Page 23 of For a Scandalous Wager (Breaking the Rules of the Beau Monde #3)

CHAPTER 22

E velyn couldn’t be more surprised when she found her papa sitting in Adeline and Winn’s family drawing room until she stepped fully over the threshold and caught sight of her godfather. It had been more than several years since the two men had talked, although Evelyn had seen Mr. Hartley at church on occasion, and he’d asked about her papa. She never did understand the reason for the rift. But now, here they were under the same roof, and she was very curious as to why. She would have thought they’d come to see Winn and Adeline after the baby was born, but it would seem that Mr. Hartley had contacted her father after an encounter with one Mr. Rochester.

Evelyn was almost giddy except for her nerves. She still did not know if her father knew the truth of how she’d come to be at Winn’s. She happily took a seat and joined them.

“You should have seen it, the way he stood up and appealed the banns on the basis of love.” Mr. Hartley’s smile and joy for life stood out in the crinkle at his eyes and the grooves framing his mouth. His presence brought a penetrating warmth to the room.

“Oh, I wish I could have been there,” Evelyn exclaimed, slanting a sly glance at her papa seated to her right on a ruby silk-covered chair. “Because if I had been there, I’d have stood and appealed the banns myself.”

Her father sighed heavily, a sound not missed on anyone in the room. The man had been one long, heaving sigh since he’d arrived with Mr. Hartley in tow.

“Well, I can’t help but like the man,” Hartley said. “That kind of thing takes courage. It’s something you would have done, Henry,” he directed the comment to Evelyn’s father.

“Would you, Papa? Would you have done that for Mother?” Evelyn asked with a smile in her voice, enjoying the conversation immensely. But she could have cried when she turned her laughing gaze toward her father. His eyes misted. He looked at the floor at his feet. The room grew deathly silent, and her father looked lost.

“I’d have done anything for her.” He looked up at Evelyn. “As it would seem, your Mr. Rochester would for you.”

Tears burned her eyes, and she wanted to run and hug her papa, but such an outburst would only embarrass him. She swiped a tear that escaped. Whether it was for her father or for Rochester, she didn’t know because she loved them both to the point of pain.

Mr. Hartley cleared his throat. “This old man needs a break. It’s been a long drive for me, and I need to inquire about a room at the inn we passed on our way here.” He stood carefully like someone who’d been sitting all day with stiff knees.

“Nonsense,” Winn announced, strolling into the drawing room. “Mr. Hartley, my wife would never forgive me if I allowed you to stay anywhere but here. I’ve already taken care of it. Besides, she’s looking forward to visiting with everyone tomorrow.”

Evelyn cocked a questioning brow toward her brother, who’d forbidden her access to his wife without proper instruction on what to say and what not to say. It appeared he’d given up on controlling every situation. At least one could hope.

Winn shrugged at her. “Adeline strongly insisted that she’s healthier than ever and that I might wish to take off a day from orchestrating her schedule.”

Evelyn’s father added, “Of course, she’s healthy. There’s no reason to believe otherwise.”

“Oh, Papa.” Evelyn went to his side and sat on the arm of his chair. “You’ve always been so softhearted and sensible.”

He regarded her with a look of comical shock. “Me?” He chuckled. “Evelyn, my dear, you are a contradiction.”

“No, I’m a woman.”

“Same thing,” Winn said, flashing her a brother’s knowing smile. He showed Hartley out.

Evelyn kissed her father on the top of his head, then returned to her seat on the sofa. “I’m glad you’re here, Papa.”

“Are you? I believe you’ve enjoyed your time away.”

“A little, yes. But you’re always welcome company.”

“You think I’m meddling and too old to know what’s good for my children.”

“That’s not true. You’re not old.”

He snorted. “And the rest?”

“I wouldn’t like to say,” she said cheekily.

Winn returned and offered her a sherry, which she took willingly. And for their father, he poured a brandy. “Addy’s thrilled to have company. I can’t tell you how much she is looking forward to being with everyone tomorrow. If she’d known you were coming, she’d have planned her day accordingly. And, Evelyn, she wants you to call on her before you retire.”

“And you approved this?” Her eyes were mockingly round.

Winn rolled his eyes and crossed his legs. “I think we all want the same thing. A healthy baby and a healthy, well-rested mother.”

Evelyn’s father waved a hand toward her. “Your sister here wants more than that. She wants to know if I’ve come to take her home, but she’s afraid to ask.”

“I’m not afraid. But I am curious why you didn’t send notice.”

“Because I hardly had time. Benjamin came for a visit, and we had a long talk.”

“About?” she asked.

“Things that don’t concern either one of you.” He referred to her and Winn. “And to tell me about the banns and meeting Rochester. You might thank him tomorrow. You owe him a debt of gratitude because he convinced me to come here instead of sending a coach to bring you home.”

“So, you have come to take me home?”

“Not exactly. I’ve been informed that the parish vicar would like a word with you.”

Winn said, “Sounds like Rochester made an impression.”

Evelyn buried a smile by sipping her sherry but failed.

“That smile might have made an impression on me had you at least agreed to meet Lord Cumberland,” her father said.

“I did meet him, first, at the theater quite by accident, where the poor devil fumbled through his own name by an embarrassing degree. Had I been called upon to introduce him to a friend, I would have humiliated not only Lord Cumberland but also myself. Is that the kind of husband you planned for me?”

“He’s a good man, something I keep reminding everyone around me.”

“Do you have nothing to say, Winn?” she asked her brother in desperation. “Rochester is your friend.”

“Evelyn, there are things you don’t understand,” Winn said.

“You might be surprised.” She folded her arms, pulling her mouth into a hard, determined line.

“Rochester is foolhardy,” her father exclaimed, pushing himself out of his chair.

“In his defense, Father, he has tried to make amends.” Winn cut into her thoughts, saving her from having to explain her knowledge of events that were more Winn’s affair than hers. Except it involved the man she loved and was to blame for the tangle she was in now.

“Bah, humbug. Amends. What do any of you know of amends?” Her father walked to the hearth and examined the Ormolu clock.

“I imagine we know as much as you did at our age, Father. Perhaps a little more if you were perfect and never did anything unforgivable.”

Evelyn sat silently, watching her father and brother spar, hoping Winn didn’t push too hard. Then, there was the matter of her godfather and the mystery surrounding his sudden visit. He’d gone silent after Winn had gone away to Bath. Now, she wondered if the two events were linked somehow.

“I don’t recall making a bungle of things in my youth,” her father said.

“Never?” Evelyn asked, surprised enough at that announcement to join the conversation again.

“Not to such a degree, no.”

“Did you have any fun at all?” she asked, not unkindly. “Perhaps it’s time to invite Papa to join our game.”

Winn looked at her sharply. “Evelyn, remember silence is a virtue.”

“Nonsense.”

“What game?” Her father’s forehead was a wave of curiosity.

“The rules of the beau monde are stifling, so I thought we should break a few. For instance”—she turned her attention to Winn—“Winn took Adeline on a sleigh ride and held her hand in public. And Adeline kissed him under the mistletoe, the Christmas before last.” To her glee, her father smiled spontaneously as if he’d just heard the story. “And look how that turned out. Your first grandchild will be here in a matter of weeks.”

Winn rubbed his forehead. “Indeed.”

“And you, Evelyn?” her father asked. “What did you do?” Mischief filled his words.

“It was a masquerade, and I skipped the midnight unmasking ceremony with Rochester.” She lifted a brow, and her father’s momentary joy fled.

“Do you see?” her father accused. “Think of the scandal you could have caused. It’s a good thing Lord Cumberland isn’t aware of your folly.”

“Well, if I’d thought playing draughts at midnight during a holiday party would have dissuaded Lord Cumberland, I’d have printed it in the papers.”

“Evelyn.” Her father chastised, then blinked rapidly, shaking his head as if to clear it. “Draughts?”

“Draughts, Papa. And do you know why? Because Mr. Rochester knew I wasn’t keen on being caught under a bough by an overeager stranger seeking free kisses.”

“Draughts. He only played draughts with you?”

“Yes.” She was comfortable confessing that much but left off the part about her inappropriate wager and the scandalously stupid card game she’d dragged Adeline into.

Her father took his seat again and leaned an elbow on the chair arm. “What do you know about his family?” He directed the question at Winn.

“Son of a viscount by the same name. One brother. Lost his mother as a boy. Things I’m sure you know.”

“He came to see me right before Hartley.”

“What did he say?” Evelyn asked. Her body wanted to sigh with relief, but her pounding heart wouldn’t allow it.

“He alluded to an estrangement with his father. I found that odd since he always acts so cocksure of himself.”

“Winn?” Evelyn turned to her brother, placing a hand on his arm. “Do you think Rochester would mind?”

Her brother glanced at her, searching her eyes as if he questioned whether she knew the story of Rochester’s childhood. Then he answered their father, “I say this for his sake because perhaps it will help. I can tell you that his mother died in his arms when he was a boy of five years, and his father blamed him. His mother took a fall down a flight of stairs, and Rochester was the first to find her.”

Evelyn’s father looked at Winn and then her, and she saw raw pain in his eyes. “I didn’t know that. Sometimes people need a reason when bad things happen, and so they blame those they love the most.”

“You never did, Papa,” Evelyn said in a reverent voice.

“Grief can be unpredictable and, as irrational as it sounds, pain dulls pain. As if one moment is traded for another so the brain is tricked, and grief is put off. When I look at you both, I see your mother. Good, graceful, merciful to a fault.” He stopped abruptly and turned his head away. “I’m tired. I think I’ll turn in.” Then, to Winn, he said, “Don’t get up. I’ll find my way.”

Evelyn marveled at how her father had always found his way through the unbearable grief of losing his wife. Deep inside, she held faith that he would find his way to forgiving Rochester and blessing their marriage. It would take patience and mercy, and her father had both, even if he was not inclined to show them now.

Soon after her father left the room, Evelyn excused herself to visit Adeline before retiring. She found her friend seated at her vanity, wearing a dressing gown and brushing her russet-brown hair.

“I apologize for the time, but Winn said you wished to see me?”

Adeline craned to look around Evelyn, checking the door between the lord’s and lady’s suites.

Evelyn tossed a look in the same direction. “He was still downstairs when I left. But I imagine he’ll be up soon. What is it?”

Adeline motioned for her to sit. “I’ve taken care of the bedding. Now, tell me what you’ve planned.”

“Me? Nothing quite yet. Why?”

“Because Winn told me the banns have been read.”

“Not all of them. And according to my godfather, Rochester stood right there in the church and denounced the wedding. Although it did not have the desired effect. At least not yet,” Evelyn said as she took a seat on the cozy divan.

“There’s but one week left.”

“And?”

“And I think you should take a trip to your home parish,” Adeline suggested, raising a sly brow. “This calls for a bit of rule-breaking, don’t you agree?”

“As if I haven’t broken the most important ones to date?” She sighed. “I suppose you’re correct. How shall I get there?”

“You leave that to me.”