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“A nd Evangeline is now well?”

“I have not seen her,” Anthony said to Toby as they wandered through the grounds of the Hamptons’ large estate.

House parties were not something he usually attended, but he’d come to this one because here Evie would be safe, and here she could finish her recovery.

“It’s nice to get out of London,” Jamie said.

The gardens here were extensive and tended by five gardeners. You could walk them for hours and not see everything. Lakes were stocked with trout for fishing, and parties went out daily to ride over the hundreds of acres of land.

But it was the huge conservatory that Hampton had built to cantilever over the water that intrigued Anthony. It offered a spectacular view of the night sky through the large telescope erected inside. An avid star gazer, Hampton had told Anthony he must view it before he left.

He, Toby, and Jamie had arrived this morning. His aunts had left a few days earlier and were visiting with Harriet, whom he would see tomorrow. But the person he most needed to see was Evie.

It had been two weeks since she’d saved Miss Little, and while her family had told him she was well, he wanted to see that for himself.

“I cannot believe she just plunged into the water?” Jamie said.

“As I told you the last two times we discussed this, yes, she did, and in her dress.”

Jamie whistled. “I’ve been thinking if you are not actually going to wed her, I may ask for her hand, as she seems the perfect wife to me.”

The flash of rage Anthony felt at his friend’s words was instant. Mine, he wanted to roar.

Damn bloody woman! She’d worked her way inside him, and he wasn’t sure how to get her out again. Anthony had panicked when he’d heard she was ill, fearing Prudence was lying to him and she was worse than they were leading him to believe.

“Anthony?”

“Sorry, what did you say?” He looked at Toby.

“What’s wrong?” Jamie asked.

“Nothing.”

“There is definitely something,” Toby said. “You’re changing, my friend.”

“No, I’m not,” Anthony said, feeling a stab of panic at the words because he’d felt like that was exactly what was happening to him.

“You are. You’ve lost some of your hard edges—”

“I have lost nothing,” he cut Jamie off. “I went to Hugh’s two nights ago and gambled until dawn.” And he’d hated it and wanted to go home because Mr. Renee was not there.

“Society no longer speaks of you in fearful whispers,” Toby said. “I wouldn’t go so far as saying you’re a respected member yet, but you’re on the way.”

“I—”

“Lord Bethany told me he thought you were top-notch last week,” Jamie added.

“I am exactly who I have always been,” Anthony gritted out.

“Cold, calculating, and unemotional, do you mean? A man who won’t reveal himself unless his doors are closed, and only we, or your aunts, are present?” Toby asked.

He had been all those things, but knew Evie had changed him. He couldn’t allow it to continue…could he?

“Both of you, be quiet,” Anthony snarled.

“Very well, but for what it is worth, we like the changes,” Toby said.

“Now let us discuss our visit to Brawley while we are here,” Jamie said. “If Cavendish, Greville, and Calthorpe are involved in those girls going missing, we must bring them to justice.”

“Agree,” Toby and Anthony said.

“After that business with your fiancée, there is no more hiding in the shadows and seeking revenge unseen anymore,” Toby added. “They know you are watching them now, Anthony.”

“I want them to pay for all of it, but especially scaring Evangeline.”

“Because she’s important to you now?” Jamie said.

“He hurt her because of me. I cannot allow that to go unavenged.”

“You put your fist in both their faces,” Toby drawled.

“It was nowhere near enough,” was all Anthony said.

They walked back to the house as yet another carriage rolled into the courtyard. This one, he knew.

“Is that your carriage, Anthony?” Jamie asked.

“It is. The Spencers are arriving in it.”

“You are really playing the part of the besotted fiancé well,” Toby said.

Ignoring them, he walked to the carriage as it stopped.

“I have it, thank you,” he said to the footman hurrying to the door.

Opening it, he found Evie first, sleeping against the side of the carriage. He drank in the sight of her and felt the knot of fear inside him finally unravel.

“She’s been asleep for at least two hours,” Prudence said loudly. Her sister did not wake.

“Out you come. I shall wake her. You stretch your legs,” Anthony said holding out a hand for Evie’s sister.

“Well sprung carriage you have, Hamilton,” Lord Spencer said climbing out behind his daughter next. “But I’m pleased to have arrived.”

Anthony climbed inside. “Evie.” He touched her pale cheek. She didn’t wake. “Evie,” he said more loudly.

“Our mother said a herd of bulls could rampage through our house mooing and Evie would sleep through them,” Prudence said from the doorway. “Pat her cheek, as we have no water to flick at her.”

“You flick water at your sister?” Anthony turned to look at her.

“It is a sister thing, my lord.”

He snorted, and it was then Evie opened her eyes. She sat upright, blinking furiously.

“Hello, Evangeline.”

“Anthony?” Her voice sounded like a rusty door hinge.

“She does not wake well, my lord,” Prudence said from the doorway. “It is best to keep your distance for at least an hour.”

“Yes, it is I,” he said, giving in to the need to touch her. His thumb ran over a soft cheek. “Are you feeling all right after your long journey?”

She nodded, and then blinked again. Lastly, she rubbed her eyes like a child. He found it ridiculously endearing.

“Are you now alert enough to leave the carriage?”

“I think so. That was a long journey.” She frowned. “In your carriage. You shouldn’t have let us use it. Plus, there are the dresses, Anthony. You have spent too much money on us. I did not need a doctor; that, too, was a cost to you.”

Looking about for her bonnet, he found it on the floor. Picking it up, he lowered it onto her head.

“No, really, I don’t know how we can repay it all,” she said, lifting her chin as he tied the ribbons. “Stop that,” she hissed, realizing what she was letting him do. “Someone may see.”

“You are my fiancée. I’m sure I can help you with your bonnet ribbons, considering how ill you have been, Evangeline.”

“But we’re not… not really.”

“We are in the eyes of society, and to give that lie credence, then we must do things like this.” He bent to kiss her softly. No one could see, as his body was blocking the view, but he needed to taste her lips again. When Anthony raised his head, they formed a perfect O.

“Don’t do that again,” she whispered.

“I like being told what to do about as much as you, so perhaps you should remember that, Evangeline.”

“It’s a failing,” she whispered, “which clearly we share.”

“So it would seem. Now come along.”

Her eyes met his then. “I owe you an apology, my lord… Anthony.”

“Just Anthony.”

“I’m sorry I left quickly that day when you saved Miss Little, but I did not want the fuss that would follow, plus my clothes were sticking to me in an unseemly manner.”

“Running away solves nothing, Evie. However, I understand, and you were wet, cold, and very likely in shock. But it would have relieved me to know you were all right,” he said. “But now you are well, I can tell you how courageous and foolhardy you were.”

“I was not foolhardy,” she said, eyes narrowing.

He backed out of the carriage and held out a hand for her to join him.

“Foolhardy,” Anthony added, helping her to step down. He then kept her hand and placed it on his arm. “You could have drowned plunging into that water recklessly like that.”

“I was helping!”

“Oh goody, she has regained her wits,” Prudence said dryly.

“There were others—”

“No one was rushing forth to help,” Evangeline snapped, interrupting him.

Anthony felt lighter inside than he had in days and knew that was solely because she had arrived. His fake fiancée.

“Good day to you, Miss Spencer,” Jamie said. “Ignore my friend. You were extremely brave.”

“She could have drowned,” Anthony snapped.

“I know how to swim,” Evie said.

“Exactly.” Toby stepped forward. “Lovely to see you again, Miss Spencer, and I am pleased you have recovered.”

“Not quite. She’s still tired and pale,” Mr. Spencer said. “But my eldest daughter is strong. She will bounce back to her old self in no time.”

Because she’s had to be strong, Anthony wanted to say but kept that thought to himself.

“Well, that is all behind us,” Prudence said. “Come, let’s find our rooms, and then you can go back to sleep, Evie.”

“I don’t need to sleep anymore. I want to explore the gardens.”

She wore a dress in pale blue, with cream lace around the cuffs and neckline. He wondered if it was one he’d paid for. Anthony knew Evie would have a great deal more to say about the money he’d spent on her and her family. He looked forward to it. He loved arguing with this woman.

“About the dresses,” she said out of the side of her mouth as they made their way into the house.

He snorted. “It is done, Evangeline. What are you going to do? Unstitch them and take the cloth back?”

“It’s a thought,” she muttered, which had him barking out a laugh.