Page 17

“N ot everything,” Anthony conceded. “The things that matter with regards to our engagement.”

Anthony wasn’t sure what had possessed him to bring her here to this tea shop. It wasn’t a place nobility frequented, and he had stumbled upon it one day and eaten the best wedge of cinnamon cake, so he’d returned often. It had been his secret, until now.

He’d tracked her down at the market, haggling with a vendor over potatoes and turnips. Anthony had wondered when, since he’d left Blackwood Hall, he’d ever been hungry and came up with no memory of that happening.

He may be cold and emotionless, and his life spent indulging in things he should not, but his needs were always met, and well.

Standing at the market, taking in the frayed hem of her skirts, sitting inches above her sturdy boots, the left foot resting on the right, he’d felt an unpleasant burning sensation in his chest, which Anthony told himself was indigestion, but he had a terrible feeling was emotion.

She was haggling over vegetables. The realization had been a humbling one and following on from that had been the need to help her. Anthony rarely felt those kinds of urges.

He’d found himself drawing closer to her, and then she’d turned, and they’d locked eyes. Hers had flashed fear, and then anger.

Anthony knew how to hide like that. How to push the fear away and replace it with anger. It allowed him to distance himself from others.

“Would you like tea, Evangeline?”

“You can’t pour my tea,” she said, clearly horrified. “And my name is Miss Spencer.”

“Why?”

“It is my name.”

“No, why can I not pour your tea?”

She actually spluttered.

“And I will ask again, why?” He raised the teapot and poured.

“I-you, it is not done.” She was clearly scandalized.

“I did not take you for one who was a stickler for rules, Evangeline, and before you say Miss Spencer, I will call you Evie or Evangeline when we are engaged, so pick one.”

She fell silent at that and took another large bite of the fruit bun. Evangeline did not nibble her food like other women he knew, which had him fighting a smile.

“So, you or your sister must make a match, or it will be disaster?” he said returning to the reason she was seated across from him, with her cook/housekeeper a few feet away more than happy eating cake.

“Yes.”

“Tell me, Evie or Evangeline, do you have money?”

“If it must be one of those, then Evangeline will do,” she said in a prim tone. “And I’m not sure I understand the question, my lord.”

He’d thought her eyes a simple brown, but they had flecks of gold in them. Surrounded by dark lashes and brows. She was a beautiful woman, and he wondered why the rest of society had not worked that out yet.

“Quite a simple one. Do you have money that you can give to me to invest for you, to make more money?”

That silenced her. Her lips formed a perfect O. Anthony sat back in his chair, as the urge to close the distance between them and taste her surged through him.

You don’t get urges.

He didn’t help people either…not quite true, but never a member of society who could use it against him.

“So, to silence you one must shock you. I will keep that information handy for the future,” Anthony said picking up his tea for no other reason than he felt a need to do something with his hands, because he wanted to touch her cheek. Test the texture and heat of it.

What was happening to him?

“Before you ask me why, again, let me tell you that if I make enough money for you then you will not need to wed, and your sister could possibly have more than one season, and perhaps a dowry?”

That caught her attention.

“But surely it is not possible to make such a sum when we are halfway through the season?”

“I can try on your behalf.”

“You would do that?”

He sighed again. “I am not the complete monster some believe me to be, Evangeline, and I admire and respect you for what you are trying to do for your family. Do I think that charade as Renee was foolish and far too risky? Yes,” he said cutting her off as she opened her mouth.

“But, if I help you, then you will be helping me.”

“I don’t know what to say.”

“Yes, would be an excellent start.” Anthony wasn’t sure why he wanted her agreement as much as he did.

“But you are a gentleman. Surely you do not invest?”

“You really do have a poor opinion of us, don’t you, Evangeline?”

She nodded, which made him bark out a laugh surprising both of them. Anthony rarely did anything in public but look cynical.

“I have a man of affairs who is exceedingly good with making money. I have been known to excel at it also.”

“But you gamble,” she said.

“Only what I can afford to lose.”

“Unlike Lord Beaton.”

“Yes, unlike him and others,” Anthony said.

Her head tilted to the side as she studied him, and suddenly he felt exposed, like she could see right down to the scared boy he’d once been.

“However, I doubt you have enough money, Miss Spencer, so I won’t make you any promises.” The words came out harsh.

“Of course.” Like him, her face changed and was suddenly empty of emotion.

Good. It was best this way. They would never be friends. This was business only.

“So do we have a deal for the remainder of the season? If I can make you money I will, but our engagement will deter Cavendish from pursuing you.”

“It seems underhanded.”

“You go out at night dressed as a Frenchman and fool everyone you see. I doubt it’s any more underhanded than that,” he said.

“I did what I must.”

That bloody chin rose again, challenging him. The problem was, women never did that, and he was finding it… what? Intriguing? Refreshing?

“If you wish for your sister to marry well, your connection with me would help with that,” Anthony added.

She was considering his offer; he could see that. Thinking through every angle in that fertile brain of hers.

“She has no dowry?”

“She doesn’t, no. We were hoping her nature and beauty would surpass the need for that.”

“Which is na?ve,” Anthony said. “No man would overlook such a thing. Many need the money their future wives will bring with them.”

Her eyes shot sparks at him for daring to call her na?ve.

“If I may speak plainly, Miss Spencer?”

“You weren’t?”

He wanted to laugh again but managed to swallow it down.

“Your sister may be pretty and well-mannered, but she will not secure a match this season without a dowry. But,” he raised a hand as she opened her mouth to no doubt fire a volley of insults his way, “if you are betrothed to me it will be believed that a dowry will come with her, and that I will be paying it.”

“But that will be a falsehood.”

“Do you not have family who can help provide one?”

She shook her head. “My grandparents were not happy that my father married my mother, who,” she gave him a pointed look, “brought no money to the marriage, or came from a family with a higher ranking than theirs.”

“I see.”

“But they loved each other,” Evangeline continued. “They were happy together.”

“With no money,” Anthony added.

“We were happy, and my mother was excellent with money. We did not realize our father’s ineptitude until it was too late. I’m not sure why I am telling you this,” she added quickly.

“There is no point hiding things now, Miss Spencer. The gloves are off.”

“But I am the only one baring my secrets, my lord.”

My secrets are far too dark for a sweet woman like you.

“So do we have a deal?” Anthony watched her closely for any sign of what she was thinking. It was long moments later, after a bite of the superb fruit bun, swallowed down with tea, that she spoke.

“We both speak plainly and can readdress this at any time?” she asked.

He nodded.

“I can’t believe I’m considering this.”

“Think about Cavendish,” Anthony said, and saw her shudder. “Plus, I will help you find a suitor for your sister.”

“On that note, my lord. May I ask you about men who approach my sister? My father…” She looked down at her teacup, thinking about what to say next.

Anthony thought a few society members could learn a thing or two about thinking before speaking from this woman.

“Is not a reliable source, and I fear although a man may look suitable, he will not be.”

That she would trust his word on the men who would court her sister made him feel odd. Few people would come to him with something like this.

“You may ask me, and I will give you my honest opinion,” he said.

She stared at him again, like she could read his mind, which Anthony knew was foolish, but he felt exposed.

“Very well. I agree.”

He nodded.

“We will be seen together often. Driving in the park and at the theatre,” he added.

“Yes, and my sister will have to be with me.”

“Not all the time, Evangeline.”

“Very well, not all the time.”

“You have a maid?”

She nodded. “She is not there always, but I will ensure she is when we go driving. Do you really believe we can convince your aunts, and society?”

“Matches are made all the time between people who feel nothing for each other. No one will question us on the matter.”

“You mean no one will question you,” she said.

“If anyone is rude to you in any way, then I expect you to talk to me on the matter.”

“Very well, and it is likely I will have more questions.”

“I would expect nothing less from you,” he said solemnly.

She frowned. “Are you laughing at me?”

“I don’t laugh, Miss Spencer.”

“What, never?”

He didn’t answer that.

She huffed out a small breath, looking like a disgruntled child.

“We will go driving in the park tomorrow, and then I will take you to the theatre, along with your father and sister, the following evening.”

“I accept your gracious offer, Lord Hamilton.” Her face looked like she’d sucked on a lemon.

“You will not like this either, Evangeline, but to make this work, I believe you need to keep what we are doing a secret from your family.”

“I don’t keep things from my sister.”

“People will be watching you and your family, Evangeline. To make this work, we need them to believe us. Your sister’s reaction will be important. If she, like the others, believe we have—”

“If you say fallen in love, she will definitely not believe that. We have barely spoken two words to each other, and those were angry ones. My sister is nobody’s fool, my lord.”

“I am aware of that, but you could tell her that you and I talked at the Bailey ball, and I apologized, as did you, for the way we had spoken to each other.”

“I’ve always disliked apologizing.”

“It’s not something I enjoy,” Anthony said. “For now, we keep this between us.”

“And you will not tell your friends?”

“I fear they will know something is off, as I have vowed often I am not ready for marriage.”

“My sister knows me better than anyone.”

“Then we shall cross those bridges if they arise,” Anthony said. “But for now we will not disclose our engagement and simply appear as if we are getting to know each other.”

She nodded, seeming happy with that.

“Do you need money to buy dresses?” Had he slapped her, the effect would have been the same. Angry color filled her cheeks, and her mouth opened and closed several times before she spoke.

“We are not a charity case, my lord.” She then rose to her feet. “Good day to you.”

Anthony watched as she snatched the last fruit bun off the plate before him and walked from the teashop. He did not start laughing until the door was closed.