Page 22

A nthony was talking with Toby and Jamie when someone tapped him on the shoulder. Turning he found Prudence Spencer with a worried look on her face.

“Lord Hamilton.” She curtseyed. “Have you seen my sister?”

His eyes immediately looked for Evangeline, like they had since he’d left her.

“No. How long has it been since you saw her?”

“Not long, but I fear something is not right, and I have looked everywhere, and it is not like her to leave me.” She looked close to tears now. “I fear something has happened to her.

“Your father—”

“Has not seen her.”

“I took her walking in the gallery a while ago,” Toby said. “She wanted to stay there and study the paintings.”

“I have just come from there,” Prudence said.

“Can either of you see Cavendish?” He said the words softly, so only Toby and Jamie could hear.

His friends rose to their toes, and then both shook their heads.

Where are you, Evangeline?

“Lord Hamilton, if I may have a word.”

“Lady Raine,” he said, bowing to her. “If you will excuse me, I am looking for my fiancée.”

The woman was one of society’s beauties. Married to the powerful Earl of Raine, she was not someone he knew well, or usually talked to.

“That is what I wish to speak to you about,” she said softly. “I overheard Miss Beasley telling a group of people that she heard Miss Spencer say to her sister she was going out to meet with another man in the gardens.”

“I beg your pardon?”

“Exactly. Make haste, Hamilton. That girl is perfect for you. It’s about time you changed your ways.”

“Ah—”

“Move.” She shooed him away.

Anthony left, moving through the guests with his friends and Prudence on his heels. Stepping outside, he didn’t see Evangeline on the balcony, so he made his way down the stairs.

“Go right,” he directed his friends. “Prudence, return to the ballroom.”

“I cannot—”

“Your sister has no wish for you to ruin your reputation. Allow me to find her on your behalf.” She wanted to protest, but knew his words were true. She nodded and retreated to the stairs.

Anthony ran down the shell path to the left, searching everywhere as he did so.

Where are you, Evangeline?

Anthony may not have known her long, but he knew she would never have simply walked out of that ballroom without telling her sister where she was going.

“I say, is that Miss Spencer?”

Anthony stepped off the path into the trees at the words. It was there he found Evangeline in Cavendish’s arms. She was struggling to pull free. He took all this in, in seconds. Just as he took in Calthorpe and his sister. Both looking smug, watching everything unfold.

“Unhand her now, Cavendish, and I may just let you live,” Anthony said moving closer.

“Well now, I’m sorry to say that your fiancée is free with her favors, Hamilton. I should imagine you’ll be happy to discover this before your marriage to Miss Spencer.”

Before he could plant his fist in the man’s face, Evangeline had wrenched free and swung hers. It connected with Cavendish’s jaw, snapping his head sideways. She then raised her knee into his groin. He bent groaning.

Anthony would have laughed if he had it in him. Instead, he said, “Come to me, Evangeline.”

She spun, eyes wide, face leeched of color to look at him.

“I didn’t… he’s ly-lying,” she stammered.

Anthony could have killed Cavendish with his bare hands in that moment, for the utter devastation he saw on her face.

He’d had many such urges since Blackwood Hall, but he’d thought making Cavendish suffer slowly was a far better punishment for the hell he’d subjected Anthony, Toby, and Jamie to. But not now, looking at Evangeline’s pale face he contemplated cold blooded murder.

“Come here now,” he said holding out his hand. When she moved it was to stumble toward him. He pulled her into his arms and held her tight. Her entire body was shaking, and his rage climbed. He needed an outlet, and his eyes were on Cavendish, who was now on his knees.

“Anthony, what has happened?” Toby and Jamie arrived.

“Miss Spencer just assaulted Lord Cavendish, and that was after she threw herself at him in a wanton manner!” Calthorpe said.

“Look after her.” Anthony pushed Evangeline gently toward his friends. He then advanced on Calthorpe and his sister.

“I say, Lord Hamilton—”

They were the last words he spoke. Anthony punched him hard in the jaw, sending Calthorpe stumbling backward. His sister shrieked. Anthony pulled Calthorpe back to his feet, blood now streaming from his nose. He then dragged him to where Cavendish now stood, bent at the waist clutching his groin.

“Before today, I simply hated you for what you did to us.”

“Others are coming,” Toby said softly.

“I will not bruise and bloody you both as I wish to, but I will seek retribution for what you have done to my fiancée in other ways you will not see coming,” Anthony said.

“Your fiancée is—”

Anthony stopped his words with a fist, and the satisfying sound of a crack had Cavendish’s head snapping back again. Calthorpe’s sister shrieked once more.

“Heed me,” Anthony said, making both men look at him. “If the foul deed you did this night reaches anyone’s ears. If anyone hears a lie about my fiancée making advances to you, or if anyone speaks slanderously about her, then I will find you, no matter where you hide.”

“Y-you can’t threaten us,” Calthorpe said, now blotting his nose with his handkerchief. “I will tell everyone that you hit me without provocation.”

Anthony’s smile held no humor. “I have a reputation for a reason, Calthorpe. It would pay you to remember that, and the fact I care little what people think of me.”

Calthorpe looked scared, Cavendish furious.

“I suggest you watch your backs, gentlemen, because I will be aware of your every move from this moment on.”

He turned and looked at Calthorpe’s sister. “I will ruin you, if one word of this reaches anyone. Do you understand?” Her nod had him dismissing her.

“You two go first, and we will follow,” he said to Jamie and Toby when he reached them and Evangeline. “It is best we return, as if we have just taken a stroll in the gardens for some privacy,” Anthony said.

His friends agreed with a nod and left without another word.

“Take my arm, Evangeline.”

She did. Her fingers shook as they gripped the sleeve of his jacket.

“We shall walk now, slowly, and you will collect yourself, because we must return to the ballroom. Do you understand?”

“Do you believe me?” The words were a whispered plea. The woman who had brought Cavendish to his knees was broken in that moment.

“I do, Evie. I know that none of what just happened was of your making.”

She exhaled slowly. “Th-thank you.”

He fought the need to hold her until she stopped shaking, but he couldn’t, because the rage inside him would scare her.

“No thanks are needed. I’m only sorry you were subjected to whatever Cavendish did to you.” He almost didn’t want to know, because he feared he would release her and storm back to that scum.

“It was Lady Beasley who lured me to look at the stars. I-I thought she was being nice, and then her daughter was out here and told me someone was in danger. She begged me to help. I ran, and he was there—”

“It’s all right,” Anthony said lowering his hand over hers as the panic rose in her voice. “No one will harm you again.”

The sob was small, but he heard it. He released her arm and slid his hand around her back, pulling her close. Her fingers gripped his lapel as Evie pressed her face into his chest.

“It will be all right,” he said to the top of her head, as much for himself as her. He needed this contact to calm the rage inside him. And she needed it to reassure her she was safe now.

Anthony knew he had to release her before anyone saw them, but it was one of the hardest things he’d ever done. He never sought physical contact with anyone, but he wanted it with her, which was why he let her go.

“He didn’t hurt me; it was just the shock. No man has… has behaved like that around me before. Lord Cavendish grabbed me. He then told me I was his woman, not yours.”

“I’m sorry you suffered because of me,” Anthony said attempting to tamp down the need to finish what he started back there in the trees. He put her hand once again on his arm, and they walked to the house.

“I don’t know what lies between you, but I think it was not just you he wished to punish, Anthony. I think he wanted to hurt me for daring to refuse what he’d offered.”

He worked through what he should say to her about his past dealings with Cavendish, because she deserved something after what she’d suffered.

“Cavendish, Calthorpe, and another were the older boys in Blackwood Hall where we lodged during our school years.”

“Was he as horrible as he is today?”

He looked down at her, studying the delicate side profile. The ridge of her cheekbone, and a long curl over a small ear. Anthony had never thought of her as small because her personality was so large, but he realized she was.

“Yes, and even more so. He was a thug and a bully,” Anthony said. It was odd, but in that moment, he could not find the anger he usually felt when he remembered those days. His rage was solely on Evie’s behalf.

“I’m sorry if you suffered because of those men, Anthony.”

“Thank you.” It was humbling that she could think of him in that moment.

“Evie, when we return, there may be murmurs. I’m sure that if Miss Beasley was part of that entire business, she will have been spreading untruths about the place,” Anthony said, remembering what Lady Raine had told him.

“Prue—”

“Was the one who said she could not find you, “Anthony said.

“Then I must get back to my sister.”

“You’re sure?”

She nodded.

“We went for a walk in the gardens, Evie. Remember to say that and only that if you are asked anything about where you have been.”

“Of course, and thank you again.”

She’d become Evie to him and he Anthony to her in the last few minutes, and he could think of her no other way now.

He led her to the stairs, nodding to the few guests who looked their way as they climbed. She took a deep breath before they entered the ballroom. Soon they were moving through the guests until they found Prudence Spencer.

“Evie.”

“I am well, Prue. Lord Hamilton and I went for a walk in the gardens. I am sorry I did not tell you, but you were dancing.”

Prudence’s eyes shot from her sister to Anthony’s.

“And now, I am to dance with my lovely fiancée again,” Anthony said.

“And I will dance with her equally lovely sister,” Jamie said, appearing.

They moved to the floor, and he placed Evie in a line across from him. Two dancers to her left was Miss Beasley, who was frowning as she noted who Anthony’s partner was. He gave her a hard look that had color filling her cheeks. She quickly turned away.

As the music began, he met Evie in the middle, and she managed a smile.

“Good girl,” Anthony said as he retreated.

Through the dance she smiled, as did he, and he watched Miss Beasley’s frown darken. Toby stood to the side of the dance floor, watching them. When their eyes met, he shook his head, which told Anthony that Cavendish and Calthorpe had not returned.

But he had a feeling this wasn’t over, even after he’d threatened both men. Cavendish was vindictive and held grudges. It worried him he’d come after Evie and her family.

When the music finished, Anthony knew he should dance with others, as should Evie if they were to mislead the gossips. He led her back to where Toby stood.

“Come, Miss Spencer, I believe this is our dance,” his friend said.

He danced with others, as did she, and by the end of the evening, they had squashed any rumors, which was helped by the fact Cavendish and Calthorpe had not reappeared.

“Splendid night,” Heathcliff Spencer said, totally unaware of what his eldest daughter had suffered earlier. One look at Evie’s face told Anthony not to mention it.

“I will call on you tomorrow,” he said helping her into the carriage. She didn’t answer, simply nodded, and he closed the door.

He stood watching it roll away and wondered what the hell he was to do now.

“I think I need a drink,” Toby said, joining him. “And then we need to discuss how to keep your fiancée and her family safe.”

“Because while you may have terrified Calthorpe into silence, we both know Cavendish is a tougher nut to crack,” Jamie added. “Your fiancée is in danger, Anthony. You have to know that.”

He did, and suddenly the engagement he’d thought was an excellent scheme for both him and Evie wasn’t, and he was now faced with the fact she was in danger, and it was up to him to keep her safe.