Chapter 21
Chapter Twenty-One
Evan did not sleep a lot that night. Usually, he tried to get some sleep after Lilly had been re-tucked into bed, but there were too many thoughts tumbling over his mind.
He felt exposed, like his soul had been cut open and scraped raw for Marina’s perusal.
The only other person who knew all of the ugly details of his previous marriage was Carlson, and that was mostly because the butler had witnessed most of those details himself.
Evan rarely talked about it with the man, and he had never had to tell someone about it.
He was scared at first, worried Marina would change her opinion on Lilly now that she knew the truth. Not only that, but he worried about indiscretion. One wrong word slipped to the wrong person could throw Lilly’s entire future into question.
But she had been so comforting. She even hugged him. Who knew a hug could feel so good? He thought to himself as he watched the sun start to rise on the horizon. He could still smell her faint, floral scent and feel the soft touch of her hair as he rested his chin on the top of her head.
Then, when he pulled away, he could not help but notice her soft lips.
He wondered what they felt like … what they tasted like.
“She is dangerous,” he muttered into his empty bed chamber.
“She tempts me more than any woman I have ever known … How am I supposed to remain objective when it comes to her?”
He knew what Carlson and Marina would both say if they saw him trying to push his emotions down right now, like he usually did. They would tell me I am being silly. That emotions are powerful and cannot be ignored.
He wasn’t sure if he could give her the affection and emotion she clearly craved. But he wanted to do something nice for her. He needed to show that he appreciated everything she did for him and Lilly.
When it was time for breakfast, he made up his mind on what he wanted to do. While enjoying his tea and toast, he wrote a letter to Shirley Manor, inviting Marina’s sisters over for tea that afternoon.
He gave the letter to Carlson when the butler came in to clear away the breakfast dishes. “Have the drawing room be prepared for guests,” he said to the man as he handed the letter.
Carlson looked surprised. “Guests? I thought such a concept makes you positively ill, Your Grace.”
Evan smirked. “They do. But it is high time that Marina sees her sisters. She has not seen them since the wedding because she is so busy with Lilly. I think she would appreciate their company.”
Carlson smiled. “I think that is quite wise, Your Grace. Should we also be expecting the Viscount and the Viscountess?”
The duke grimaced. “I made it clear in the invitation that only her sisters are invited. I am sure they have other obligations to tend to.”
I will not let them spoil her mood. They have already proven themselves to be incapable of showing the slightest amount of warmth or affection for their daughter, and I am trying to do her a service.
“Inviting them would just be cruel to her,” he muttered, almost to himself.
Carlson’s smile widened. “You are full of wisdom this morning, Your Grace.”
“I am always full of wisdom.”
“Ah, and you are making jests as well. It is an auspicious morning indeed.”
Evan could not help but grin. “Thank you, Carlson, that will be all.”
“Do you plan to tell Her Grace about the guests, or shall I?”
“I will tell her,” he said. “I shall go right now, in fact. Er, wait five minutes before sending the letter off.” I should gauge her reaction first. If I need to stop the invitation from going out, I will.
Carlson nodded, not seeming to find anything strange about such a request. “Certainly, Your Grace.”
Evan left his bed chamber and went down the hall to the duchess’s suite. He knocked on the door. “Marina?” he called. “It is me. Evan.”
“Come in,” she said faintly.
He opened the door to see her sitting at her writing desk, fully dressed.
An image of her from last night flashed through his mind, and he was almost disappointed that she was in proper clothes now.
She looked quite stunning the night before.
How irrational. Of course, she is in proper clothes now.
Besides, it would be much too distracting if she were not.
“Good morning,” he said. “Did you sleep well last night?”
“I certainly slept better than you did, by the looks of it.” Her brow furrowed as she stood up. “Are you ill?”
He caught a glimpse of himself in the vanity mirror and realized he was in a sorry state.
Dark circles rimmed the lower half of his eyes, his hair was messy, and a dark stubble lined his jaw.
However, his most egregious offense was his button-down shirt because the top three buttons were buttoned wrong.
Why did Carlson let me leave the room like this?
Is he cross with me? “Forgive me,” he said as he unbuttoned his shirt.
“I should have checked my appearance before leaving the room.”
Marina blushed crimson and looked away as he fixed the buttons on his shirt. “N—no trouble,” she stammered.
She looks beautiful when she blushes. I wonder if I could make her blush more often.
He cleared his throat. Clearly, the lack of sleep was messing with his mind.
“You are right that I did not get enough sleep last night, but that is not why I am here. I invited your sisters to tea today, but I asked Carlson to wait five minutes before sending out the invitation, in case you do not wish for such a thing.”
But even as he said it, he knew he had made the right call. Her face lit up with excitement. “They are coming here?”
“I assume they will. They have not had the chance to accept the invitation yet, but I am sure they are quite eager to see you.”
“Thank you,” she said, grinning. She stepped forward, as if she was going to hug him like she did the night before, but then she stopped herself at the last moment. “Thank you, Evan,” she said shyly. “I have missed them so much.”
He smiled. “I know. The nanny can watch Lilly for a while so you can have some quality time with them.”
She bit her lip. “Are my parents coming as well?”
He shook his head. “I made it quite clear that the invitation was only for your sisters.”
The relief was plain on her face. “Good. I—I mean, I did not get to say goodbye to them properly. And a sisterly bond is different than a bond between a child and two parents ….” she sighed. “I must sound like a negligent daughter.”
“Not in the slightest. They were negligent parents.” He was never more certain of anything else.
He could not imagine sending Lilly off to finishing school in America, no matter what possible scandal she might have caused.
I certainly would not have left her without so much as a goodbye after she fainted on her wedding day!
Anger rose up on Marina’s behalf, but he forced it back.
Such strong emotions would not do either of them any good, especially right now.
“I must get ready,” she said. “Oh, this is wonderful! Will you be joining us?”
“I will be present, yes,” he said. “As will Lilly and the nanny. But you will have time with them alone later.” He ran his fingers through his hair and looked away.
“It is high time that Lilly becomes acquainted with someone who is not directly related to her. I am not ready to let her leave the manor without me, yet. But perhaps this will give her practice socializing.” You were right.
She needs to learn how to talk to people.
He did not say it, but he was certainly thinking it.
He expected Marina to look a little smug at such an admission, but instead, she just looked delighted. “My sisters will love her,” she said. “And do not worry. I will not breathe a word of what we talked about last night.”
He nodded. “Thank you. I suppose I should prepare myself for the guests, now that I know they are coming.”