Page 79 of The Heiress Gets a Duke
They were surprising to Evan as well, but they were true. The hours he had spent without August had reaffirmed how empty his life had been before her. He had the club, his friends, and now the funds to help his tenants, and he would see to those things even without her. But he would much rather have her with him. She brought a light into his world that he did not want to live without. He refused to consider the possibility that she might actually rejecthim.
Chapter 23
What greater thing is there for two human souls, than to feel that they are joined for life.
George Eliot
What in the Sam Hill are you doing here?” Violet’s irritated voice sounded throughout the entryway of the Crenshaws’ townhome.
Taken unawares, Evan and Leigh glanced up to see the lovely young woman hurrying down the stairs and descending upon him like an avenging angel. Sam Hill? It did not take a bloody genius to understand that now was not the time to question that peculiar turn of phrase. Reginald gave him a stiff bow and slowly backed his way down the corridor as if he knew what was about to happen.
“Now you’ve done it,” Leigh muttered dryly.
“Done what?” Evan asked.
The corner of Leigh’s mouth kicked up, but he did not answer. He was too consumed with watching Violet rush toward them in a flurry of creamy silk edged with navy. When Leigh had mentioned joining him to pay his call, Evan had thought the request odd but had been too focusedon his intention to put up a fight. Now he understood Leigh’s reason for coming along. He wanted to see Violet.
To Violet, Evan said, “I have come to see August, but Reginald has told me—yet again—that she is not at home.” Evan had called yesterday afternoon, bruised and with an ache in his head from the after-fight celebrations, and had been told that the entire family was not at home for the rest of the evening. Taking the information as a bit of a reprieve, Evan had gone back to his rooms to make himself fresh for the call today and rehearse the words he had planned to win her over. August liked him well enough, but he knew he was in for a fight when it came to her freedom.
Violet’s eyes narrowed as she came to a stop before them. “She is not at hometo youtoday or tomorrow or next year. I don’t care if you are a duke; you are not welcome here. Leave!” She pointed toward the door, and despite the fact that he had faced Wilkes and any number of dangerous opponents, a trickle of fear raced down his spine.
Something was wrong. This seemed to be about more than their agreement to break off their betrothal. “Are you angry with me because I released August from our betrothal?”
She stared at him much as Leigh had when Evan had admitted he wanted to marry August for herself and not her money. “I am angry with you because you are the most arrogant, inconsiderate, faithless arse of a man I have ever had the displeasure to know. Forget that you ever met my sister and get out of this house.”
“I see there is no need for me to expound upon Rothschild’s virtues. You’ve summed them up nicely,” said Leigh, amusement lacing his voice.
Turning her wrath to his friend, she asked, “You. Why are you here?”
“Because I like fireworks.” Leigh grinned.
The full force of her glare should have singed Leigh where he stood. The color high in her cheeks, she said, “Remove yourselves from the premises.”
“Perhaps you should hear him out first,” Leigh challenged her.
Violet opened her mouth to release what Evan wascertain would be an expletive-laced thrashing, so he stepped between them. “Wait,” he said. This had to be about something more. Evan knew that he risked bodily harm with his inquiry. However, he was not leaving until he understood what was happening. “Please. I must talk to her. Is she truly not home?” When Violet merely stared at him as if she wanted to bodily eject him herself, he rushed to the stairs. “August! Please come down!”
Violet hurried behind him and pulled on his arm. “She’s not here. Why do you care anyway? You have your ballet dancer or God knows how many other women waiting back at your club.”
“Gabrielle? What the devil does she have to do with this?” Evan faced her, vaguely aware of Leigh leaning against the wall to watch them in amusement.
“You aristocrats with your mistresses.” She rolled her eyes. “August deserves better than a man who would rather be with his mistress than her.”
“Gabrielle is not my mistress. Where did you get that idea? August and I have discussed this.” A glance upstairs confirmed that August had not appeared. Reginald had conveniently taken himself off to unknown parts of the house. Evan had a terrible feeling that she was not at home, but he had to make certain. He started to go upstairs but then stopped as a terrible thought occurred to him. Had someone told her about the scene with Gabrielle after his fight? Anyone present could have seen her kiss him, but who would have reported back to August? Had her brother come?
“Fine. Perhapsmistressis too strong a word for someone you only occasionally share a bed with.”
Someone had seen the kiss. He stormed back down the few steps and faced Violet. “Whomever it was who saw Gabrielle with me at the fight completely misunderstood, and I do not appreciate the interference in my relationship with August.”
“August saw you, you dolt! She had Max take her to the fight. You kissed that woman right in front of her. You only have yourself to blame.”
The blood drained out of his head, and he had to grabthe banister to keep himself from wobbling. He felt like he had just gotten hit in the face by one of Wilkes’s ham-handed punches. A cold flood of unease prickled his skin. “August was there!”
He had not realized he had spoken aloud until Violet said, “Yes, and she saw you kiss her. She had gone because she wanted—” But she abruptly clapped her hand over her mouth as if she had said too much.
“Wanted what?” he asked. His future depended on the answer to that question. “Tell me, Violet. Why did she come?”
Violet shook her head as she backed away. “I’m not telling you anything.”
