The earl sat forward. “How so?”
“Because you wanted to be rid of me and thought it the quickest way, or for some other reason I haven’t quite fathomed.”
“You’re right on both counts. I do want rid of you, for reasons I do not care to go into.”
Evelyn gasped at his blunt reply. The man had no care for the feelings of others.
“What happened to you, to make you like this?” she said waving her hand at him.
He took a long, slow sip of wine and licked the residue from his lips. “You would not believe me even if I told you.” His gaze drifted past her shoulder to stare into the distance, and she thought she saw pain and anguish reflected there. After a moment, he shook his head and said, “Has Mr. Sutherby made you an offer of marriage?”
Why on earth should she divulge anything about herself when he insisted on being so insular? But she felt the need to fill the uncomfortable moments of silence, and when she spoke, she forgot her heart was pounding.
“He has broached the subject with my aunt and made it clear that is his intention. I believe he will ask me tomorrow when I meet his sister.” The weird feeling surfaced again at the thought: a prickling sensation irritating her shoulders, causing her to shiver.
“But you’re not sure you want to accept. You’re struggling with what you think you should say and what you want to say.”
Evelyn’s mouth fell open at such an insightful response, and she snapped it shut. Were her feelings so obvious to others? If the earl could see it, then so would Mr. Sutherby.
“Mr. Sutherby is a handsome, kind and generous man,” she said. “A lady would be foolish not to admire such qualities.”
The earl narrowed his gaze. “But there is something missing, something more that you want.”
“What more is there?”
He stretched out his legs and crossed them at the ankles. “Oh, I think you know.”
“If I knew, I wouldn’t have asked the question.”
“Because you have suppressed your true feelings. Tell me. Tell me what you really want.” His gaze became more intense, more focused, his voice a seductive whisper that sent tingles through her body. “Tell me what it is you dream of when you’re alone at night. Tell me. Tell me now.”
Evelyn felt the heat building in her stomach, making a slow ascent, filling her chest. She felt lightheaded and giddy, the aftereffects of too much wine. The warmth flooding her body banished all of her fears and concerns, and her thoughts were filled with dreams of love. She found she couldn’t keep the words at bay. Now the dam was open, a torrent of suppressed emotions rushed to the fore.
Tell me.
The words echoed through her mind, dragging a confession from her lips.
“I … I dream of a man who loves me above all else,” she began, feeling suddenly light and free as if she were floating. “I dream of a love so deep I would rather die than live without it. I long to feel the physical ache only true love brings. I dream of a man who is my friend, my companion, my lover. A man whose touch soothes my soul and ignites a passion —”
“Enough,” he said, his voice firm, commanding. “Enough.”
Tiny white lights flashed before her eyes, and she blinked rapidly as the heat ravaging her body subsided. When her vision cleared, he was watching her, his sinful gaze penetrating her soul.
“Sorry, what was I saying?” she asked, her mind still addled.
“You said Mr. Sutherby was handsome and kind but that you don’t love him.”
Evelyn put her hand to her throat as if the action would somehow eradicate the words. “I … I did not say that. I did not say anything about love.”
“Yes, you did. You believe Mr. Sutherby falls short of your expectations.”
“Are you deliberately trying to provoke me?” she said shooting up out of the chair, gripping the arm to steady her balance. She did not want to accept the truth in his words. It was easier to carry on pretending everything would work out fine, to pretend she could learn to love a good man. What was there not to love? “Are you so eager to be rid of me that you would call me a liar?”
His gaze swept over her. “Don’t be dramatic.”
She knew she was overreacting, but the need stamp her doubts and worries into the ground surpassed all else. “If you insist on arguing with me, I am going up to bed.”
“Do you think running away will solve your problem?”