An Earl's Guide to Catch a Lady

by Wilde, Tanya

  Evelyn inhaled deeply and then exhaled slowly in a painful attempt to gather her wits. You love him, you dolt. Her inner voice reprimanded her. She loved him. But stubbornness had cast a shadow her own denial. What did it matter whether her dreams of traveling the world came true or not? If it did, would she not have bothered to act on her plans?

  “I don’t know if I can do this,” she gasped out.

  Through blurred vision she watched as Matthew stiffly searched the crowd of faces, but had yet to find hers.

  Jo put her hand on Evelyn’s arm. “There’s no reason to stay, we need not do more than what they have already done.”

  She was right, Evelyn realized in dismay, her gaze flickering over their audience. Dozens of eyes that held nothing but unwanted pity waited for her hysterics, which she was expected to be overcome with at sight of Matthew in the arms of an old lover. Evelyn refused to look at the traitorous rogue. She expected such deviousness from Charlotte, but not from him. He had played her the fool.

  “I’m so sorry, Ev,” Belle said, reverting to a nickname she rarely used, her face as white as snow. “I had no idea.”

  “It’s not your fault. I will be fine, please don’t be sorry.”

  Maybe if she said it over and over she would believe it.

  “I don't like this at all,” Jo said. “Not one bit.”

  “You go,” Belle said to Jo. “I’ll stay to deal with this. No one would expect her to remain after this.”

  “It will cause an even bigger scene if she leaves now.”

  “Exactly.”

  “I’m standing right here,” Evelyn muttered. Her heart was breaking.

  “This is good,” Belle said with a nod. “If you leave now not only will it cause a scene, it will give him the scare he so richly deserves.”

  “I will be ruined.”

  “You were ruined the moment you met him,” Belle said with a wink.

  That was true.

  “St. Aldwyn is almost on us, we need to leave now,” Jo said hurriedly, already dragging Evelyn to the door.

  Where was Simon?

  “Go, I’ll keep them here with my deadly stare,” Belle reassured them.

  Evelyn appreciated Belle’s humor, but couldn’t bring herself to share it, or even smile. From across the room her gaze locked with Matthew’s and her heart hammered in her chest. For one brief moment the world narrowed on him. The tittering and music fading until she could only hear the sound of her heart beating wildly in her chest.

  And then the woman on his arm laughed, bringing back with it all the tittering and music, and painful clarity. He was the cause of her pain, and he knew it. His expression remained blank, devoid of any emotion, but his eyes seemed to beg her for… something. She looked away before she embarrassed herself by bursting into tears. She was such an idiot!

  Evelyn tried to remember everything she’d heard about Lady Stockbridge, but for the life of her she couldn’t remember anything, only that this was the woman who had, with vicious intent, broken up a friendship and caused the man she claimed as hers, to become a brooding recluse. Evelyn felt suffocated as horror seeped through her skin.

  “You realize of course, there will be hell to pay if my brother catches us.”

  Evelyn looked down at her costume with a skeptical eye. No one would believe they were maids. Worse, if her brother thought to comfort her after the Carrington Ball debacle he would notice she was gone. Not that she believed he would. He would wait until morning before he approached her. Like almost every male on earth he blanched at the sight of a woman’s emotions.

  “There will be hell to pay if anyone catches us,” Jo commented wryly.

  “Well, I for one will be leaving for my travels as soon as possible.”

  “How convenient for you, I however don’t have the luxury.”

  “Oh, hush,” Evelyn muttered, tiptoeing her way down another step. She surveyed their surroundings aware Jo followed right at her back. The wooden steps were narrow and steeper than the ones they used in the main hall. They could easily lose their footing if they rushed.

  “I must admit I find it relaxing to creep around my home like a burglar robbing us blind,” Evelyn whispered as she reached the bottom of the final round of stairs. “We should do this more often.”

  “Lord no,” Jo muttered.

  Evelyn glanced at her in amusement. “So dangerous parts of town and kidnapping members of the ton fall under your daily activities, but sneaking around a house creeps you out?”

  “I never said I was perfect.”

  Evelyn chuckled. “At least the stairs don’t creak.”

  “A small miracle I’m sure.”

  “Do you think Wes is waiting for us at the docks?”

  “Saints, I hope so.”

  Evelyn hoped so to. They had a narrow time frame before Madeleine’s disappearance would be noticed. She wondered whether Matthew would demand an audience with her. Her servants had strict orders to turn him away and if need be, shoot his knee caps.

  But that’s not why she was worried. Madeleine’s father would realize she was missing at any moment. It was what made this endeavor so dangerous. What if Wes had been seen? What if they were caught? Evelyn stopped at the kitchen door to listen if anyone was inside. When they heard no one she opened the door and snuck through, exhaling the breath she’d been holding. Quietly they tiptoed to the door that led to the back entrance of the house.

  “It’s eerily quiet,” Evelyn muttered.

  Jo shuddered, silently agreeing with her friend. “I hate dark, quiet places, nothing ever good happens in them.”

  They finally reached the back entrance and slipped out into the crisp night air, both inhaling the fresh chill as though just escaping a prison.

  “We made it,” Evelyn whispered in relief.

  “This wasn’t the hard part.”

  An owl sounded in the distance, signaling for them. They ran down the street where James, the mountain, waited for them with an old worn out coach. He smiled as they neared him.

  “Good evening ladies,” he greeted as he looked passed Jo at Evelyn. “Lady Evelyn, always a pleasure to gaze upon your lovely face.”

  “Oh stop, you rogue,” Evelyn replied, rewarding him with a charming smile.

  “Yes, please stop,” Jo said dryly. “Can we focus on the matter at hand? I needn’t remind you we are on a time frame.”

  Evelyn chuckled as Jo marched past them and jumped into the awaiting coach. Excitement replaced the ache in her heart. Somewhat. If but for a small respite.

  Evelyn winked at James and followed Jo. All appeared to be going according to plan. Perhaps too well according to plan? A faint stirring in her mind caused Evelyn a frown. What if everything had worked out too well? She shoved those thoughts aside with a shake of her head. Everything would go as planned. It was why one made plans.

  “Do you have the papers ready James?” Jo asked, breaking the silence that had ensued.

  “Yes, my surly brother managed to pull it off in record time,” James replied patting his coat pocket, a smile playing across his face. “It irked him no end to be called away at this time in the operation.”

  “I imagine it had to be urgent for him to depart so suddenly,” Jo responded.

  “No doubt that it is.”

  Evelyn regarded James in bemused fascination. He was a conundrum. In her observations she had come to learn that he and his brother were the exact opposite of each other even if they looked the exact same. And while she had never seen him without a smile or in a foul mood, there was an underlining edge to him, like a tiger waiting to pounce. Whereas his brother was all surly, as James put it, an underlining gentleness seemed to exist underneath his hard exterior.

  “Finally,” Jo exclaimed as the coach came to a slow halt.

  Evelyn crossed her fingers and sent a silent prayer that Wes had been successful and he and Madeleine were now waiting for them on the docks. She jumped from the carriage, following James and Jo into the ni
ght air. Here it wasn’t so crisp and clean.

  Studying her surroundings she saw no sign of Wes or Madeleine. Then two figures emerged from the shadows, and Evelyn breathed a sigh of relief. And wished she hadn’t. Her nose wrinkled as the sharp tinge of smoke and rotten fish entered her nostrils.

  Jo rushed to Madeleine. “Are you well?” she asked concerned, noting her slight limp.

  Madeleine nodded. “Yes,” she replied in a tired voice. “Just a bit scared.”

  “Everything is going to be fine,” James put in behind them.

  Madeleine took a step back at the sight of James, a frown gathering on her forehead. Wes took note of her retreat and put a protective arm around her shoulders.

  “Where’s the boat?” Evelyn asked, her eyes squinting in search of the elusive boat.

  Madeleine was to board a ship, anchored a few miles off shore. The exact location of the ship only the captain had knowledge of. It was safer that way, should Madeleine’s father ever find out one of them had been involved in her disappearance, which he would most likely have noticed by now. But no one waited at the docks to receive them.

  Poor Madeleine had suffered a great deal at the hands of her father. The last time he beat her so badly she hadn’t been able walk for three weeks, it was then that Jo and her group came together to rescue the dear.

  “Late,” Wes muttered.

  “If the boat doesn’t arrive in ten we move to plan B,” James said with a steely edge to his voice. He wasn’t a man for complications. “We dare not wait any longer or we risk being caught.”

  “I agree,” Jo said with a nod. “It won’t end well if we get caught now.”

  “My-y father would k-kill me,” Madeleine stammered nervously, moving closer to Wes.

  To all probing eyes it appeared she’d formed an attachment to their friend.

  “Don’t worry Maddy. I won’t let anything happen to you,” Wes reassured.

  “I would like to wring that bastard’s neck,” James grumbled.

  Evelyn wished that he would. In fact, she was tempted to do it herself. If only she had big arms like James. Madeleine’s father, the Marquis of Marlborough, needed to be brought to justice for what he had done to his daughter. Unfortunately, no laws protected women against this kind of violence. The Marquis was her father and therefore her legal guardian; therefore she was his property to be done with as he pleased.

  Evelyn was suddenly grateful for her brother who loved her beyond a doubt, even if he was at times too meddlesome for his own good. Madeleine had never known such love.

  “What can be keeping them?” Evelyn said impatiently.

  “They are sea folk, they don’t give a damn about time,” James said in a dark whisper.

  “Or they are foxed,” Wes grumbled, peering over the docks with a frown.

  Jo sighed and started to pace. Her friend’s frustration bled from her limbs.

  “Something’s wrong,” Jo muttered absently.

  Evelyn agreed. The ship’s captain had been briefed on the importance and delicate nature of the situation, and the quick execution of it. Their operation would fail without his cooperation and they’d come too far to fail now.

  “I don’t normally say this but I have an increasingly bad feeling.”

  Everyone nodded in agreement. In all honesty, things had gone too smoothly. From the moment they’d arrived at the ball, the perfect reaction when Charlotte arrived on Matthew’s arm and her humiliating departure. He hadn’t even made a move to extract himself from her person. Evelyn blinked away that disturbing image. She was furious with him. Still, their plan proceeded with perfect precision, flawless even. Jo and James had planned this operation like army generals, but where was the gunfire of the enemies?

  Evelyn turned to Madeleine, “Are you nervous?”

  “About starting a new life?”

  Evelyn nodded.

  “A little. But mostly I’m excited not to be scared all the time.”

  Evelyn’s throat closed up at her admission. How could one’s parents be so cruel?

  Jo smiled sympathetically, pushing a lock of Madeleine’s wavy blond hair out of her eyes.

  “You'll do fine. You've got the kind of strength in you that will allow you to rise above any circumstance. I admire that in you.”

  “Careful Jo,” Evelyn murmured. “You are revealing your old age.”

  “What?” Jo exclaimed in mock horror, lifting the mood a bit.

  Evelyn and James chuckled softly. Even Madeleine had a small smile on her lips. Wes was the only one holding a serious demeanor.

  The sudden sound of sloshing had them all frozen, listening intently and focused on the darkness beyond the docks. James cursed when they couldn’t see anything but darkness before them.

  “Did you hear that?” Wes asked in a whisper, gripping Madeleine’s arm.

  “I think everyone heard that,” James muttered, sarcasm dripping from his voice.

  “Be quiet,” Jo admonished.

  Everyone went quiet again, but no sound was detected other than the rippling of water.

  Wes pulled Madeleine back into the shadows, but not before he leaned down to whisper into Evelyn’s ear, “I hope you enjoyed my gifts, early wedding presents, if you will.”

  With that they both faded into the darkness of the surrounding buildings.

  Evelyn watched them disappear with huge eyes. He had been her secret admirer? Goodness! Why ever would he do that? Had he wanted her to marry Matthew? She shook her head; she would dwell on that shocking revelation later.

  The sloshing sound returned, diverting her attention, and James grabbed her by the shoulders when she would have taken a step toward the edge of the dock to better see what the noise might be. It would be disastrous should anyone other than who they were expecting.

  “There is someone out there,” James’s voiced whipped through the night, pushing them aside to stand in front of them, shielding them from whoever lurked out there.

  “I take it it's not the captains men?” Evelyn asked in a whisper, gripping the back of his coat her hands.

  “No.”

  For the first time since they met Evelyn saw James in all his deadliness. It defied explanation how he transformed from charming to scary so fast.

  Unfamiliar sounds drew Evelyn’s attention to the darkness again. Feet landing somewhere on the docks reached their ears. About three or four pairs, if her ears did not deceive her. Evelyn peered around James when he blocked her view. Tiny ripples of shivers racked her body when four big men emerge from the darkness.

  Her heart plummeted. Her pulse began to race.

  Fear had her clinging tighter to James. She turned to glance at Jo. Like Evelyn she stood frozen at the sight before her, sheer disbelief and shock playing across her features. Evelyn turned her gaze back to the four men approaching, their features now very distinguishable. Well, at least it wasn’t the Marquis of Marlborough. That was something she supposed.

  “I take it you both know these lads,” James said in a loud voice.

  For the benefit of the approaching men, Evelyn assumed. His voice held just the right amount of indifference and she could tell the word “lads” had been deliberate. It had the desired effect on the men.

  “I vote we beat him to a bloody pulp,” Damien said scathingly.

  “Bloody hell, he’s a mountain,” Simon put in.

  “I’ve taken on bigger,” Damien growled, assessing James.

  “I’ve taken on more,” James shot back, a sly smile plastered on his face.

  The other two men remained silent.

  Holy stars. “What are you doing here Simon?” Evelyn asked in a clipped tone. A mistake. She regretted her question at once when all eyes turned on her with narrowed regard. She knew very well what the men were doing here.

  Matthew however didn’t need to turn his gaze her way. His eyes had been locked on her since their arrival. A brief glance confirmed his gaze was not on her, but rather on her hand that gripped James
’s coat. Mentally Evelyn commanded her fingers to release its hold on the coat, but her fingers only tightened. Her grip on James’s coat signified solidity where the ground had just opened beneath her.

  Evelyn felt a pang of sorrow. Deep regret filled her. But anger soon sparked beneath the depth of regret. Had he not, only hours ago, been in the arms of the harlot? Well, he could stare all he wanted to, she would not let go of this coat!

  His obvious glare also hadn’t escaped James’s notice.

  “Well, we couldn’t miss your little party now, could we,” Simon finally said, glancing at their surroundings.

  “Captain Jack was very forthcoming with information of how he was to escort a posh young lady to some unknown destination where she would start a new life, with a new identity. Care to elaborate on that?”

  “No.”

  Was all Evelyn said.

  “Defiant until the bitter end,” Damien muttered.

  “It would appear so,” Simon agreed. “Where is the sweet Lady Madeleine?”

  Evelyn shot Jo a sideways glance. They knew. The pretense was over. “I believe she left.”

  “With your good friend Lord Weatherpee, no doubt.”

  Evelyn narrowed her eyes on her brother. “No doubt.”

  “Evelyn,” Matthew started, taking a step forward.

  Apparently the sight of her clutching another man’s coat with no intention of letting go was enough to bring him out of his brooding silence. Brahm, Jo’s brother, however, remained stoic and silent. How out of character for him, Evelyn mused.

  “I have nothing to say to you,” she said to Matthew, her eyes cold and her voice curt.

  He froze, watching her wearily.

  “I take it,” Jo spoke for the first time, directly to her brother, “you had your minions follow us around.”

  “On the contrary my dear,” Brahm told her in a remarkably calm voice, “after St. Aldwyn, Westfield and Grey informed me of their suspicions, we had our minions follow your good friend, Lord Wetterby around.”

  Damien shifted on his feet. “It was clear you tried to distract us from something, while someone had to be making the arrangements. It seemed a logical deduction.”

  Logical indeed. Their mistake was apparent.