Chapter 6
Chapter Six
Evan sat by the fire in his bedroom, a glass of brandy in hand. He sipped at it while looking at his watch. It is nearly time.
A scream echoed through the hallway to the open door of his room. Even though he heard the same scream every night, the sound still pierced his heart. He set down his glass with a faint thud before he stood up and ran out of the room and down the hallway to his daughter’s room.
He yanked open the door to see the five-year-old girl tossing and turning in bed as tears streamed down her face.
It looked like she was still in the throes of the same nightmare that plagued her almost every night.
He knew it would not be long before her nanny joined them, but he needed to wake her out of the dream now.
He sat down in a chair that was next to her bed. “Lilly, wake up,” he said, his voice commanding.
At the sound of his voice, her eyes flew open. Her entire body trembled as she stared at him.
“It was a dream,” he said. “You are safe in your room. Whatever you saw cannot hurt you.”
She brushed the tears away, even as a sob escaped her mouth. “Scared,” she whimpered.
“It was not real. It was just a dream.” He stated the simple facts over and over, hoping they would eventually get through to her
Her face was still tense with fear and worry. “Mama,” she said. “I want my mama.”
He kept his face neutral, willing himself not show the effect her words had on him.
Her words hurt him, even though he knew deep down she was just stating a fact.
She wanted her mother, and he certainly was not her.
Unable to think of anything else, he just stated another fact.
“Your mother is gone, Lilly.” He paused, thinking about how he could possibly make her cheer up.
“We can visit her grave next week if you like.”
Lilly’s face crumpled, and it looked like she was desperately trying to keep from crying again as she wrapped her arms around herself, as if she were cold.
But how can she be cold? It is quite warm in her bedroom.
Just then, the door opened, and the nanny came into the room, looking half asleep still and carrying Prince William. Evan stood up with more than a little relief and moved to the side to let the woman take over.
He watched the nanny make comforting sounds as she tucked Lilly back into bed and pulled the blankets up over her.
Prince William curled up next to Lilly and fell asleep immediately.
The presence seemed to comfort her. Finally, his daughter looked calm as she slipped back into sleep, but her face was still twisted into a fretful frown.
He turned to leave the room, remembering her words about wanting her mother. I know you need one, desperately. I am working on it.
Soon, he would be married, and Lilly would have a new mother.
Hopefully, Marina would be just what she needed.
He still did not know what to make of her, but at least Marina was compassionate—she was willing to throw propriety to the wind to save Prince William.
Perhaps his soon-to-be bride cared about children as much as she did about dogs.
There is something about Miss Marina Shirley. I cannot put my finger on it, but she is intriguing.
The next morning, Evan dressed and left his bed chamber to find his butler, Carlson, waiting for him. “Good morning, Your Grace,” he said. “I take it you are off to Shirley House today.”
“Indeed,” Evan said as they walked together downstairs to the front hall. “I do not know how long it will take to sort out the details for the wedding, but I hope to be back home before afternoon tea.”
“And how are you feeling, sir? About your upcoming wedding?” The man looked curiously at Evan.
“Quite pleased,” Evan said. “When I decided to find a new wife, I was dreading the courting process. It is so convenient that I was able to find one so quickly. I do not even have to worry about courting her after the events at Lord Heeway’s party. I am quite lucky in that regard.”
“Yes, lucky,” Carlson said dryly as they approached the foyer. “Does she feel the same way, Your Grace? Women expect to be swooned, even when they are facing scandal and ruin.”
Evan remembered how insulted Marina was at his proposal the day before and knew Carlson had a point.
“She might be a little disappointed,” he admitted.
“But it would be best if she were disappointed now instead of after the wedding vows. Romance is off the table between us, and I will make that clear up front. Would it not be worse if I were to mislead her?” He did not see how it would help matters to give Marina a false impression.
“I suppose,” Carlson said. “But are you certain there is truly no chance at romance? I remember how you described her after you saw her down by the riverbank.”
Something about her was intriguing. That was for sure. But romance? Romance is irrational and fleeting. It is best to think rationally about this instead of giving way to emotion. “I am quite certain. This arrangement is for Lilly. That is all.”
As he mentioned, his daughter, a ball bounced into the foyer, followed closely by Prince William. The little dog barked excitedly as he grabbed the ball.
“Prince William!” Lilly rushed into the foyer and stopped short when she saw her father and Carlson.
She smiled at them before kneeling down to pet the dog.
“Good doggy!” she said. “Mr. E will be proud of you! He will give you extra treats at tea.” She stood up and threw the ball for Prince William, who sprinted out of the foyer, with Lilly hot on his heels.
Alarm filled Evan. He looked at Carlson. “Mr. E? Who is Mr. E?”
The butler shrugged. “I have never heard of such a man.”
Evan ran his fingers through his hair. “I do not like this,” he said.
“Perhaps that is what she named her teddy bear?” The butler suggested. “After all, she and her nanny take tea together in her nursery. There would be no chance of a stranger visiting her in there.”
“I know,” he said. “She is perfectly safe.” But he still felt unsettled. What if she had met this ‘Mr. E’ somewhere else? He was not with her at all hours of the day, after all. “I am not leaving today,” he said. “I will stay home.”
Carlson frowned. “But Your Grace, you said you would go to Shirley Manor.”
“Send word and tell them to come here,” he said. “I am not leaving the manor today.”