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A nthony entered the breakfast parlor early because he could no longer stand his own company.

Because you are an unfeeling, coldhearted bastard.

Evie would not be in his life. She would not be his wife. Anthony had assured that last night. For one brief moment, he’d thought he could have it all with her, but that was before he’d hurt her.

She’d called him a coward, and she was right.

He was. He’d hit her in his sleep while having a nightmare, which was something that rarely happened anymore, but he’d panicked.

He’d then done what he did best and pushed her away with cruel words and turned back into the cold, emotionless man he’d taught himself to be.

The look on her face had nearly broken him, but Evie had also learned to hide. She’d pushed her pain down inside and stood before him, expressionless and so beautiful.

He could still see her as he’d made love to her. Hair a tangled mass of curls around her pale shoulders. Lush body naked in the moonlight. He’d never felt anything like he had with her last night. Never felt that close to another person. A connection.

He’d then turned on her, but she’d not wept. Instead, she’d said what she had to in a cold, clear voice. Then, after telling him she loved him, she’d walked away from him, and he’d let her.

Anthony had followed later when he had himself under control and returned to his room to lie on his bed and stare at the ceiling, reliving every moment of making love to the woman he now knew he cared for deeply.

The feel of her soft skin under his hands. Her cry when he was inside her. It would all torment him forever. He was destined to live that night over and over, because no one could ever make him feel as Evie had, again.

“Shall we leave in an hour?” Toby said, walking up behind Anthony, jarring him from his thoughts. “I rose early because I know Jamie wanted to be on the road before the sun rose too high.

“I will be ready,” Anthony said, filling his plate with food he had no wish to eat.

He’d wanted Evie as his wife more than he’d ever wanted anything before, and for a few brief moments, had believed he could have her. He’d been a fool.

Now she was hurting and angry, and he doubted would ever speak to him again, which was exactly what he should want. It was for the best. For her best.

I deserve for the man I love to love me back.

Evangeline Spencer loved him. Anthony had never thought a woman would say those words to him, especially not someone as wonderful as she.

Ignoring the burning in his chest, he walked outside to sit and eat his food. His friends joined him, and he cursed himself for not staying in his room and coming down just before it was time to leave. These two knew him better than anyone. He would need to be careful what he said.

“And where is your delightful betrothed today?” Jamie asked. “I must say I am extremely happy that Evangeline will be your wife.”

“I believe we have covered that ours is not a real engagement,” Anthony said calmly.

“Yesterday you confirmed to us both that she means a great deal more to you than a fake fiancée would,” Toby said watching him closely.

“The engagement will not go beyond the end of the season. Now,” Anthony said, “do we have names you wish to speak to in Brawley?”

“I’m sorry, what did you just say?” Jamie asked.

“Do we have names—”

“Not that part, the other bit,” Jamie said.

“If you’re ready, we shall leave,” Anthony said. “We’re to ride, so let us walk to the stables.” He never felt panic, but it was there now, clawing at his throat.

He wanted Evangeline Spencer with a need that he doubted would ever wane, and that terrified him.

She had given him hope, and that was a dangerous thing for a man who had never allowed himself to believe in it before.

Damn this searing pain inside him. For the first time in many years, he longed for the numbing cold that usually existed in his heart.

“Tell us what is going on with you, Anthony. Your face is leached of color, and you look ready to cast up your accounts,” Jamie said.

“Don’t be ridiculous. I merely drank too much brandy last night.”

“You never drink to excess when keeping company with your fellow peers,” Toby said flatly.

Damn, he should have said he’d eaten something that disagreed with him. Anthony was usually far more alert than that.

“Get up,” Toby said. “Now. We are walking.”

“I don’t want to walk,” Anthony protested. “I want to eat my meal.”

“Which you are pushing around your plate,” Toby said. “Move your feet, Hamilton.

“Go to hell,” he snarled with more venom than he should have used if he wanted to stop further questioning.

“I have no wish to join you there,” Toby said, leaning toward him. “What have you done?”

“I have no idea what either of you is talking about.”

“My money is on Evangeline being the problem here, but what I don’t know is why, or what you’ve done to ruin things with her,” Jamie said.

He reacted to hearing her name before he could stop himself. Anthony’s hand clenched into a white-knuckled fist around the knife.

“What did you do?” Toby said slowly.

“Lord Hamilton.”

“Yes,” he said far too loudly.

“Miss Prudence Spencer has asked that you attend her at once please.”

The only reason Evie’s sister could want to speak to him was because she had told her what happened last night. Was Prudence Spencer about to take him to task for his behavior? You deserve it if she is.

“Of course, I shall go at once,” Anthony said rising. “Where is she?”

“In the orchard, my lord.”

“Thank you.” He faced his friends who had also risen. “I will meet you shortly in the stables.”

“Not bloody likely. We’re coming. Something is afoot, and we want to know what. If Miss Prudence Spencer can shed light on that, excellent.”

“There is nothing afoot, and I don’t need your company, so go away,” Anthony snapped.

“Why are you hurrying if nothing is afoot?” Jamie said, pulling alongside him. “And you can insult us all you like, but we’re still coming with you.”

“Evangeline is the perfect wife for you,” Toby said. “We think you care deeply for her. In fact, we believe you love her.”

Anthony’s foot caught on the other one and he stumbled for several steps, only just managing not to land on his face.

“What?”

“She’s fiery, strong willed, and won’t let you have everything your own way. Plus, she will finally heal your pain,” Toby added. “Don’t mess things up with her. Make her your real fiancée, Anthony.”

She was all of those things and more, and it was because he cared so much for her he knew she was safer without him.

“No, she’s not going to be my wife.” Anthony then increased his pace and reached the orchard. He found Prudence with her father, but not Evie. Her back was to him, and she was yelling.

“She would never do this, Father! Never leave us like this.”

“Prudence?”

She spun, and he saw the tears and devastation on her face. Anthony knew instantly that look had nothing to do with what he’d done last night.

Evie!

“Where is she? Where is Evangeline, Prudence?” His words sounded desperate.

“When she d-didn’t answer my knock on her door this morning, I opened it and entered.”

Anthony watched Prudence inhale a deep breath like her sister did when she wanted to steady herself. He wanted to roar at her to tell him where Evie was.

“I found this.” She thrust a paper at him. “It is her handwriting, but she was forced to write those words, Lord Hamilton. She would never leave us.”

He read them twice before looking at her again. Toby and Jamie also read the note over his shoulder.

“Well. I think it’s clear what her intentions are,” Anthony said feeling like he had something sharp stuck in his throat. Had she done this to get away from him? Was there another man?

“No!” Prudence said stomping closer. “Nothing is clear, and if you truly knew my sister you would know she would never do this to her family.”

“Prudence,” her father cautioned.

“See the way she’s written my name and hers.” Prudence wrenched it from Anthony’s grasp. “Evie is telling me something is not right, and she wrote that note under duress.”

“I agree,” Heathcliff Spencer said, stepping closer. “My eldest daughter is the most honest and loyal person I know. She would never leave us, or you, without a word.”

“Why would someone force her to write that note?” Toby asked. “Surely she’s under your protection, Anthony?”

“She wrote that note,” he said, turning away from them. “There is no other reason for her disappearance.” If this is what feelings gave you, he didn’t want it. The pain inside him was crippling.

Anthony couldn’t seem to think clearly. Evie had left to be with another man. Correction, you sent her into the arms of another because of your behavior.

“No!” A small hand shoved him hard in the spine. “My sister would never do this, and shame on you for believing she would.”

He spun to face her. “I don’t know your sister, and we both know this is not real,” he snapped.

“Not real?” Heathcliff Spencer gasped.

“Not now, Father,” his daughter said with her eyes on Anthony, looking every inch as strong as her older sister in that moment.

“And what about the other night?” Jamie said moving to Prudence’s side to look at him. “Cavendish and Calthorpe,” he added. “You don’t think they could harm her after the humiliation they suffered at your hands?”

“No…” His words fell away, but suddenly he wasn’t so sure. Cavendish would never stop seeking revenge on Anthony for his humiliation.

“My Lord, my sister loves us,” Prudence said. “I had thought, watching you and Evie, that something had changed between you since arriving here. Please, if you feel anything for her, then help us find her.”

“I may not see much, but I have watched you both together, Lord Hamilton. My eldest daughter cares for you deeply,” Heathcliff Spencer added.

He was not the only one surprised by those words. His daughter was looking at her father wide-eyed.

“I know I’m a silly old fool, but I still see things.”