Page 26 of A Wife for the Beast (Scandals and Second Chances #6)
The accuracy of his assessment struck her like a physical blow, highlighting the uncomfortable reality that her marriage to Lucian had indeed been motivated primarily by desperation rather than affection.
Yet the fact that his observation was essentially correct did not make it any less insulting when delivered with such calculated cruelty.
"My choices were my own to make," she replied with dignity that concealed the sting of his words. "And I consider myself fortunate to have made them as I did."
"How admirably loyal of you, Your Grace. Though loyalty extracted through financial necessity rather than genuine affection might be considered somewhat unreliable in its permanence."
"That is quite enough," Lucian said with the sort of controlled violence that made the very air seem to vibrate with tension. "You have made your point, Edmund. Now perhaps you might explain what you hope to accomplish through these observations."
"I hope to accomplish justice for the Ravenshollow family name," Pembroke replied with renewed confidence.
"A marriage contracted under such questionable circumstances, between parties of such vastly different social stations, with such obvious financial motivations—surely you can understand why certain interested parties might question its validity? "
"What interested parties?" Evangeline demanded, though she suspected she already knew the answer to her question.
"Well, myself, naturally, as the current heir presumptive should your marriage prove to be legally problematic. But also, certain members of the legal profession who take a particular interest in cases involving potential coercion or mental incapacity."
The threat was now explicit rather than merely implied, and Evangeline felt her hands clench into fists at the casual way he spoke of destroying their lives for his own financial advantage.
"You are suggesting that we should dissolve our marriage to accommodate your expectations of inheritance?" she asked with dangerous quiet.
"I am suggesting that marriages contracted under irregular circumstances sometimes benefit from careful legal review. Particularly when one party may not have been in a proper state of mind to make such momentous decisions."
The reference to Lucian's mental competency filled the room with such tension that Evangeline half-expected violence to erupt at any moment. Her husband's scarred features had gone completely still, though she could see the fury burning in his dark eyes like banked coals ready to burst into flame.
"I believe this conversation has served its purpose," Lucian said with deadly calm. "You have made your position clear, Edmund, and I have noted your concerns. Now I suggest you take your leave before our discussion deteriorates beyond the bounds of family courtesy."
"Naturally, naturally. Though I do hope you will give serious consideration to what I have said. Legal proceedings can be so unpleasant for all concerned. It would be far better to resolve such matters through private negotiation."
With that parting threat, Pembroke departed with the same elaborate courtesy that had marked his arrival, leaving behind an atmosphere poisoned by his implications and the very real dangers they represented.
"He means to challenge our marriage in court," Evangeline said after the sound of his departing carriage had faded into the distance. "He believes he can prove either coercion or your mental incapacity, and either would be sufficient to invalidate our union."
"Yes," Lucian agreed grimly. "And he may well succeed, given the circumstances of our courtship and the visible evidence of my war injuries."
The calm way he accepted the possibility of losing everything they had built together filled her with sudden fury at both Pembroke's malice and Lucian's apparent resignation to defeat.
"Then we must ensure that he fails," she declared with fierce determination. "We must present such a united front, such clear evidence of a successful marriage, that no court would credit his accusations."
"And how do you propose we accomplish such a feat?"
"By living as though our marriage were genuine rather than merely convenient. By demonstrating affection in public, by presenting ourselves as a devoted couple rather than reluctant partners in a business arrangement."
The suggestion hung between them like a challenge, highlighting the gulf that still existed between their practical partnership and the sort of romantic attachment that would be necessary to refute Pembroke's accusations conclusively.
"You would be willing to pretend such feelings for the sake of defeating Edmund's schemes?"
"I would be willing to do whatever proves necessary to protect what we have built together," she replied with complete honesty. "Our marriage may have begun as a matter of convenience, but it has become something more valuable than either of us initially anticipated."
Her declaration seemed to affect him more powerfully than she had expected, his expression softening with what might have been hope or perhaps merely gratitude for her continued loyalty.
"Then we shall fight him," he said finally. "Together."
***
The next morning brought crisp weather that seemed to mock the domestic turmoil that had settled over Ravenshollow Manor like a suffocating blanket.
Evangeline had passed a restless night contemplating the implications of Pembroke's threats and the challenges that lay ahead, yet she was determined not to allow his machinations to prevent her from fulfilling her daily obligations as duchess.
It was with this resolve that she set out for the village to complete several errands that had been postponed during the recent social obligations and estate emergencies.
The walk to Ravenshollow village had become one of her favorite opportunities for solitary reflection, providing both physical exercise and mental clarity that the confines of the Manor could not offer.
She longed so much for that time alone that she did not ask for a maid as a chaperone, being certain that the walk to the village was completely harmless.
The morning was peaceful enough, with frost sparkling on the hedgerows and her breath forming small clouds in the crisp air.
The dog that had been rescued during their estate tour—now christened Wellington by the stable hands in honor of his recovery from seemingly hopeless circumstances—trotted alongside her with the sort of eager attention that made him an ideal companion for such expeditions.
Wellington had grown considerably during his time of recovery, developing into a handsome animal whose intelligence and loyalty had quickly endeared him to the entire household staff.
Lucian had never explicitly claimed ownership of the dog, yet Wellington seemed to understand instinctively that his primary allegiance belonged to the Duke who had arranged his rescue, though he was equally devoted to the Duchess who often provided treats and gentle attention.
It was while she was returning from the village, her errands completed and her spirits somewhat lightened by the normalcy of domestic concerns, that Evangeline became aware of being followed by two men whose appearance and manner marked them as strangers to the local community.
They maintained a careful distance behind her on the village road, yet their presence felt somehow threatening in ways she could not immediately define.
"Good morning, Your Grace," one of them called out as they closed the distance between them with sudden purpose. "Might we have a word with you regarding a matter of some importance?"
The forced politeness of his address did nothing to mask the underlying menace in his tone, and Evangeline felt Wellington's posture change beside her as the dog sensed the potential threat these men represented.
His hackles rose slightly, and a low growl emerged from his throat as he positioned himself between the approaching strangers and her.
"I am afraid I do not recognise either of you gentlemen," she replied with the sort of cool courtesy that established both her rank and her disinclination to engage in conversation with unknown persons.
"If you have business at Ravenshollow Manor, I suggest you present yourselves properly at the front entrance. "
"Oh, but our business is with you specifically, Your Grace," the second man said with an unpleasant smile that revealed teeth stained yellow from tobacco use.
"We've been sent to deliver a message about your domestic situation and the changes that might prove necessary for your continued well-being. "
The euphemistic phrasing could not disguise the implicit threat in his words, and Evangeline realized with growing alarm that these men had been sent by someone with malicious intent toward her person or her marriage.
The isolated nature of the country road, combined with the increasing boldness of their approach, suggested that this encounter had been carefully planned rather than accidental.
"I have no interest in receiving messages from individuals too cowardly to deliver them in person," she replied with as much authority as she could muster while backing away slowly toward a section of the road that offered better possibilities for escape should such action become necessary.
"Now, that's not very friendly, Your Grace," the first man said with mock reproach, his companion beginning to circle around in a manner that would cut off her retreat toward either the village or Ravenshollow Manor.
"We've come all this way just to have a little chat with you about your future prospects. "