Chapter 36
“Why are you investigating one of your own footmen?”
Evan barely glanced at his grandmother, instead pretending to be busy studying the paperwork on his desk. “Because I think he is the one who talked to that gossip writer, and I intend to find them.”
“Evan, you should stop this madness at once,” she said, a note of panic in her voice.
He looked up at her with a frown. “Why would I do that?”
She glared down at him. “It’s not worth your time. You have other things to focus on at the moment.”
With a hint of wistfulness, he thought of Joanna. He wished he were planning their wedding now, but unfortunately, that was just a fantasy. “Unfortunately, I do not.”
“You need to stop this nonsense with Miss Thorne and focus on your future,” she said. “You are going to marry Lady Katherine Preston in two weeks’ time.”
He stood up, outraged by her impertinence. “Who the bloody hell is Lady Katherine Preston?” he shouted. “And what has gotten into you?”
The dowager duchess had been nagging him about marriage for years, but she had always been adamant that he could marry whoever he wanted. Now she was trying to dictate his life choices?
“You had tea with her before you entered into that farce with Miss Thorne. She’s a respectable lady from a good family, and you are better off with her than the likes of Miss Thorne.”
Evan glared at her. “Do not speak ill of Miss Thorne in my presence.” His voice was cold, colder than he had ever been with his grandmother.
She paled and took a step back, surprise flickering across her expression.
But he didn’t back down. “I am no longer a child that you can order around. I am a duke. I have tolerated your meddling in the past because I knew it came from a place of affection. But this overbearing snobbery is not welcome, and if you continue with this nonsense, then I will ensure you have a very comfortable dower house to live in, but you will not step foot inside the manor again. Do I make myself clear?”
She clenched her jaw and blinked rapidly, as if clearing tears away. She gave a single nod.
“Good,” he said. “I hope you come to your senses soon.” He brushed past her and opened the door to his study to see Peter on the other side, his hand raised to knock.
“So you finally know what knocking is,” Evan said dryly. “Walk with me.”
Peter hurried to catch up with his brother’s pace. “I just thought you should know. I have found out Jimmy has left the city. Apparently, his brother worked at Somerton Manor as a stableboy, but he was recently dismissed and no one has seen him since.”
Something nagged at the back of Evan’s mind about the name Somerton, but he could not quite connect it. He shook his head in frustration. “Thank you. We are going out tonight.”
“You want to go out?” The disbelief was evident in his voice.
“I am not staying here,” Evan said. “Not with her.”
“Ah. So you were threatening to kick our dear grandmother out of the manor then. I thought I had misheard that.”
Evan grimaced. “I will tell you. But first, I need a drink.”
Peter’s favorite gentlemen’s club was called the Three Stags.
It was a fine establishment, featuring gambling, good food and music.
However, the only services offered by the club that Evan cared about were the private rooms available, where they could talk in peace, and the extensive collection of quality alcohol.
The two brothers settled into comfortable chairs in a private room. A server brought them a whiskey bottle and two glasses before leaving quietly.
Evan quickly poured himself a drink and swallowed it down while barely tasting it.
“If you are going to drink that fast, then we should order some food,” Peter said.
The duke shook his head. “I am not hungry.” He sighed. “I don’t know what has gotten into Grandmother. I have never seen her this angry before.”
“Well, you did get her hopes up about her dream of grandchildren, and then you dashed them away,” Peter said.
“No,” Evan said. “There is something else going on. I just don’t know what.
She wants me to marry Lady Katherine Preston.
” He vaguely remembered having tea with Lady Katherine.
It was overall unremarkable. The only impression Lady Katherine had made was her clear discomfort at being in his presence.
It was such a contrast to Joanna’s treatment of him. Even when she was trying to actively dissuade him from her in the beginning, it was clear she enjoyed spending time with him. Or at least, she wasn’t afraid of him.
He shook his head with a humorless snort as he remembered that line from the gossip rag. Perhaps all it took to thaw him out was for someone to approach him and flirt with him instead of reasonably shying away in fear.
Maybe there was some truth to that. But it wasn’t just her lack of fear that drew him to her. She was interesting and kind. And now he could not imagine marrying anyone else. Even the thought of life as an eternal bachelor paled in comparison to the thought of a life married to her.
Peter looked at him. “I have been thinking. Perhaps we don’t need to find Jimmy to find whoever wrote the article. We can find the owner of the gossip rag.”
Evan smiled. “That’s a good point. Why stop with a single writer?
We could just shut down the paper.” Dangerous pleasure filled him at the thought of that.
At least it gave him something to focus on that wasn’t his grandmother’s current lack of sanity and Joanna’s rejection. His smile faded as he thought of her.
His brother studied his reaction. “Are you thinking of Miss Thorne?”
He nodded and sighed. “You were right. It was reckless of me to spend time with her without a chaperone. Not only did she get hurt, but she wants nothing to do with me now.”
“Do you want my opinion?”
Evan shrugged and raised his glass to his lips. “I am sure you will give it whether I want it or not.”
Peter’s expression was uncharacteristically serious. “If it’s marriage you are after, then she will marry you as long as you make it clear you are open to it. Just give it time.”
“She was quite adamant about her decision, Peter. She doesn’t want to ruin my reputation.”
“That was this morning,” he said. “But her family is descending into poverty. Even though you are sponsoring her sister and providing her with a dowry, the young lady will be very disadvantaged when it comes to finding a suitable match. Miss Thorne herself will have very few prospects, and her situation will only get worse with time. Perhaps her pride will continue for the rest of this Season, but by early next Season, she will be begging you to marry her.”
Evan suddenly felt nauseous at the thought and put down his glass. “That’s a very chilling assessment.”
Peter shrugged. “Perhaps. It’s not a pleasant thought. Of course, the situation might not be that dire. She could find a merchant or barrister who wants ties to nobility. Or she could find work as a lady’s companion or governess. But we both know that marrying you is by far the best outcome.”
“I will not coerce her into marriage,” Evan said. “That’s the last thing I want.”
“I had hoped as much,” Peter said.
“I am in love with her, but I am not selfish enough to trap her like that,” Evan said. “I just wish I could show her that I don’t want to marry her out of obligation. Perhaps if I could convince her of the sincerity of my feelings, then she would change her mind.”
Peter smiled softly. “I never thought I would see the day you would admit to being in love.”
Evan grimaced and finished the rest of his whiskey before pouring himself another glass. “Of course you did. I am just cursed enough to fall in love in the worst possible circumstances.”
“It’s not the worst possible circumstances,” his brother said with a wry smile. “She could be a murderer on the run from the law.”
“Touché.”
Peter leaned forward. “If you want to convince her that your feelings are sincere, then you should do some sort of grand gesture. Perhaps announce your love publicly or serenade her.” He made a face. “On second thought, do not do that. Your singing voice leaves much to be desired.”
“I never planned to serenade her. I think that would just be uncomfortable for both of us.” He sighed. “I will think about a grand gesture, though.”
However, that wasn’t the only thing to think about. Peter’s words from earlier stuck in his mind. Maybe his brother was right, and Joanna would end up marrying him through practicality, no matter what her current thoughts on the situation were.
He didn’t want her to feel forced into marrying him. He would rather she do so because she loved him, too. Not because she needed his protection or money. But would there ever be a way for him to be sure of that?
After they drank their fill, the two brothers left the private room and wandered into the main room of the gentlemen’s club. Evan was feeling a little more relaxed and slightly lightheaded from the liquor, and he could tell Peter was feeling the same because of his flushed face and wide smile.
They weren’t even close to the drunkest people in the room.
Nobles mingled together, laughing and drinking.
Some sang along loudly to the music being played by a quartet and an accompanying singer in one corner of the room.
Others were at the card tables, laughing loudly while they gambled away their money.
Evan and Peter were about to head out of the club to go home when Evan glanced at one of the card tables and stopped when he saw a familiar face.
Peter stopped walking when he realized his brother wasn’t right behind him and gave him a questioning look before following his gaze. Both of them saw the Viscount of Clifford staring at his cards with a dejected look on his face.
“Should we do something?” Peter asked.
Evan didn’t respond. He was already heading for the table. He clapped his hand on the viscount’s shoulder. “Good evening, Clifford,” he said.
The man looked up at him, surprised, and then ashamed. “Your Grace.”
Evan was aware that all eyes were on them. No doubt, people knew the connection between them and were probably very interested in this interaction because of the article with Joanna. Do none of these people have lives of their own? Why do they care so much about other people’s business?
“I have an urgent matter of Parliament I would like to discuss with you,” Evan said. “How about you share my carriage on the way home so we can talk about it?”
“Ah, yes. One more game, Your Grace.” He turned to look guiltily at the cards.
“No,” Evan said. “Now.”
Something in his tone kept the viscount from arguing. He stood up, clearing his throat. “Good night, gentlemen,” he murmured to the other people at the table.
Evan and the viscount joined Peter, and the three men walked out of the club.
Once they were outside, the viscount had a flighty look in his eyes that was between panicked and dazed. “I think I left my hat in there. One moment—”
“You didn’t,” Evan said. “Come on. We will take you to Clifford Manor.”
Despair crossed his face, and he shook his head. “No, I can’t go back there,” he said. “They will not expect me back until morning anyway. They don’t want…” he sighed. “Forgive me, Your Grace. I am not myself at the moment.”
Evan didn’t doubt that. He was sure the viscount was blaming himself for everything that happened that morning. Evan could not fix that. But he could at least keep the man from gambling away more money he did not have.
“If you don’t want to go home, then you will spend the night at Blackwell Manor. We will send a message to your family to let them know you are safe.”
The viscount’s brow furrowed. “Why would you do that, Your Grace? I know the courtship with my daughter was a sham. And it is over anyway.”
Evan shrugged. He didn’t have a good reason for it except that he knew Joanna would prefer her father sleeping at Blackwell Manor than sitting at a card table. He was too tired and intoxicated to think of a better excuse. “Because I want to,” he said.
The three men got into the carriage. Peter smiled at the man and held out his hand to shake. “I don’t believe we have officially met, Your Lordship,” he said. “I am Peter Swinton, the duke’s brother.”
The viscount shook his hand. “It’s nice to meet you, Mr. Swinton.”
“You don’t need to call me that. I detest formalities. It’s nice weather tonight, isn’t it?”
The two of them made slightly strained small talk, leaving Evan to his thoughts as he stared out the window, wondering what he should do next.
He needed to win Joanna back. That much was clear to him. But somehow, he needed to prove to her that he really loved her and wasn’t just asking her out of some sort of obligation. He also needed to ensure that she would only accept his proposal because she loved him too, and for no other reason.
By the time they reached the manor, he had come to a decision. The Viscount of Folly was a problem that needed to be eliminated.