Page 34 of For a Scandalous Wager (Breaking the Rules of the Beau Monde #3)

EPILOGUE

A utumn collided with winter in a gust of rain, threatening Evelyn and Dalton’s trip to Heavenly House. For three months since their wedding, she had been urging her husband to pay a visit to his brother Noah.

“Now, look where we are?” Dalton’s nerves had made him especially grumpy the entire way from Mayfair. “When you see the place, you’ll understand why I fear losing Mayfair. Although, this storm may threaten our path through.”

“Only because you hope it will.”

“I cannot deny that.”

She shrugged and gave a coy smile. “If we get stuck, this time we’re both waiting it out in the coach. I’m certain we can find something to pass the time.”

He unfolded his arms, a lopsided grin sneaking up his cheek.

The sound of wings thrashing the side of the covered crate at her feet got both their attention. A honk and an irritated flutter came next.

“She wants out,” Evelyn said.

“Not in the coach.”

“Dalton, she’s scared.” She soothed, patting her hands lightly on the wooden crate. “We’re almost there, Paradise.”

Dalton lifted his brow, mouthing the words, you’re lying .

Evelyn shushed him with a finger to her lips.

He whispered, “Who names a duck Paradise?”

“Obviously, I do. And she’s not a duck. She’s a goose. Besides, I like the name. Paradise goes well with Heavenly House. It’s almost like an omen.”

“The mere mention of an omen sort of cancels out the heavenly part, don’t you think?”

“Semantics. And I like it. It reminds me of that shiny green waistcoat with the bird of paradise on it. She’s a goose, but I think of her as something more colorful. She’s already beautiful.”

“You do know what the bird of paradise represents, don’t you?”

She looked up, her forehead drawn. “What do you mean?”

“I never told you because you were in a boxing club, lying naked at the time, and I was afraid of distracting you into another lengthy conversation. But the bird of paradise is the symbol for a promiscuous woman.”

She sat back, letting that sink in and remembering that he’d worn the green waistcoat the night he had kissed her neck in the alcove and then again at the boxing club.

He folded his arms smartly and looked completely satisfied.

“Then I suppose she needs a gander.”

They had planned to visit Heavenly House after the wedding. Noah had attended the service, but Lord Rochester had not made it. Deep inside, Evelyn knew that Dalton was worried. No matter what Lord Rochester felt, Dalton had refused to believe he would have missed the wedding without a reason, and Noah had informed them that the doctor released him to go but had suggested he not.

When they arrived at Heavenly House, Noah greeted them in the drive.

“So, this is the infamous goose I’ve heard so much about.” Noah stood with hands on his hips, examining the crate.

“Yes,” Evelyn said. “Her name is Paradise. Heavenly House and all that.” The explanation made perfect sense to her.

“Oh?” Noah glanced from Dalton to Evelyn as he and his brother unloaded the covered crate that held one disgruntled goose.

“Don’t ask,” Dalton said.

“Does she know?” Noah asked with a guilty look of conspiracy in his laughing eyes.

“She knows. She thinks Paradise needs a gander.”

They broke into a spell of hooting laughter while Evelyn watched them, hardly irritated because from the time they’d met, Dalton rarely spoke of his family and never so well. But he and Noah had come to a truce of sorts. It made visiting easier and very pleasant.

“I apologize, my lady.” Noah gave a sympathetic bow. “When you’re ready, I’ll show you where Paradise will live.”

“I’m ready now.” Evelyn clapped her hands. “She wants out of that box.”

The men hauled the crate up the drive, setting it down when they reached the front steps. Rochester took Evelyn’s hand, pulled her close, and kissed her cheek. He held her gaze for a moment. “Noah will see to the goose.”

“I’m going with him.”

“I know you are. But I am not. I’m anxious to see how my father is getting along. You three enjoy yourselves.” He looked pointedly at the goose, including Paradise as one of the three. He gave her chin a playful stroke of his thumb, then took a deep breath, and stepped back.

Rochester could sink a cue ball blindfolded, thanks to Lovie’s husband. He could make a point without error in a room full of boisterous men all deep in their cups and without increasing his heart rate. But his nerves today were frayed because he’d brought Evelyn to the place where he’d grown up. A place that pained his heart.

Over the last several months, his judgment of his father had changed, in part softened by the relationship he and Noah had recently built. He had never seen his brother so often in such a short amount of time, and to have him at their wedding had been a balm to his wounded soul. Noah had been a healing presence.

Now, he was eager to see what state his father was in before Evelyn met him. He found the viscount in the family parlor seated next to a window that looked out over the front drive.

“The prodigal son has returned, Father,” Rochester said in a cheery tone.

“About time. That nasty sawbones suggested I stay home.”

His father appeared frail, and Rochester hoped he was simply tired. On a good note, his color was better than when he saw him last.

“I’m happy the doctor requested you stay in. You’ll meet Evelyn soon enough, I promise.”

“Where did she go? I caught a glimpse of her as you arrived. Noah said she was a pretty thing, but I couldn’t see her face with her bonnet covering her.”

“She’s beautiful, and she can’t wait to meet you.” Rochester made a show of peeking out the window so it wouldn’t seem awkward that he was standing so close to his father.

“Ha! Then I assume you haven’t told her about me.”

“Evelyn and I have no secrets.” His father actually looked worried. “And still, she is enthusiastic about this trip.” Rochester smiled uneasily. He tried for teasing but wasn’t sure if he had succeeded. This new side of his father was unconventional from what Rochester was accustomed to.

“Dalton, I never thought I’d see you married, and now that you are, I’ve decided to make some repairs on the place. When you have a son, he doesn’t deserve to inherit a crumbling estate.”

Rochester knew they didn’t have the funds for it. It would take selling his home in Mayfair to make it happen. He worked at not being resentful because the old man had stepped up with a concern he’d never seen before. And he was right. His and Evelyn’s future son would inherit Heavenly House someday.

“I wanted you to be involved in the restorations, or I would have surprised you as a wedding gift. A late one, admittedly.”

Rochester suddenly noticed there was no glass of hard spirits on the table beside his father. And the bar had been removed. He took a deep breath, feigning travel weariness to see if he could detect the smell of alcohol on his father. But there was none.

“You look well, Father.”

“Oh, I feel fine. I’ve been fine. There was no need for you to send a doctor.”

“I think the doctor has helped, as well as the new steward, from what I can see.”

“Well, it will only get better from here, I promise you that. With the money you sent, this place will shine again.” His father looked away like it pained him. “I should have never allowed it to fall.” The word fall rang heavy in the air. And for the first time, Rochester believed his uncle’s death may have truly been an accident. His father had never been violent; he always knew that. Just angry. Now, he seemed to be apologizing in the only way he knew how.

But the money? What money? He didn’t want to upset the mood and ask, so he saved his questions for Noah.

That evening, after his father retired, he and Evelyn, along with Noah, gathered in the family drawing room after supper.

“It’s been an age since I dined with my family, with the exception of Lovie and Hudson,” Rochester said, seated next to Evelyn on the sofa.

“He’s different since you wed. He’s not the same man. If you hadn’t noticed, there’s no alcohol in the house, or I’d offer you something to drink.”

“I prefer it this way. Tea and lemonade. I can live with that. Tell me something, Noah. He keeps speaking of money and thanked me for sending it, but I don’t know what he’s talking about or where the money could have come from.”

“Ask your wife.” Noah motioned to Evelyn, toasting her with a cup of tea.

“I didn’t want to tell you before we arrived, but I meant to say something before your father did.”

“You have a secret stash I don’t know about?”

She chuckled. “Only a shilling for rainy days.” She set her tea down. “Please don’t be angry.”

He squinted his eyes, puzzled.

“You remember the money you paid my father? Well, he sent it to me. He said it was to be a wedding present, and I took the liberty of contacting your brother because even though the Mayfair house needs work, I thought this place could use it more. Was I wrong?”

“And you knew about this?” Rochester asked Noah.

Noah nodded. “I think this might be a good time for me to say goodnight. It’s been a pleasure, my dear.” He bowed to Evelyn, then he rested a hand on Rochester’s shoulder. “If you want to talk about it or wish the funds returned, I have all day tomorrow.”

“Thank you, Noah. I have a feeling everything will be all right.”

When Noah left the room, Evelyn looked at her husband warily. She couldn’t read his mood. He didn’t appear angry, although she’d never really seen him bluster or lose his temper, except possibly with her when she’d climbed out that window. “Please hear me out.”

“Please, please, please. You throw this word around a good deal. So let me say it for a change.”

She braced herself and decided that whatever feelings came up now would settle later.

“ Please thank your father for me. Please never stop being the goose I fell in love with. Please , above all else,” he stopped to swallow hard. He turned his eyes toward the ceiling, and she reached over to brush a tear on his cheek. “Please never stop loving me.”

“You will never be rid of me, Dalton Rochester.”

“I’m betting my whole life on that, Goose.”

She wrapped her arms snuggly around his neck. “I’ll take that bet, my love, but it will cost the shilling in your shoe.”

“I’m not worried, Goose.” He kissed her gently, then grinned like a rogue. “I’ll have it back before dawn.”

THE END