Chapter Six
Farnswood House
Hanover Square,
Mayfair, London
“Thank you for keeping me company this afternoon,” Evangeline said as Anne joined her in the marchioness suite. It was the last time she would utilize it, for after tonight, she would no longer live in this townhouse.
I can finally start putting my life with Marklesfield behind me.
At what cost, though?
“I appreciate you inviting me, for I needed to get out of my house. Missing Dante is acute today,” the other woman said as she settled on a winged-back chair in the room while Evangeline wrapped a few collectibles in strips of linen then placed them in an open trunk.
“But what I don’t understand is why any of this happened to begin with. ”
“Because Darkemore wishes for us to wed instead of enjoying a long engagement.” At least that was the gist of things.
It had been two days since she’d seen him, two nights since he decided to act like an arse in which he claimed her body against her will, two nights since he ordered them to wed and after which, she’d thrown various things at his head.
And yet here she was, packing her belongings.
“I understand his high-handedness; he’s a duke, after all. But why did you agree? I know you wished to have a husband, but I never thought you’d choose… him.”
“I didn’t, truly,” Evangeline answered in a low voice. “He is interesting, I’ll give him that, and quite commanding.”
“Oh, I won’t refute that.” One of her friend’s black eyebrows rose in surprise.
“You must know that wedding a man such as him is madness.” She frowned when the maid bustled into the bedchamber from the adjoining dressing room with a few gowns over her arms. “I didn’t think he was as far gone as he apparently is. ”
Evangeline glanced at the maid. “What is it, Nancy?”
“Do you wish to take these with you, my lady? The green is a few years out of date.”
“Then set the green one aside. It can be repurposed for you maids. And do the same with any of the frocks that are older than two years. No doubt His Grace will want newer styles if I’m to be his duchess.
” Of course, she hadn’t asked him about any of that, but as payment for him ordering her about—as well as other things—he would finance a new wardrobe for her.
“Very well, my lady.” Then the maid went back into the dressing room.
Once alone with Anne, Evangeline sighed. “While I know Darkemore’s mind is a bit… warped, and I’m furious with him for what he’s dragging me into, I’ll admit I’m curious about him.”
“Why?”
“He’s broken, Anne. I don’t know why, but I do know those cracks go deep and encompasses many areas—physically, mentally, emotionally.
Part of me wants to find out why, to see if I can help if I can even though he says he doesn’t want help.
” She shrugged. “However, the other part of me is terrified about what he’ll do. ”
A tiny gasp escaped Anne. “What he’ll do to you? Do you think he’s violent?”
“Violent? Perhaps.” Her mind skittered back to what he’d done to her in his drawing room.
“It’s more of an intensity, I think.” Did she believe he would hurt her physically as her first husband did?
She did not. “The duke is aggressive and his presence fills a room, but he isn’t prone to violence against women.
” His actions regarding her settlement gave her a clue about that.
” “Is he driven? Very much yes, and he’s dark inside, but at his core, I believe he wishes he were accepted.
In all levels of society.” Quickly, Evangeline told her friend about the sex from two days ago, as well as what had transpired in the carriage ride to his townhouse.
“Good heavens, how thrilling,” Anne whispered, but conflicting emotions warred over her face, both horrifying and interesting. “Was intercourse glorious with him?”
“Mercy, but he sent me flying twice. I hate myself that even while being claimed against my will, my body betrayed me.” She darted a glance to the open door joining the room then looked back at her friend. “Does that make me desperate?”
“Not at all. It means you are human and a woman with needs. Too often men—and society—assume that women can’t enjoy relations.
” Anne shrugged as a blush stained her cheeks.
“It sometimes happens, but don’t feel badly.
It did with me when Dante and I were first married.
” She peered more closely at Evangeline.
“Did that coupling finalize your decision to marry him?”
“A bit, but it’s more him. The duke is compelling, like a puzzle I can’t resist, yet there are a few pieces missing.
Are they in his possession? Is he hiding them?
Or were they lost long ago and I’ll never see them?
There are no answers.” As she shrugged, she offered a frown.
“But it’s also like walking through an unfamiliar house in the dark.
I fear he might hurt himself if he’s not careful, and I don’t want that to happen.
After everything, he doesn’t deserve more trauma. ”
“Living with—surviving—Marklesfield should have made you a hard woman, but it hasn’t. Instead, you have retained a soft heart.” Anne dropped her voice even lower. “However, you can’t save a man who doesn’t wish to be saved. Hasn’t he already said as much to you?”
“He has. In fact, he was quite adamant about it, but he’s giving me a marriage settlement that will allow me a nest egg and a home should I want—need—to flee from him.
” Not because he would hurt her but because he might lose his grip on control.
If she’d had a hint of anything about him during that coupling two days ago, it was that he was a man of vices who held a tight lid on them.
“Apparently, one of the properties contains a cottage that had once belonged to his parents. They’d used it as their private love nest when they didn’t want to be at the larger properties or in London. ”
“Did he tell you that?”
“No, it was actually the butler who told the story when I waited for the carriage to be brought around that night.” A frown tugged at the corners of her mouth.
“I have a feeling buried under the many layers of darkness the duke struggles with, he holds a romantic heart that he is loath to let anyone see.”
At least, I hope that is true. A man couldn’t be all the way dark.
“Both the cottage and your assumptions are sweet.”
Evangeline nodded. “They are. I hope his parents had a great love and that he might tell me the story. Perhaps he might wish to follow in their footsteps… eventually.”
“I think you are a romantic too,” Anne said with a wink. “There is nothing wrong with wanting love, but hoping it might come from Darkemore? You might be setting yourself up for disappointment.”
“Perhaps.”
“What of your brother?”
He might prove a problem. “What of him? I’m not responsible for his poor decisions or keeping him in vices.”
Anne chuckled. “I can see that about you, but Marklesfield humored him in both and kept him solvent.”
“Yes, but Marklesfield isn’t on this mortal coil any longer.
” She was finished caring about what horrible men thought.
That had been her lot in life for more years than she cared to count, and it might prove true again with her newest husband, but if so, it would happen on her terms and with her gaining some sort of compensation.
“My brother can discover how to keep himself in vices and income for himself. I won’t support his poor choices any longer. ” There was more to life than that.
“I admire your bravery.”
Evangeline nodded. No matter what she chose, someone would prove incensed. “Well, the duke can’t be as horrid at Marklesfield.”
“We would like to hope, but some of the things Dante has told me about Darkemore make me worry for you.” Anne frowned as she wrapped a gilt-edged clock in strips of linen.
“The men of Club Damnation, while handsome and skilled in carnal endeavors, are sometimes… questionable when it comes to other aspects of life.”
From what she’d seen of the duke, she tended to agree. Still, he was intelligent and witty. No doubt he could wield sarcasm like a sword if he was of a mind. And the shadows she’d spied in his eyes would haunt her until she knew his secrets.
“I survived my first husband. Anything else might prove a challenge, but I’ll work through it.”
“Understandable.” Anne gently laid her bundle into the trunk while she frowned. “However, a marriage shouldn’t feel like an insurmountable chore. It should be a lovely journey with two people going the same way.”
One of Evangeline’s eyebrows rose. “I’ll wager you still need to put a fair amount of effort into your union.” Though she hadn’t meant to sound waspish, she couldn’t change her tone. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it to sound so defensive.”
“It’s quite all right.” A furious blush blazed in Anne’s cheeks. “You’re right, though. Love only gets one so far, but for the right man? Or the right man for you? Nothing seems impossible.”
For long moments, Evangeline was quiet as she wrapped items and put them into the trunk. Then she sighed. “Perhaps not falling in love first before marriage will be a good thing. How disappointing would it be if I fell for him, but the marriage crumbled?”
“Oh, Evangeline.” Anne shook her head. “Do you honestly hope to love him? I have a feeling that will prove a difficult road; I doubt he even loves himself.”
“Did Dante?”
“Well… no, but…”
She waved a hand. “Honestly, I don’t know. This will be a convenience match. Perhaps he is lonely.”
“Is it a convenience match with sexual congress?”
The warmth of a blush worked its way through Evangeline’s cheeks. “Perhaps. Although I told him if it ever happens again, I’ll be the one to initiate it. Does that make me a terrible person?”
“Not all the way.” Anne pressed her lips together. “Additionally, Cornwall is so far away. I’ll miss you when he takes you from London.”