The Deception (Baron 3)

He said, “I too am glad you have changed your mind.” He set down his wineglass and rose. “You’re exhausted, Evangeline. I would like to leave early in the morning. I suggest that you seek your bed. Do you wish some laudanum to make you sleep?”

She stood to face him. There was such caring in him. She felt her guilt writhe and twist inside her. His kindness, his strength, his acceptance of her, only worsened it. She shook her head.

He walked over to her and touched a finger to her pale cheek. Her skin was soft, so very soft. He wanted to bring her against him, just hold her, at least until she eased against him. He wanted to tell her that he would do his damnedest to lessen her pain at his old nurse’s death, just as having her with him would lessen his pain. He said nothing. He couldn’t find the words. He gently forced her head up. He saw tears in her eyes. He leaned down and lightly kissed her cheeks, and then her closed eyes, tasting her tears.

He said, still kissing her eyelids. “I won’t leave you again.” And then he kissed her mouth and was shattered.

And late that night, in a cold rain, Evangeline met another man down in a protected cove.

Chapter 23

“Grandmama, I’m here at last. I wanted John Coachman to go faster, but Papa wouldn’t allow it. Look, I even brought Eve with me.”

Marianne Clothilde heard that beloved little voice, all the words tumbling over each other as they burst out of his mouth, dropped her embroidery, and was on her feet to catch Edmund in her arms when he leaped upward. She smiled as she hugged him. “It’s been too long, Edmund, far too long. I’m beginning to believe that London isn’t such a horrible place for little boys. Perhaps your grandfather was wrong, your papa as well. Perhaps it’s best for all of us if you stay right where we are so we can all be together. Goodness, let me put you down. You’ve grown into a young giant.”

“Eve says I’m better than a giant. I’m an ox, all muscle and stubborn, and I can shoot anything at twenty paces.”

“Ah, your cousin Eve. Why don’t you introduce me to her, Edmund?”

“She’s strong as an ox too. She’s going to teach me to swim better than Papa.” He frowned. “If it ever gets warm again.”

“I can vouch that she’s strong as an ox, Mother. After all, she’s spent close to eight hours in the same coach with Edmund. I, alas, was unable to stay the course. As to her swimming, I have yet to judge her abilities in that direction.”

Marianne Clothilde couldn’t look away from her beautiful son. His voice was deep, amused. He sounded quite pleased. He stood just inside the drawing room, a striking young woman dressed in a dark blue silk gown at his side.

“You are Edmund’s cousin Eve?” Marianne Clothilde looked at a young woman who was nearly as tall as she was.

Evangeline curtsied. “Yes, your grace. I’m Marissa’s cousin.” “Madame de la Valette,” the duke said. Marianne Clothilde couldn’t have been more shocked if someone had milked a cow in the drawing room. Her son, her arrogant, quite sophisticated son. He’d merely said her name, but the tone of his voice—it was filled with a mixture of pride and possessiveness. It appeared that her son had finally found the woman who’d been fashioned just for him. She realized then that he was standing very close to Evangeline, as if to protect her. From me? she wondered, blinking. Does he think I’ll not be kind to the girl?

She gave the half-French cousin a beautiful smile, her son’s smile, truth be told, and clasped her hand. She was lovely enough for her son, Marianne Clothilde thought, but what was wrong? There was something very surprising in the young woman’s eyes. Was it fear? Of her? No, that was nonsense.

“I’m delighted to finally meet you, Madame,” she said, and took that slender hand in hers.

The hand quivered, then subsided. “Thank you, your grace,” Evangeline said, and wanted to sink into the floor. Here his mother was, welcoming a traitor into her home. “I’m very sorry about our unplanned visit, but Mrs. Needle, she died, and it was dreadful and there was nothing, and I didn’t know what to do and his grace—” “Yes, I know, and I’m very sorry for it.” “His grace was kind enough to include me with Edmund.”

“Now, there’s a piece of information that’s news to both Edmund and me.” He looked over at his son, who was carefully studying a very old globe. “Don’t touch that, Edmund.”

“No, Papa, I was just wondering why it is round when Mrs. Raleigh has told me many times that the world is flat. This is the world, isn’t it?”

Marianne Clothilde laughed. She said to Eve, “Mrs. Raleigh has belonged to this club called the Flat Earth for the longest time. You will have a good deal of convincing before you change his mind, Madame.” “Edmund,” the duke called out. “Yes, Papa?”

“You will listen to me and you will believe me, and that will be the end to it, all right?”

Lord Edmund walked slowly back to his father and stood staring up at him. “The world is round. Repeat that.” “The world is round, Papa. Are you certain?” “Have I ever lied to you?”

“No, Papa. I’ve never even known you to be wrong.” Evangeline groaned.

Marianne Clothilde laughed until tears were swimming in her eyes.

“Good. The next time Mrs. Raleigh tells you that the world is flat, you will smile and nod, but you will know that the world is really round.”

“Yes, Papa.”

The duke smiled at his son, picked him up, and tucked him against his side.

“Goodness, your grace, that was well done,” Evangeline said, and Marianne Clothilde heard nothing but humor in that rich voice, no flirtatious sighs or giggles that her son was treated to so very often.

“Yes, I’m very impressed. Now, do not think that you’re intruding, Madame. I quite wanted to meet you. My son has told me a good bit about you.” “Oh, dear,” Evangeline said. “I told her that you were stubborn as a pig, a passing good rider, and you very much enjoyed the scenery at Chesleigh. Oh, yes, I did tell her that you also had a bit of charm.”