Marriage to a Mister (A Daughters of Regency #1) (19 page)

"You have a bloody loud mouth, Carter, and it would please me greatly if we could just leave off on the earl business. Much less fuss that way."

Evan smirked. "You mean much less harassment by well-meaning mamas trying to lay their claws in you."

"Quite right," said the non-existent earl.

"Don't worry, your secret is safe with us, for now," said Evan. "But don't think for even a moment those ladies won't have the peerage memorized backwards and forwards, even elusive earls who inherited when they were babies."

Oliver yawned. "Hmm, perhaps, but perhaps not."

"Well come out of there, my mother is waiting with the others inside."

Oliver leaned forward, rubbing his blue eyes. He reached up and tried to tame his chestnut curls but soon gave up when it proved too much trouble.

He scooted down the seat and jumped out of the carriage. "Let us go then, shouldn't keep ladies waiting, especially ones as pretty as your mother."

Evan scowled. "You have never met my mother."

"True, but Nathan says —"

"Nevermind what Nathan says," Evan said sourly. The others laughed while they made their way towards the house. Evan smiled, surprised with himself, damned if he wasn't looking forward to a few days with his family and friends. He had not realized just how much he'd missed them all.

GOOD FRIENDS

Fleur sat in her bedchamber reading by the window when a knock came at the door. She looked up and then closed her book, one of her fingers marking her place. "Come in."

A maid peeked into the room, waiting for her nod of approval, and walked forward. "I'm sorry to disturb you, milady, but I was asked to deliver this to you."

"Thank you," Fleur said, taking the letter and flipping it over, thinking it strange nothing was written on the outside. She looked up to ask the maid who penned the missive, but she had already excused herself.

"How odd," she muttered. She held the letter still and wondered if it was from Evan. She nervously fingered the edge of the paper, working up the nerve, and after counting to three in her head, she broke the seal and was surprised to see Charity's elegant scrawl.
 

She skimmed the invite requesting her to come to Charity's room immediately and lowered the letter to her lap, crumpling it in her hand. She was slightly discouraged it was not from Evan. She had thought for a moment that he had written to her. Maybe inviting her on a walk or even had exposed some sense of his feelings, but she was wrong.

She sighed and laid her book on a side table before walking outside into the hall. Spotting a maid, she quickened her pace to catch her. "Excuse me, but in which room is Lady Charity installed?"

"I was just about to ask the same thing."

Fleur was surprised to find Julia there, a note in hand. "Julia, were you asked to come to Charity's as well?"

"Yes, I have been summoned," she said, waving the note in the air. "Though I cannot think of why," Julia continued. "She never talks to me unless it is with you. I'm relieved you are to be there."

"If you would just make more of an effort with her —"

"Oh, don't start, Fleur. I am still recovering from Madeleine's shopping excursion this morning, and I don't feel the slightest bit accommodating."

Fleur cleared her throat and looked toward the maid. "Could you point us to Lady Charity's quarters?"

"Of course, Madam, it is just down the hall, fourth door on the right."

Fleur thanked her over Julia's giggles. "Madam?"

"We best hurry, we're late already," said Fleur, trying not to look Julia in the eyes as they walked.

"Yes, Madam."

They both laughed, and Fleur took Julia's arm. "I am a married woman now; it is only proper."

"But it sounds so odd, though I supposed not so odd as Mrs. Evander Woolf." Julia cringed. "Or even Lady Woolf."

"That is Mrs. Woolf, thank you very much."

"Oh, dropping the 'lady' are we?"

"Yes, most definitely," she said with a sigh, stopping in front of Charity's door.

"What ever for? Afraid plain
Mister
Woolf will feel slighted?"

Fleur dropped Julia's arm. "You know as well as I do that Evan has never cared for situation nor titles."

Julia brought her hand up to her face and looked at her fingernails. "I suppose that's true, but neither does Edward and he
has
one."

Fleur looked up and down the hallway, relieved they were alone. "Why are you bringing this up again? What is the matter with you?"

"Do you really want to talk about this now? In the hallway when we're already late?"

Fleur's eyes darted about again, and, no, she didn't like the thought of it, but she could not stop herself. "Yes, yes, I do want to talk about it, so let us hear it, Julia."

"I just feel like Edward was the better choice, he was your fiancé, not Evan, and I think you would be happier as his wife —"

"Well, I don't," said Fleur, her eyes flashing and her jaw set.

Julia stared, her eyes blinking slowly and her mouth trying to form words. "I ... I'm sorry. You don't need to get angry."

"Don't I? From the start you've done nothing but show your disapproval. Julia, I realize that to everyone, it was always meant to be Edward, but for me, it was always meant to be Evan."

"You ... you, like him? Truly? But why?"

Fleur laughed, exasperated. "Is it so hard to believe? While you followed Edward around and pestered him, who do you think I was with? Evan, always Evan. Yes, he is crass and sometimes he says things before he thinks about the feelings of others, but I know him Julia, and he is not the monster you think."

Julia's shoulders stiffened with her demeanor. "Oh, God, you love him."

Fleur smiled and shrugged.

"You are completely daft."

"Well, I thank you for your support."

"Oh, you have it. If you tell me that you truly will be happier with him than anyone else, including the handsome, kind and perfect Viscount Ravenbrook —"

"Julia."

"Then I will love him as my only brother, and never say a word against him again, to you, that is. I reserve the right to complain to others."

Fleur laughed and gathered Julia into her arms. "Thank you, now should we actually knock?"

"Let's," Julia replied, raping on the heavy wood door, taking Fleur's hand in hers. "Let's enter the lioness' den."

The door swung open and they were pulled inside.

***

Phoebe and Prudence sat on the chaise positioned at the end of Charity's bed while the latter paced before them.

"Did you send the notes?" asked Phoebe.

Charity answered with a look.

"Then what is taking them so long?"

Prudence stood as well. "Phoebe, it has only been five minutes, let us give them a moment to arrive."

"It is just that one of us married! It's so shocking."

"Well try not to be so shocked, if you please," said Charity, patting Phoebe on the head as she walked past. "Because what does that say about the rest of us if you're shocked about Fleur?"

Prudence could only agree with a nod. "It is true, I never imagined she would be unattached for so many seasons. She's the kindest of us all, not to mention stunning —"

She stopped talking and stood still. "Do you hear that?"

"Hear what?" Charity asked, stopping to listen.

Why ever for? Afraid plain Mr. Woolf will feel slighted?

"That! Did you hear that?"

Charity nodded and ran to the door, Prudence and Phoebe not far behind. "Shh," mouthed Charity, a finger across her lips to signal silence.
 

"I just feel like Edward was the better choice ..."

"From the start you've done nothing but show your disapproval ..."

Charity gasped, clapping her hand to her mouth, while Prudence and Phoebe looked to each other, eyes wide, jaws slack.

"Thank you, now should we actually knock?"

All three girls reeled backwards a step, and, once Fleur and Julia knocked, Prudence opened the door, pulling them both inside before slamming it shut. "You are married!" shouted Prudence.

Charity rushed forward, grasping Fleur's hands. "To Evan Woolf?"

Fleur laughed, though the sound more like strangulation than merriment. "Er, surprise?"

Tired of the topic, Julia walked over to the bed and sat upon it, leaning against the poster and watching Fleur flounder with amusement.
 

As Fleur explained the particulars, Julia watched her sister and wondered if she knew how she sparkled when she spoke of her wedding, or how she smiled when she said his name.
 

Definitely in love with the devil
, thought Julia as she conceded. It was time for her to stop being selfish and thinking only about her own feelings, to stop disparaging her new brother-in-law, because all it did was cause Fleur pain. Above all the most important thing was for Fleur to be happy, and there was no denying that she was well on her way.

***

Fleur set her wine down upon the dining room table and fiddled with her wedding band, her thumb spinning it around over and over. She was still not used to its constant presence, but the sight of it pleased her.

She looked across the table as Evan chatted with his friends. They had not spoken during dinner, but that was expected, it would be rude to shout across the table, though it seemed like all were doing so.

Dinner had been a relaxed affair. Madeleine always had a way of making formal situations seem informal with her easy manners and relaxed atmosphere. Prudence and Julia were laughing and Phoebe was shushing them, though she was clearly amused. Charity was in a conversation with Prudence's aunt and seemed content.
 

Her favorite thing to do, though, was watch Evan. He was so different. Changed from the young boy he once was. Being surrounded by his friends softened him she thought, and it was something new. She'd never seen him interact with his university friends before, and she was fascinated.
 

Suddenly Evan caught her eye, a smile lingering on his face like it was meant for
her
. She quickly took a long sip of her wine, trying to hide her unease at being caught staring.

She wondered if tonight would be the night they could finally talk. Would he come to her or would they keep dancing around one another? She admitted to herself that she tired of the avoidance and the anticipation. She wanted him to come to her, like he had done before, to hold her hand as he did on the day they married and ... suddenly felt warm and decided she'd had too much wine.
 

The sound of chairs being moved across the wood floor as everyone stood caught her attention. Madeleine signaled the end of dinner by ushering the ladies to the drawing room. The men would follow soon after, and maybe then they could spend some time in each other's company.

***

Evan watched Fleur all evening. It was the only time — since everything began — that he was able to sit in her company and regard her. She seemed happy enough sitting between Mrs. Simmons and Lady Preston, easily conversing with them both.

Their eyes met, no more than a glance, but her movements turned wooden and her demeanor apprehensive. He felt hopeless in that moment, her composure revealing his worst fears, his regrets. He knew not how to reach her.

His mind elsewhere, he did not hear his mother bring dinner to a close and when the ladies rose to leave he stood, the action so practiced it did not require his attention. He saw nothing but her as she walked away in her dark plum evening dress, gold embroidery gleamed in the soft candlelight when she moved, her raven hair shimmering, beautiful on its own with no need for adornment.
 

Nathan nudged him when he failed to notice the men were also exiting to the billiard room. It would be another hour at least before he saw her again, such as was the after-dinner custom. He did not much feel like joining the men for drinks and cards or one more bloody round of billiards.

He clapped Nathan on the shoulder and waited for him to turn. "I think I will go for a walk, clear my head."

"I will join you, if you don't mind the company."

Evan nodded in agreement and made his way outside, Nathan behind him. He stood on the vestibule and took a deep breath, looked over the grounds, and smiled. It had been too long since he came to his childhood home and took in the air. Always was he running, busy with some plan or another, but this reminded him of his youth, of simpler days, and it calmed him.

Nathan walked up beside him. "The moon and stars are so bright tonight we do not even need a lantern."

"Country moonlight. One cannot see near as much in London, even with a lamp on every corner."

Evan slipped his hand in his pocket, feeling the cool metal against his warm fingers, knowing exactly where he wanted to be. "Coming?" he asked before he walked down the stairs, his stride long and with purpose.

"Evan, slow down," Nathan shouted, trying to keep up with his brisk pace.
 

Evan slowed and stopped, standing in front of the stables. He pushed the wide doors open and walked inside. Darkness filled the room to every corner, the moonlight unable to reach.

"Stay here," said Evan, running into the stable.

Nathan carefully stepped inside and shouted. "Evan, what are you doing..." He trailed off as moonlight flooded the room.
 

He saw Evan run from one side of the loft to the other, throwing open another window. He walked back to the center of the loft and looked down on Nathan. "Coming up?"

Nathan grimaced. He hated heights.

He took a deep breath and climbed, not wanting to think about how he would get down again, and once his feet landed on the floor, he sighed. He walked over to the window, wishing Evan would stop leaning out of the godforsaken thing. He peeked out of the window himself and decided turning around and leaning to face Evan was safer.

"I have always loved it up here, but it has been almost eight years since I last came," said Evan.

Nathan smiled. "It is just the sort of place you would come. I can see it now, you with a book in hand, hiding away up here, basking in your solitude. I bet Edward had to come fetch you for dinner."