretty.

  But now, this evening, she could almost believe that what Anna said was true.

  Evelyn had spent hours getting ready for tonight’s ball, much longer than she usually would.

  After a leisurely soak in a lavender bath, she had allowed Molly free reign with her hair, and the abigail had taken to the task with relish. Now, Evelyn’s hair was softly curled and piled atop her head, with tendrils falling to frame her face. For decoration, one of Anna’s headbands encrusted with diamonds and pearls coiled around the tresses.

  Pearl and diamond earrings and a matching necklace completed her jewellery selection.

  The gown itself was another of Anna’s, hemmed to fit Evelyn’s smaller stature. It was a pale pink satin, with ruched sleeves and piping around the waist.

  There had been a chiffon overskirt, but Molly had removed it since it couldn’t be cut cleanly, which suited Evelyn perfectly. She had never done well with too much adornment and ornamentation in any case.

  White satin evening gloves and a white fan, and she was as ready as she would ever be.

  “Ash’s eyes will be on stalks.” Anna grinned.

  Evelyn whipped round to glare sternly at her mischievous cousin. “Anna,” she scolded, reaching for her fan, “I have already told you there is nothing between Lord Ashdon and me.”

  “Yes,” Anna moved to the door, “and I believe you less now than I did then. I cannot wait to see his reaction. He will be rendered utterly speechless, no doubt.”

  She was incorrigible, but Evelyn had to admit that Anna’s words gave her a little thrill of excitement.

  Would Andrew be rendered speechless? Would he like how she looked?

  Should she even care, when she hadn’t
yet decided how she felt about him? Of her love for him, there was no doubt. But could she forget everything he’d said?

  Either way, Evelyn was honest enough to admit that whether things worked out between them or not, she very much wanted him to think she was beautiful tonight.

  Unfortunately, Andrew had already left for the ball with Jonathan since they’d been roped in by the vicar’s wife to help with decorating.

  Evelyn had laughed at Andrew’s bemused reaction to the request while Jonathan explained to him that, in their small village, it wasn’t unheard of for the gentry to get their hands dirty.

  Rather than be affronted, however, Andrew had seemed to find it all very amusing, and he’d set off with an enthusiasm that had surprised Evelyn.

  The ladies made their way downstairs, spirits high, especially Anna’s, since she had discovered that Mr. Grant had cried off, citing some urgent business or other. Anna didn’t offer up any further information, not the least because she hadn’t cared enough to ask.

  They bundled into the carriage, grateful for the hot bricks and blankets on such a cold evening.

  It wasn’t long before they arrived at the Assembly Rooms and joined the line of carriages dropping off parties of people as they went.

  There were calls of greetings and shouts of laughter and an altogether jovial atmosphere that one couldn’t help getting caught up in.

  Anna clutched Evelyn’s arm excitedly, and they made their way up the steps and into the ballroom.

  “I hate these damned things in Town, and I hate them here.”

  Andrew scowled at one of the many mamas with single daughters who was making her way over, sending the woman scurrying off in a different direction, and pulled at his too-tight cravat.

  He had stupidly believed that since this ball was a country dance in the local assembly rooms and not a grand affair at Almack’s, he would be safe from scheming mothers and their single daughters.

  As it turned out, country mamas were even more determined and less scrupulous than their city counterparts.

  It was too much to be borne, particularly since he was already in a foul temper.