Evelyn’s hand flew up to her throat. “I-I should hope not. Have you ever … ever—”
“Killed anyone? No. We may look abhorrent when we feed naturally, but we are not savages, Miss Bromwell. Sutherby caught Alexander off guard that is all. His need to protect you was what drove him to act as he did.”
When he’d sat on the bed, she had sensed the rage burning within. But he’d kept it at bay, showed only concern for her, his voice soft and tender.
“Mr. Sutherby provoked him,” she said, wishing she could throttle the man for his interference. “He attacked Alexander with a knife.”
“Uncontrollable anger is often a trigger. It is the point where animal instinct overtakes rational thought.”
Evelyn considered his words. She would probably fly into an uncontrollable rage if she’d been slashed with a blade. Discussing things so openly made it all seem less terrifying, and she owed Lord Markham a debt of gratitude. “You are a good and loyal friend, my lord.”
He scoffed. “Such a good friend, I have left him alone in his greatest hour of need.”
The thought of Alexander all lost and alone caused guilt to flare.
“Then you must go to him,” she said walking over to Lord Markham and placing her hand on his sleeve. The gentleman stared at her fingers as he sucked in a breath. “He needs you more than I.”
“I cannot leave you here alone. Heaven knows what sort of characters hover in the shadows.”
“Pay
the wench to sit with me, just for a few hours while you attend to Alexander. The only thing I ask is that you assist me in returning to London.”
His gaze turned sharp and curious as he rose from the chair. “You know, I have the ability to make you forget. I could make you forget what you saw.” He sighed. “But then Alexander would always know the truth of it, and I doubt he would embrace you as before.”
Her mouth felt dry, her heart palpitating in her throat. Lord Markham was right. Alexander would always know she had broken her promise. He would always know her love came with certain conditions, and it would never be the same as before.
“There is another answer to your dilemma,” Lord Markham continued. “I could make you forget you ever met him. He would be a stranger to you. It is what he has asked me to do.”
Alexander wanted her to forget him?
It was as though someone had reached down into her soul and ripped it right out of her. He could make her forget everything. There would be no memory of Alexander stripping naked for his swim, of the way she had reacted to the magnificent sight. There would be no memory of the beautiful sketch, of their glorious kiss in the orangery.
She’d forget the feel of his body when he moved inside her.
She’d forget what it felt like to love him.
“No.” Her word was barely more than a whisper. “No. Promise me you won’t do it. I don’t want to forget. I don’t want to forget any of it.”
Lord Markham exhaled. “I shall make the arrangements with Mr. Harlow. I shall ask that his wife sit with you in here until I return. You will lock the door and not permit anyone else to enter. Is that understood?”
Evelyn nodded.
“When I return, we will leave immediately for London.” He pulled out his watch and examined it beneath the candlelight. “You must understand, the nature of our circumstance cannot become public knowledge. I will speak to Alexander, but ultimately I must do what I feel is appropriate.”
“I would not breathe a word of it to anyone. You must trust me in that.”
Lord Markham had the look of a man who trusted no one.
“Give me two hours,” he said moving to the door. “And lock this behind me.”
Mrs. Harlow was a short, stout woman with ruddy cheeks, and hands so dry and chapped they left a dusting of flaky skin over her brown dress.
“Your brother is mighty worried about you,” she said, settling down in the chair by the fire. She folded her arms across her chest to support her drooping bosom and appeared grateful for the opportunity to take a much-needed rest. No doubt, Lord Markham had paid handsomely for the pleasure.
“My brother,” Evelyn said trying not to smile. “Yes, he is most attentive.”
“It always comes down to family in the end. We all need someone to offer support and guidance. More so, when you’re just getting ready to fledge the nest.”