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“Well, do not stand there looming over me,” Caroline remarked. She indicated the seat opposite her. “It is rude to stare.”

Only she would ever call him out for his breach of etiquette. Well, Evie used to, but she was no longer here.

“I suppose your business was concluded well.” Caroline poured two cups of tea and handed him one.

He watched as the tendrils of steam rose from the dark brew and twisted into the air before disappearing. How very like Caroline to think that a cup of tea would solve all the world’s problems.

Daniel would have vastly preferred a bottle of his strongest liquor and hoped that it would be able to at least numb whatever it was that seemed to have gripped him so painfully.

“Everything has been taken care of.” He nodded. “The vermin will be taking itself out.”

The Dowager Duchess wrinkled her nose delicately. “Well, yes, I suppose that is for the best, although your methods are a bit harsh.”

“It was either that or I ruin him before the whole of Society.”

Or I wring his puny neck and throw him to the wild animals.

“I suppose exile would be a better choice.” Caroline grimaced. “At least he could still go gallivanting about, making something of himself in a new land.Lady Spaldingmight not be too happy about that, though.”

“I do not care what makes her happy.” He shrugged. All he really cared about was Evie, and now she was gone.

He felt a warm hand clasp his, and he looked up to find Caroline looking at him with a great deal of affection.

“You know, I have always wanted you to find your match not only because I felt that it is your duty to carry on your father’s name,” she told him softly. “I wanted you to make a happy life for yourself out of the darkness ofourgeneration.”

She sighed and shook her head sadly. “While we cannot take back all that has happened to you in the past, my dear boy, I have always hoped that you would fare better than the rest of us—if only so I could spite your father.”

He laughed a little at that. “He truly is not one that would inspire a woman’s affection.”

“More like he is more adept at inspiring enduring contempt!” she agreed with an enthusiastic nod. “But for you, I had hoped better. I had hoped there would bemore. That you would find the happiness we never did—and it was dear Evie who brought you all of that.”

“But she is gone now, Caroline. I have hurt her too much, and IknowI will only hurt her more?—”

“Did you know that you have this dreadful habit of thinking for everyone else?” she sighed in exasperation. “Evie is a woman with her own mind and heart. Do not think for one second that you will be capable of making her own decisions for her.”

He smiled bitterly, recalling the many times his sweet, little spitfire had stood toe-to-toe against him, looking him in the eye and calling him out for the idiot he was.

“Things will turn out well, as long as one is willing to make amends,” Caroline told him softly. “Even the best love matches are not perfect, my boy. As long as you and your dear Evie are determined to work things out, youwillfind a way.”

Hope—something so novel and alien to Daniel—soared crazily in his heart. However, he had long been of the opinion that hope was nothing more than an illusion for dreamers.

“Your Grace.”

Both of them looked up from their cups of tea to find Barnaby standing at the door to the parlor.

“There is a Mr. Turner here to see the Duchess of Ashton,” the butler announced with some discomfort.

Mr. Turner. In all the events that had unfolded, Daniel had all but forgotten his wedding gift for Evie!

“Shall I tell him that Her Grace is currently indisposed?”

Daniel shook his head and stood up. “No, Barnaby, that is not necessary. Tell Mr. Turner I shall see him in my study. I shall tell him about the Duchess myself.”

Before the wedding, he had arranged for Mr. Turner to give Evie some painting lessons, knowing how much she admired the artist. It was to be his wedding gift to her.

Now, he still wished for her to have her beloved painting lessons.

I hope that painting with Mr. Turner will at least soothe the pain I have caused her.