An Earl's Guide to Catch a Lady

by Wilde, Tanya

What! No. Of all the things he might have said, she expected that the least. Her eyes closed of their own accord as his words enlightened her to the truth.

  “Damien?” she whispered, appalled. It could not be.

  “Yes.” He watched her reaction with fierce intent, his shrewd eyes missing nothing.

  Evelyn’s heart sunk in the direction of her shoes. Surely fate would not be so cruel? Yet she had chosen the same man to be her fake betrothed that betrayed Matthew. How could Damien do something so awful? That man’s depravity knew no bounds. She had always known he was a rake, but she could never have imagined just how notorious he was.

  “I am truly appalled and sorry for what happened to you,” Evelyn said truthfully. It might even have been the one true thing she’d said since they met. “Quite frankly, I don’t know Damien that well. I had no idea…”

  Evelyn wasn’t lying. She had known Damien all her life, he was her brother’s best friend after all, but couldn’t claim to know him on a personal level. They have never exchanged more than a few words and he had never even asked her to dance. He had always just been… there.

  Matthew clamped down the unexpected surge of jealousy and the icy dread that formed in his stomach. She was lying. She had to be. “Calling him by name does not imply an amount of intimacy or knowledge?”

  Oh good lord. Now he believed she was lying? The irony was not lost her.

  “What are you implying?” she asked, tucking a stray curl behind her ear. “I speak the truth and you turn it into an insult.”

  He leaned forward until he was inches away from her face. “There is nothing truthful about you,” his expression turned stony, “and there is nothing truthful about St. Aldwyn either.”

  Evelyn felt at a loss. “What do you want from me?” she whispered exasperated at his ever changing moods.

  Matthew snorted at her question. “Do you not find it odd that your betrothed is not in Bath? But then, not so odd considering he does not own any residence near or in Bath?”

  What? Evelyn gaped at his statement. “How could you possibly know that?”

  Ignoring her question he continued, “Which brings me to my final conclusion. You lied about meeting him.”

  Evelyn snapped her mouth shut.

  He touched her lower lip with a gentle finger. “I will never let you marry that bastard. Never.”

  Heavens. Did he need to touch her so?

  “What do you want from me?”

  “The truth.”

  Her eyes wide Evelyn made several attempts to speak, but no words formed. He acted as though she had been the one to steal the sun from his sky and cast dark thunderous clouds over his life. It occurred to Evelyn then, that perhaps she had not been the problem, but Damien, when she named him her fake betrothed.

  “Why are you lying to me?”

  Why indeed.

  “I am not lying,” she sounded lame even to her own ears. “Why are you doing this? You don’t even know me.”

  Her question brought him up short and he sat back suddenly, raking a hand through his already unruly hair. “You are right, yet again. I hardly know you, and you hardly know me.”

  “You admit I am right. How positively chivalrous of you.”

  A wolfish smile lit his face.

  Evelyn scrunched her eyebrows together and tipped her head to the side. “You are the most confusing man,” she observed. One moment he was all scowls and growls and the next he gifted her with a grand smile that lit up the carriage in flames.

  “And still you know me in the way that it matters.”

  She did? She gave a slight shake of her head. “What way?”

  “We kissed and we share an attraction toward one another.”

  “And if I do not wish to be attracted to you?” she asked helplessly.

  The corner of his eyes wrinkled. “Then you should kiss me, Evelyn, and rid yourself of your attraction.”

  Her hands clenched as she fought to remain unmoved by the image of his lips on hers that suddenly assaulted her mind.

  “You are mocking me, sir.”

  He looked at her pointedly. “Did you truly believe I wouldn’t search for you?”

  “I can hardly think why you would?” Evelyn felt her brows draw together. “You are under no obligation toward me.”

  For a moment he hesitated, as if measuring his words. “You lied to me, and that has made me curious,” he finally answered.

  “You are pursuing me out of curiosity?” That made no sense to Evelyn.

  He gave a single nod. “But I have used the wrong approach. I have let my anger get in the way. A mistake I will not make again. As for my curiosity, do you believe in fate Evelyn? That fate guided you to my room?”

  “I believe you make your own fate,” she returned, alert now at his mention of the word approach. What did he mean by approach? Nothing good, she was sure.

  “Am I to understand then you wanted to come to my room?”

  “Don’t be absurd, that was an accident, as well you know.”

  “Mayhap,” Matthew interjected, “but I do believe in fate.”

  That sparked her temper. He made too much of this entire situation when all she made of it was the potentiality to ruin her dreams of exploring the exotic lands she read tales about as a child. How grand it would be to meet a Chinese Emperor or a Russian prince! Much grander than being shackled to a mere man.

  “I don’t give a rats tail about what you believe in, sir.”

  “Tut-tut, such language for a lady.”

  Evelyn had enough of his games.

  “Where are you taking me?” she demanded.

  He gave a soft, rueful smile even though his eyes remained heated. “I am keeping a watchful eye on you, that is until we find St. Aldwyn and clear this matter of betrothal.”

  That still did not answer her question.

  “Clear this matter of betrothal? Have you lost your mind?”

  He gave her a strange look. “My mind is here with me Evelyn, it is yours that seems to be lost.”

  “You are in no position to clear any matters concerning me,” Evelyn snapped, alarmed at the thought.

  “Do you love him?”

  “Love has little to do with betrothals.” She hoped she put him off any thoughts on clearing matters up. But his voice was soft and certain when he said, “Liar.”

  “There is nothing to clear,” Evelyn said firmly, glaring at the smirk that filled his face.

  “Are you finally admitting that you lied about the betrothal?”

  “No!” she snapped.

  He grabbed her hand suddenly, pulling her onto his lap and pressed his lips against hers before she could protest. His mouth demanded hers to surrender. Evelyn went rigid for a brief moment before she started to melt into his embrace, her hands reaching up to twist in his hair. Almost immediately the kissed gentled, but his arms held her tighter against him, his hands roaming the length of her body. She shivered, and just as suddenly Matthew ended the kiss, his breath coming out in harsh gasps.

  “I will get the truth out of you yet, Evelyn,” he whispered harshly against her exposed neck, running his tongue over her bare skin.

  Evelyn was too dazed to react or to notice the building that came into view. However, alarm set in when he studied her face. His eyes glittered dangerously.

  “We’re here.”

  Chapter 6

  We’re here.

  His words sounded like something from a chapter of Lady Sugar Finds Love. But Evelyn didn’t think she would find love here.

  “Where are we?”

  She couldn’t stop the note of panic that entered her voice.

  Matthew spared her only a fleeting glance. “I need to make preparations before we leave. If you had not run away when you had, you might have known.”

  Evelyn harrumphed. “I reject that statement. I did not run away.”

  “Oh? My apologies then, what would you call it?”

  Evelyn wanted wipe that smirk from his handsome face.
It was as though he had won some mysterious battle. Something was becoming very clear, however; he was not taking her home. Which, she thought bitterly, he couldn’t since he did not know where she was headed.

  “Preparations be damned. I am leaving for my aunt’s,” she forced out through clenched teeth.

  Matthew lifted one dark brow in a mocking gesture. “She lives at the White Horse in Bristol?”

  Evelyn sputtered. “No! That was a mistake. I never intended to go to Bristol.”

  “Be that as it may, there are still preparations to be made.”

  “What preparations?” she asked, exasperated.

  “Why, for our marriage of course.”

  “I beg your pardon?”

  He spoke slowly, as if he thought she would not understand a word he said. “You are ruined, Evelyn. You spent a night in my bed, ran around half naked in my presence and you kissed me.”

  “Nobody knows any of that!”

  “I know.”

  “I am betrothed!”

  “You are not.” He regarded her sternly before he finished, “Anymore.”

  Evelyn wanted to stomp her foot in exasperation. She did not need to be reminded of her actions, but neither was she going to marry him out of some misguided sense of duty.

  “You can’t really mean to marry me! We hardly know one another.”

  She let tears form in her eyes, in hope to needle this insufferable, arrogant man with the most powerful weapon women have used for centuries. He seemed rather immune however, like he was not the sort of man to react to something as tedious as someone else’s feelings.

  “We are attracted to one another. Marriages have been based on far less.”

  A look of pure horror overcame Evelyn. “Attraction? You would base your marriage on nothing but attraction?”

  He shot her glance, his eyes alive with fire. “Is that not what you are doing with St. Aldwyn?”

  Drat. Of course. Her engagement.

  “That is different!”

  Matthew said nothing, just glared at her.

  She continued, “I won’t marry you, no matter what you do.”

  His face turned dark. “Yet you would marry St. Aldwyn, for what? Love? Naïve, Evelyn, is what you are.”

  Evelyn gave a hollow laugh. “Oh I’m not naïve, Mr. Langdon. I know all too well the cruelties of our world. Perhaps not first hand, but I have seen people who would do anything to gain what they seek, all in the name of love. For many it’s just a means to an end, but not for all.”

  Her remark struck home. Charlotte had done that—abused the emotion to gain what she sought. She knew how to work a man and their weaknesses. And he had been no different than any other. At first he’d been cautious, perhaps even more so than most, but eventually he had succumbed. Then he had believed the lies of love she had whispered into his ear, the promises of forever. After he had seen her for the fraud that she was, he had shut himself out from the world, putting up armor as thick as a wall.

  “Yes,” he agreed in a harsh voice. “At least we agree on something.”

  “I will not marry you.”

  He did not answer.

  Evelyn regarded him for a moment that lasted precisely four heartbeats, considering how best to proceed. Finally she said, “Not everyone is like her.”

  Still no answer.

  So he was determined to ignore her now, was he? Well she refused to be ignored.

  “Granted, I find you very appealing now, but one day you will be bald and pudgy, and I will be fat and wrinkled. The attraction, as you put it, will be gone.” Seeing the ‘are you done now’ look he shot her way she continued, “And as you are much older than I am, my attention might be pulled elsewhere where attraction is concerned.”

  That got his attention.

  “I would kill anyone who dared to touch you.”

  Evelyn’s lips pulled up in a wicked smile. “I believe there is a saying that goes something like: what you are not aware off, cannot kill me.”

  His mouth settled in a firm line as he continued to glare at her smiling face.

  “I will not marry an old fart,” Evelyn stated clearly.

  “I am not an old fart,” Matthew bit out.

  She just lifted an infuriating, albeit delicate, brow.

  “Would you stop spouting such drivel? I will not change my mind,” he said flatly, unfazed by her attempts to make him change his mind or even mock him. Damn, but now he even felt like an old fart.

  Evelyn almost barred her teeth at him. He was such a hothead. “And that is my point, what about my mind? Do I not get a say in the matter?”

  Matthew pinched the bridge of his nose. “You made your decision when you climbed into my bed.”

  She snorted her opinion. “I was hardly in any state to make life changing decisions.”

  Matthew snorted in return. “I’ll say. That is exactly why you need a husband.”

  Evelyn seethed at that. “That’s it! You miserable rotter! If your male prowess had even begun to match that mouth of yours perhaps we would still be back at the Inn!” Evelyn shouted, breathing hard. She regretted her insult immediately as Matthew’s face reddened at her words, his eyes narrowing on her threateningly.

  Oh dear.

  In hindsight she should have realized it would have been safer to poke a bear with a stick. And before she could even think to take back her words she was grabbed in a painful grip and pulled against his hard chest. His lips crushed against hers with a brute intensity as she hopelessly tried to push away from him.

  Matthew felt her struggle against his assault but would not give way. She attempted to turn her head away, but he would not allow it. Something deep and primal lurking within him since he saw her dressed in men’s clothing now urged him to possess her, to make her surrender to him.

  To his satisfaction she slowly relented, and he deepened the kiss when she pressed deeper into him. Cupping her buttocks he lifted her higher against his hardness so that she could feel his de-sire.

  When the carriage suddenly rocked to a stop, Evelyn shoved against his chest.

  He let her go. Falling back into her seat she looked delectable with her swollen lips and tousled hair, desire still running hot in his blood.

  “This isn’t over, sweetheart,” he drawled before the carriage door opened and he jumped out.

  Evelyn’s hands trembled uncontrollably as she watched Matthew hop out of the carriage. Damn him for being so irresistibly, mouthwatering, skirt-hiking, knee wobblingly male. The door widened and he stood there with an arrogantly raised brow, his ever present serious air in place once more.

  He held out his hand.

  Evelyn’s gaze darted for something she could hold onto, anything to keep her from leaving the safe confines of the carriage.

  “You can either take my hand sweetheart, or I’ll throw you over my shoulder and carry you in myself,” he challenged.

  She pulled a face. He knew very well she would not make such a scene. Placing her hand in his he lifted her up into his arms, ignoring her cry of protest, his long strides taking them into the un-familiar residence before she could even blink an eyelash.

  “Where are we?”

  “The residence of a friend in Bath.”

  His stride never broke as he carried her through the main hall and up the main staircase. Her earlier suspicions returned as she studied him more closely. He was no mere Mr. Again a sense of familiarity washed over her but she pushed it away. He had all the attributes of a member of the aristocracy. It was in the way he walked as if the earth should tremble beneath his feet and an air of arrogance surrounded him like a cloak. Even his luxurious carriage.

  Evelyn stilled as a thought struck her.

  The carriage! There would be a crest on the side and she hadn’t even thought to look for it. The rotter. He accused her of lying when all this time he’d lied to her as well.

  Who was he really?

  Matthew stopped at a closed door and gave her a look of vulnerable
uncertainty. He appeared to want to say something but decided against it. Still Evelyn felt herself drowning in the depth of his gaze. His eyes never left hers as he opened the door and stepped inside. Perhaps he had woven a spell around her, but whatever it was; it was broken with the resounding shut of the door.

  “Put me down,” Evelyn said as she started to squirm in his arms. To her surprise he let her go.

  She studied the room he’d brought her to. It was dark and spacious with tasteful color, but that was where it stopped. There were no personal items to give the room any kind of personality. The only thing that looked inviting was the bed. In fact, the bed was the only furniture in the room, and it was covered in red satin sheets.

  All the windows in the room were covered as well, so that no light entered. This won’t do at all. Evelyn took a step away from him and would have given him a piece of her mind, but when their eyes locked all sense of self-preservation vanished. A look of intense possession reflected in his eyes, held her spellbound. Her breath caught at the back of her throat. This was a man intent on seduction.

  He pushed away from the door and closed the distance between them, but he did not touch her.

  She looked up at him and stuttered, “I need to... that is...”

  He stopped her with the soft touch of a finger on her lips. Then he bent his head so that his lips were pressed against her ear and said in a hoarse voice, “You’re keeping secrets from me Evelyn. Trust me. Confide in me. Let us get the truth out in the open and clear the air between us.”

  His words were compelling and seductive.

  He met her gaze openly and her heart pinched at the vulnerability that lurked in those ancient green eyes.

  Still she could not give up the truth. “There is nothing to tell.”

  Oh how she wanted to! But what if her identity became known and she lost her freedom only to become just another lady trapped in a gilded cage? What if he whispered promises that he had no intention of keeping? She wanted to explore the cultures of Africa, stand before the pyramids of Egypt and sip on Turkish coffee, in Turkey.

  Yet in the presence of this man Evelyn had to remind herself that she wasn’t the only one with secrets.

  “I don’t believe you.”

  His lips found hers. Panic and desire pulsed through her as he pulled her closer against his hard body. Her heartbeat increased rapidly as her mind fought frantically what to do. Her traitorous heart wanted to throw caution to the wind while her rational mind wanted her to run away as fast as she could.