Page 14

R un, Evie!

This was the only thought she had. Flee and get to her house where she could think about her next move before Lord Hamilton told everyone she was dressing as a Frenchman to gamble.

She would return to the country and stay there for the remainder of the season, while Prue and her father stayed in London and hoped to achieve a match.

But they could not do that if Lord Hamilton exposed her for the fraud she was.

Nausea roiled in her belly as she ran, trying to find a place to hide. Eyes going left and right, she saw no convenient narrow opening or dark space.

Everything she’d done. Everything she’d fought to achieve for her family would all come to nothing because he would expose her, and everyone would believe him.

“Stop!”

The bellow from behind spurred her on, as did the thud of his large feet. It was certainly a great deal easier to run in trousers and not hampered by skirts. Evie heard him gaining on her. Finally, she saw an opening, and she ducked down it.

He was larger and faster, but she was nimble. It was dark down here, which was a good thing. Evie knew she could not outrun him. She had to hide.

Removing the spectacles, she searched for somewhere to wait him out, and then she would go home and rouse Prue. Together they would decide the next steps to take.

Dear lord, she’d have to tell her sister what she’d been up to. The thought was almost as terrifying as facing Lord Hamilton. Prue could be fierce when riled.

Moving quietly along the buildings, she found what she was looking for. Slipping through the opening, she took the stairs down below the ground. Evie then huddled behind a wood box. She wasn’t game to climb in because of the bugs that would be inside, but she could hide here.

She curled into a ball and lowered her head between her knees, then listened. There were no footsteps which was a good thing. Perhaps he would give up after a quick search? Please give up.

London was a noisy city, but right then it felt like everyone had taken a vow of silence. She heard no roll of carriage wheels or clop of hooves. No dog howled or cats yowled. There was just Evie, alone with her loud breathing. She tried to calm down. Tried to inhale and exhale slowly.

“I know you’re here,” she heard him say. “I’m not leaving, Miss Spencer. You may as well come out.”

Why was he bothering with her? The man was a womanizing gambler who drank too much and cared nothing about anyone or anything… except maybe his aunts and two friends. He was a cold-hearted scoundrel, so why did he care what she did?

She could hide here all night, or she could show herself. But what then? What would he do to her? Plunge her family into ruin? And yet couldn’t he do that anyway? Would he blackmail her into doing something she had no wish to do?

“I’m waiting, Miss Spencer. You may as well just come out. After all, I know your secret.”

She didn’t want to come out. She wanted to stay curled behind that dirty wood box forever.

Why had everything become complicated? First Lord Cavendish’s attentions and now this. Lifting her head, she saw no sign of him but knew he was close.

I must get out of here and get back to the townhouse.

“I’m sure my current situation is far more comfortable than yours, Miss Spencer.”

She heard the scrape of something and realized he had a flask with him and was likely drinking from it.

“I am standing in the entrance way. There is nowhere for you to go,” he added in that deep drawl she loathed.

Evie realized he was right. She couldn’t escape. Regaining her feet, she climbed back up to the lane.

He stood there, waiting for her. Evie said nothing, simply walked past him and back out to the street. He fell into step beside her.

The clop of hooves had her moving to the left, but large fingers clamped around her upper arm, and then she was being tugged into the road.

Was he going to throw her under a carriage?

He raised a hand, and the hackney slowed.

“What is your address?”

“I will walk,” Evie said.

“No, you will not,” he replied. “Address. Now, or I will tell everyone you dress in men’s clothes and gamble.”

“You will do that, anyway,” she said, trying not to let the fear she felt show in her voice.

“Now, Miss Spencer,” he said, looking as malleable as a one-hundred-year-old oak tree.

Defeated, Evie told him. The game was up, but perhaps if she promised to never again dress like Mr. Renee, he would tell no one? The hope was faint at best, considering his reputation. Why would he care about the Spencers? They were nothing to him.

Before she could climb into the hackney, Lord Hamilton had picked her up and tossed Evie inside. She landed on a seat, bracing her hands to right herself. He then climbed in and shut the door with enough force to have it rocking on its chases.

The carriage started rolling as he sat across from her. Dragging her eyes from him she looked out the window. Her family’s fate was in his hands, and that did not sit well with Evie.

“Why are you taking such risks, Miss Spencer?”

“Because I must.”

“Why must you?”

She watched the streetlamps cast shadows on the buildings as they passed and felt her desperation climb. How was she to get out of this? How would she stop him from exposing her and ruining any chance Prue had of happiness? Evie fixed things, but this was beyond her.

“Because I must.” She heard the defeat in her words.

“That does not answer my question, and considering you are seated across from me dressed as a man and I could ruin you for it, I suggest you do so.”

“Will you?” She faced him.

“Ruin you?” His amber eyes held hers.

Evie nodded. “We do not like each other, so I know there is no reason you would keep my secrets, but if I must, I will beg.” The thought actually left a foul taste in her mouth. This man was the last person she would ever want to beg for anything.

“Watching you beg would, I admit, be entertaining.”

Evie bit back the words she wanted to hurl at him.

“But that will not be necessary,” he added. “However, I do want the truth.”

“Why?”

He simply stared at Evie. Unlike her he was relaxed.

His large body rested against the seat, hands on his thighs.

Big and imposing, which she guessed helped him intimidate people when required.

Well, she was not one of those. Evie’s back was to the wall, and she was out of options, but she would never show this man weakness, even if she felt the sting of tears.

Those she would keep at bay until she was alone, if it killed her.

“What I do is no concern of yours, Lord Hamilton.”

“Just tell me your reasons, Miss Spencer.”

“I don’t want to,” she snapped, which made his lips twitch.

“You’re extremely strong willed, aren’t you?”

“You make that sound like a fault, my lord.”

“I’m sure in some situations it is.”

“As I am a woman, Lord Hamilton, I must be meek and agreeable?”

“I did not say that, Miss Spencer.” He raised a hand as she opened her mouth. “Tell me why you were in that gambling hell dressed as a man?”

Evie gave up then. It was done. He had seen her and could destroy her family with just a few words. He held all the cards. She would have to swallow her pride and tell him her story.

“We have no money, and this season will be our one and only.”

“And you want a wealthy husband to rescue your family?”

“You make me sound shallow, when all I want is to settle my father and sister in comfort.”

“And that will not happen if you do not marry well?”

“Not me, my sister,” she said. “I want that for her. I am more than happy to go back to the country with my father.”

“Presumably with your sister’s husband’s money to live on?”

“Don’t you dare mock me,” Evie snapped. “You live in your bloody grand town house with staff to run hither and yon after you. Never, not once in your life, have you worried where your next meal would come from, or how you will provide for your family,” Evie said, desperation making her angry.

“You have no right to stand judgment on me for doing what I must.”

Evie could hear the rasp of her agitated breathing in the sudden silence.

“I was not judging you, so please do not presume to know me or my motives.” His face held no mockery.

Evie returned her eyes to the window, unsure what to say next.

“So, you are gambling to keep your family afloat while you are here in London for the season?”

She nodded.

“Miss Spencer, I want to ask you another question, something I asked you the evening I found you in Lord Bailey’s conservatory.”

“I have no wish to answer any more questions, my lord. I have told you why I did what I have done. If you choose to ruin me and my family, there is little I can do about that.”

“Were you distressed at the Bailey ball because of something Lord Cavendish said to you?”

“Yes,” Evie whispered.

“What did he say to you, Miss Spencer?”

“He wishes me to be his wife and told me he knows of my family’s circumstances,” she whispered.

“He is going to blackmail you into marrying him?”

“I fear that is exactly what he will do.”

“And you have no wish to marry a man of his circumstance and wealth?” The words were cool. “It would surely solve all your problems?”

Evie looked down at her gloved hands clenched in her lap.

“I hate that man, Lord Hamilton. I would rather marry a rodent.”

He studied her. “You are an astute judge of character, Miss Spencer. Never trust Lord Cavendish. He is ruthless and without morals. He will not hesitate to destroy anyone who stands in his way.”

“Why do you dislike him?” Evie asked.

“How do you know I dislike him?”

“I watched you that night at Hugh’s.”

He nodded. “You’re right. I do.” His honesty surprised her.

They stared at each other, and then he spoke.

“Miss Spencer, I think we can help each other out if you will allow it.”

“In what way, Lord Hamilton?” Evie wasn’t sure what to expect, but she clenched her hands tighter in her lap.

“I need a fiancée to deter my aunts from their pursuit to marry me off this season, and you need a fiancé to deter Cavendish and allow your younger sister to find a husband.”

“You are not serious?”

“Deadly. We will become engaged, then you will retire to the country at the end of the season, calling off our engagement, which will be my fault entirely, thereby casting no cloud over your family or you.”

She opened her mouth, but he continued talking.

“But there will be no more Mr. Renee, Miss Spencer. I cannot allow you to take such risks again.”

“But—”

“I must insist on this.”

“I need the money,” she said bluntly. “I am exceptionally good at gambling, and it really has nothing to do with you what I do.”

He smiled at that. “Ah, but as my fiancée I must argue that point.” He leaned forward, which put him suddenly a great deal closer to Evie. “You will never again dress as that man and leave your house.”

The carriage rolled to a stop as she was formulating another reply. Lord Hamilton opened the carriage door.

“I will call on you tomorrow, and we shall discuss the matter further. Good evening, Miss Spencer.”

“Oh, but—”

“Tomorrow,” he said urging her out the door. He then closed it, and the hackney rolled away, leaving her standing on the street.

“This can’t be happening,” Evie muttered as she headed up the path to the front door of her family’s lodgings. It wasn’t until she was in her night dress and lying next to a slumbering Prue that she allowed herself to think about what he’d proposed.

A fake engagement until the end of the season. Could she? It would deter Lord Cavendish, but then it would also deter anyone else from making her an offer. But wouldn’t her engagement to Lord Hamilton promote Prue up the favorable ranks of debutantes in the eyes of men?

He was a rogue, but still titled.

Could she do it?

Her eyelids began to close, and Evie thought that tomorrow was soon enough to make sense of the mess she’d made of her life.