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“Do not act as if it were up to me,” Evelyn said, eyes blazing.

“As if I made these decisions. You treated me like an object. Perhaps you didn’t mean to, but your desire to invest in questionable ventures time and again has cost us so much.

It cost us our inheritance. It nearly cost you your eldest daughter.

And if you continue this way, it will cost you everything. ”

Her father looked at her helplessly. “What can I do? I am the man that I am.”

Nathaniel wanted to scoff, but suppressed it.

“You are pathetic,” Evelyn said quietly.

“Absolutely pathetic. If you wish to keep me in your life—after this, after what you have done—you shall need someone to oversee the estate. Someone who is not you. In fact—” she glanced at Nathaniel, who gave a single, grave nod.

“You shall have to put Nathaniel in charge. Of everything. The businesses, the ledgers, the investments. All of it. In his name.”

“What?” her father cried. “No. I am a Lord of the Realm. I will not be treated like a child. Like a disobedient?—”

“Then you shall never see me again,” Evelyn said flatly. “Nor my sisters. Nor Aunt Eugenia. And you can explain to society why you lost control of your own family.”

“No one would need to know,” Nathaniel added quietly. “You sign everything over to me. You’ll receive a monthly stipend. You will retain this house. No one outside the family needs to know. But we will know that your recklessness led to this. That you nearly sold off your own daughter.”

The man looked down at the floor, shaking his head.

“This is ridiculous. I cannot… I will not…”

“Well then,” Evelyn said, stepping back. “We shall be leaving now. I will not see you again until you change your mind. Marianne, Charlotte, and Aunt Eugenia may come to stay with us.”

Nathaniel watched her, blinking. Somehow, throughout this terrible conversation, they had become allies again.

How had that happened? Was it simply that they understood each other too well?

They had worked together without needing to speak aloud, and yet he had known what she needed from him, and she had known what he needed from her.

He offered his arm to her. She took it at once. Together, they walked out of the room, leaving her father behind.

In the hallway, they stopped and looked at each other.

“Well?” he asked.

She hesitated, then pulled him into the drawing room and shut the door softly behind them.

“I shouldn’t have said all of that without consulting you first,” she said in a rush. “I’m not even sure what we are. If we are anything anymore.”

“Neither do I. But I’m not the one who packed up and ran without a word,” Nathaniel said evenly.

She winced, eyes dropping to the carpet. “I know. I should’ve talked to you. I should’ve believed you. Above everybody else. But I was so frightened. So confused. So uncertain…”

“Then let me be clear,” he said. He took her hands in his. “There should be no more uncertainty between us. Nothing left in the dark. I have told you all my secrets.”

“About the clubs?” she asked, voice small.

He looked directly at her. “Yes. I did not lie when I said there was no other woman. Yes, I have been to clubs like the one your father mentioned… but I have not acted inappropriately since we were wed. I have not even been to the backrooms but once since I met you, and even then, I could not bring myself to –” He shook his head.

“Even then, I saw only your face before me.”

She nodded as though she believed him.

“Is that how you knew my father had never been to Westcott’s?”

“Yes. It is the club I attend, and I know many members. If you he ever been there, I would have known.”

“So you tricked him?” she asked.

“Indeed.”

“Quite the risky gamble.”

He smiled faintly. “Your father’s not known for his gambling skills. And he’s easy to read. I’ve known many men like him. Men who are?—”

“Weak,” she finished for him.

“Yes. Weak. But you… I’m proud of you for standing up to him. For demanding better. For yourself, your sisters, and your aunt. That is why I married you, Evelyn. That’s what I admire about you—your strength, your pragmatism, your sense of responsibility. I admire you .”

His voice lowered. “I only wish you could believe that I love none but you. That I want none but you. Ever since I met you, I knew my life would not be as it was before.”

“Pray, why did you not tell me sooner?” she asked.

He swallowed. “It took me a long time to accept it. To accept that you might want me, too. When Halston came and reminded me of what I had been, how pathetic I was—I didn’t think I was good enough for you.

But you showed me that I’m better than a few bad memories.

That I can rise above them. That I can be the man my uncle believed I could be. ”

“You are,” she said softly. “And I shouldn’t have doubted you. From now on, let’s vow—no matter what—that we will speak to each other first. We will never doubt one another.”

“Never,” he said. “I love you, Evelyn. That will never change.”

“And I love you, Nathaniel,” she whispered.

He leaned forward, cupped her face with both hands, and kissed her. When her lips parted to his and her arms wrapped around his shoulders, Nathaniel knew it with utter certainty.

Nothing—and no one—would ever come between them again.