Page 31

E vie wasn’t ready to sleep, even though the hour was late.

It was the third day of the house party, and she’d spent it walking around the gardens with a small party, including Anthony and Prue.

It had been magical, and she felt herself falling more and more under his spell.

Each day, she drew closer to him and believed he felt the same.

There was a tentative hope that what they had would become real, and she would one day be Lady Hamilton, Anthony’s wife. The thought was both terrifying and exciting.

When she’d returned to her room after a night of music and dancing, she’d told the maid she would not need her and taken down her hair but stayed in her dress. Evie now sat in the small window seat, looking out at the stars.

Lady Hampton had told her she must inspect her husband’s conservatory before she left. Looking through the telescope would be a dream come true, because she loved stars. Dared she do so now?

Grabbing her shawl, Evie slipped her feet into her shoes and made for the door. There was no point in rousing Prue, as she would just say no.

Opening it, she peeked out. Evie was no fool, and she’d heard that people at house parties got up to any number of things they shouldn’t, like entering bedrooms that weren’t theirs for illicit rendezvous.

Stepping out, she saw no one lurking nearby.

Although why they would be when the three Spencers were the only ones in this wing, she wasn’t sure.

Reaching the stairs, she made her way quietly down.

The house took on an entirely different personality in the dark. Shadows lurked everywhere, but as her eyes adjusted, she was able to see slivers of light filtering in through windows.

Reaching the entrance way without detection, she headed right along another hall.

Back in Chipping Nodbury, Evie walked about at night a lot because everyone in her village was sleeping. As a person should be at such an hour. But it had been her time to enjoy the stars alone.

She slipped into Lord Hampton’s library, which he’d told her to use as often as she wished. It was full of so many wonderful books. There was also a door that led directly to the gardens. Heading for that, she stepped outside and closed it behind her.

Looking up, she saw the sky was clear and a perfect night to study the stars. Decision made, Evie hurried to the path that forked left toward the lake. It wasn’t a long walk, but at night, alone, doubts crept in. Just when she thought about turning back, she saw moonlight shimmering on the water.

Walking over the narrow bridge, Evie opened the door quietly and waited.

She did not want to come across anyone in here.

Silence greeted her, so she closed the door and moved to the nearest seat.

She’d look through the telescope soon, but for now she just wanted to lie on her back and stare at the stars.

The sound of footsteps, and then the door opening had her rising.

“I knew you were reckless, and this confirms it.”

The large shadow standing in the doorway was that of her fiancé…fake fiancé.

“Anthony, you made my heart stop. What are you doing here?” Evie gasped.

“Following my reckless fiancée,” he snapped.

“Why am I reckless? I was careful and encountered no one. How did you see me if you were not being reckless also?”

“I was seated in the library when you walked in. I watched you open the door and step outside, and you damn well know it is not the same for me to be wandering about at night alone as it is for you.”

He moved closer to where she sat. Now she could read his expression, she saw he was indeed angry.

“It is not reckless here in the country to walk about alone for anyone surely?” she protested.

“And what of Calthorpe or Cavendish? Are they not a risk to you? Or someone who has drunk too much and thinks to take advantage of you.”

“Stop snarling at me. You are not my fiancé, this is fake, and I do not take instruction from you.” Evie felt her own anger rise.

“I will snarl at you if you are behaving like a fool,” he thundered. “I have history with those men that until now has merely simmered below the surface. But Cavendish wanted you as his wife, and I beat him to it—”

“I am not a bone to gnaw over,” Evie snapped, regaining her feet.

“To him you are. Use that large brain of yours, Evangeline.” His hands grabbed her shoulders. “I don’t want you hurt.”

Before she could speak, he had pulled her closer.

“You’re important to me,” he whispered against her lips. “Do you understand what I’m saying?”

“No,” she said.

“Me either.” He kissed her. It was hard, his lips crushing hers, and it took two seconds for her to respond.

Evie threw her arms around his neck and held on as his mouth devoured hers.

“You are causing me a lot of trouble, Evangeline.” His mouth moved to her jaw where he kissed along it. “I can think of nothing but you.”

“I am the same,” Evie said lifting her chin as he reached her neck.

His hands were moving over her body, leaving heat wherever they touched.

“This engagement,” he gritted out, easing back from her. “I think we need to make it real.”

The shock had her mouth opening.

“Well?” he demanded, wrapping her hair around his fist and giving it a gentle tug, which had their eyes meeting.

“I-ah. Yes,” she said, and then nodded in case he didn’t understand what she’d said.

“Good, because I want to make love to you, Evangeline, and I want to do that now.”

“Do you?” Her limbs had gone weak, and she had an urge to press her thighs together because heat was pooling there.

“But if you don’t want that, then we will wait until after our marriage,” he gritted out.

He looked in pain, Evie thought as his hands stopped their movement and he stepped back to put space between them.

“You need to say no now, and then we will go back to the house, because if I keep touching you, I will be unable to stop,” he rasped.

This man whom she thought had so much control wanted to make love to her. Evangeline Spencer. He wanted her to be his real fiancée. The thoughts were heady ones.

“Yes.” She moved closer. “I want that… all of it.”

“Thank God.” He cupped her face and kissed her, softly this time. “I shouldn’t ask this of you…shouldn’t even be contemplating—”

“Anthony, I want this. I know what happens, and I want that now with you—”

“It will only ever be with me, Evangeline.”

“Only you,” she whispered.

He moved away from her toward the door, and then she heard the key turn in the lock.

“Lord Hampton does not like to be disturbed when he is in here, for which I will be forever grateful.”

She didn’t speak, just watched him prowl back to her. He shrugged out of his jacket and dropped it on the floor. Then he had his hands on her again.

She rose to her toes to take his kisses, eager to feel more with this man she would spend her life with. Anthony would be her husband. She’d think about that more later, but not now.

“Evie, what are you doing to me?”

She loved the sound of her name on his lips.

“No woman has ever made me want her like you have.”

“I’ve never known the touch of a man, so I can’t—”

“Don’t finish that sentence. There will be no other man as I believe I’ve already explained.”

His hands went to the buttons at her back, and she felt them pushing each through its hole. The rush of cool air told her he’d parted her gown. One warm hand slid inside, his fingers touching the skin above her chemise. She could do nothing to stop the moan.

“You are so beautiful.” Anthony stepped back and looked at her. “Take off your dress now, Evie.”

She did, pushing it from her shoulders so she stood only in her chemise. His eyes ran over her, from the top of her head to her toes, and she felt everywhere his gaze landed.

“And you. Will you remove your… ah, boots,” she said suddenly nervous for no other reason than she’d never seen a naked man.

“I will remove my, ah, boots,” he teased her.

She watched as he tugged them off and then he closed the inches between them. His fingers trailed down her neck, to her chest, and then he was touching her breast.

“Oh my,” she whispered as he stroked her nipple, and delicious heat shot through her body.

“Oh my, indeed,” he whispered against her lips before kissing her. As his mouth tormented hers, one hand eased under the hem of her chemise. Seconds later, he pulled it up and off her body.

“Beautiful,” he whispered, “but then I knew you would be.”

“Anthony!” She gasped as he licked one of her breasts, and the tension building inside her rose higher.

“I want to see you.” Evie shuddered as his tongue swept across her taut nipple.

He released her to tear off his necktie and pull the shirt over his head.

Needing to touch him, as he had her, Evie placed a hand on his chest and felt him shudder.

She stroked the slopes and plains of skin over hard muscle.

His was a beautiful body, and she was awed that he would be hers to touch from this day forth.

“More,” he said, his voice strained. “I want you to keep touching me, Evie. Only you can make the cold go away.”

She ran her hands over every inch of him that was exposed to her. Then she pressed her lips to the place above his heart.

“Evie.” The whisper of her name sounded broken.