Chapter Three #3
I believe I’ve made a tactical mistake far too soon in this conversation.
The earl wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth as he glared at Evan. “Get out of my house.” He leveled a look at Thornton. “Take him away. He is not my brother, and if he returns, I will summon the constable.”
While keeping a hand on Evan’s arm while guests watched them with avid fascination, Thornton shook his head.
“Actually, I can confirm this is Captain Buckthorne, and he truly is your brother. More than that, he’s Bettington’s true heir, so you’d best square with that.
I can promise you this will not be your only meeting with him, for the truth will always out itself. ”
The only thing Evan could concentrate on was the pain radiating from his jaw and midsection from the punches he’d taken. He offered no opposition when Thornton led him from the room and then eventually outside the townhouse. “You should have let me stay.”
“You are in no condition to do that, and the next time you confront him, you need to have a plan. Honestly, that was quite embarrassing to watch.” The duke’s tone clearly anointed him a nodcock of the first order.
Eventually, they reached the carriage that waited at the curb a few townhouses down the street.
Thornton yanked open the door. “Get in. I’m taking you to the club.”
“No.” Though his world spun, Evan shook his head. “Don’t want to go there.” His body throbbed with pain, and all he wanted in this moment was to proverbially lick his wounds and seek out peace or comfort.
When was the last time he’d had either?
Thornton grunted as he joined Evan in the carriage and collapsed on the opposite bench. “Then where? I’m not leaving you alone, for you’ll come back here and land into trouble.”
“Don’t know.” As his stomach roiled, he quickly put down the window glass. The cool air peppered with rain on his face brought a sliver of clarity. “Need to find Hannah.”
“Who the hell is that?”
He frowned, but finding commonsense through the mire in his mind was difficult. “Lady Mirabelle.” Hot saliva filled his mouth. “God.” Then he leaned out of the carriage window. Two seconds later, he cast up his accounts. That didn’t help with the pain from the fight.
“Damnation, Buckthorne. Don’t vomit on my upholstery.” Thornton rapped on the ceiling. “Lady Mirabelle’s house, please.” The duke narrowed his gaze on him. “I assume he’ll know where the devil that is since you’re in no state to give a direction.”
Evan didn’t answer, for he retched again before coming back into the carriage.
A few minutes later, the rhythmic feel of the carriage wheels on the cobblestones lulled him into a better frame of mind.
At least his stomach wasn’t heaving any longer.
To be honest, his head had cleared a bit.
As he peered out the window at the dark world around them, he frowned.
Of course the driver knew exactly where Hannah resided.
Had he utilized her services? For that matter, how many lovers had she taken since he’d gone back to the sea?
I don’t want to think about that.
Thankfully, Thornton wasn’t interested in talking. Neither was Evan. And the drive felt interminably long to Portman Square, but finally, the carriage drew to a halt. The vehicle dipped as the driver left his box. Seconds later, the door opened and the driver put down the steps.
The cool air wafted into the carriage, which helped to clear Evan’s head. “Thank you for the ride.” He glanced out at the dark facade of the unassuming townhouse. What the hell was he going to say to her, especially in his state and without having told her of his intent to visit?
“You are quite welcome.” Thornton frowned as he got to his feet. “I’ll escort you to the door.”
“Appreciate that.” For when he stood, he was a bit unsteady due to the ache in his head.
It was slow going removing himself from the carriage, but with the duke’s assistance, he made it up the short walk and to the unassuming black door.
“Good luck, Buckthorne. Check in with us at the club tomorrow so we know you’re alive.”
He huffed. “I’ve been through worse.”
“No doubt you have, but you were an arse tonight and you won’t convince anyone of your birthright like that.
” When Thorton released him, Evan collapsed onto the doorstep, for his knees had somehow given out.
“Let us hope this is rock bottom for you, my friend, because then you can finally attend to your comeback.” Compassion reflected in his eyes as he looked at Evan.
“We have all been there at some point. Trust me on that.” Then the duke knocked strongly on the door.
With a nod, he left Evan alone with the sound of the rain.
“What good is having friends if they abandon a man in need?” Seconds later, he vomited again, this time into a convenient shrubbery.
When the door swung open and a tall, unfamiliar man stood looking down a hawkish nose at him, Evan nodded.
“Need to see Hannah.” Then he gave into the darkness pressing at the edges of his vision.