Chapter 19
Chapter
Nineteen
" Y our Grace," Evangeline yelped at the sight of the duke and her sister standing in the doorway to the room. The duke's deep scowl and pointed stare at finding them alone was clear to see on his features, whereas her sister gaped at the sight of them.
Evangeline moved away from Lord St. George and clasped her hands before her. "I left the ball a little distressed after a dance and Lord St. George found me. That is all that happened. There is no need to be so severe with either of us being found…"
"Alone." The duke pulled Rosalind into the room and closed and locked the door. "What do you have to say, St. George? You're supposed to be a gentleman, a close friend of mine. Dear God, what made you think going after Lady Evangeline where you were caught alone was a good idea?"
"It is not as if we were caught kissing."
"And yet," the duke said, striding over to them. "I know that you have, after walking in on your little conversation." He turned to St. George, his eyes wild with temper. "You lied! You told me nothing happened between you and yet you’ve kissed…” He paused. "Where did this occur?"
The duke watched them both for an answer, and yet, Evangeline could not form the words to speak. She'd never seen His Grace so wild with temper, and she certainly didn't want to add fuel to his already burning wildfire of rage.
"I kissed Lady Evangeline in the carriage while bringing her home yesterday afternoon."
The duchess tried to bite back a smile, but Evangeline did not miss it—and nor did the duke, who frowned at her.
"You will marry Lady Evangeline. I cannot have word of you molesting my unmarried, debutante sister-in-law in a carriage alone, might I add, and then not marry her."
"Of course, I understand," St. George said without question.
Evangeline gasped, having never heard of anything so preposterous. "I will not marry Lord St. George just because we kissed in a carriage. A kiss that no one saw," she whispered wildly, not wanting anyone else who may be lurking about in the shadowed hallways to hear. "Rosalind, do speak to the duke and make him see sense."
Rosalind came to her and reached for her hand, squeezing it. "If this should get out, if a servant saw you on your travels back to London yesterday, then you will be ruined, and I cannot allow that. I agree with the duke. You must marry the earl."
"He does not love me," she whispered to her sister, hoping she would see sense. See the absurdity of this decision.
"That as it may be, sister, the decision is made. You both chose to be reckless yesterday and then tonight we’ve found you alone. And after what we heard… Well, this is the outcome of that decision."
Evangeline ripped her hand out of her sister's clutch and stepped away, not wanting to hear such absurdness. "You kissed the duke before you married him, before he offered you anything, and yet you'll force me into a decision that I do not want."
"You do not?" Lord St. George blurted before looking chagrined. "That is to say, I thought you did not dislike me…"
"That is entirely beside the point," Evangeline said. "You do not want a wife, and you do not love me, and now you're being made to marry me. This will not end well for our future situation."
"Well," the duke blustered. "I'm sorry, but I overheard what his lordship said, and I now know that there was familiar relations between you in the carriage. Neither of you have a choice."
"I will do what's right."
Evangeline huffed out an annoyed breath. What was right for him and the situation, but where did that leave her? She was told by the stranger this evening to keep away from Lord St. George, if only to keep her family safe. And she was attempting that, and somehow now she had made it all worse.
To be married to him was not keeping away from him. Not that a small part of her wasn't thrilled to be marrying St. George. Who would not want to marry a man of such refinement? But still, she did not want to place her sisters in danger. Nor did she want to marry a man who could one day resent her for being his wife. No one forced into the marriage constitution was happy, she was certain.
You could always tell St. George of the threat this evening.
The idea wasn’t without merit, and she decided it was her only way forward. Perhaps he could help her. He would not let anything happen to her or her family, surely.
"I expect you to call tomorrow morning to discuss the marriage contract, and we shall have the banns called. In three Sundays from now, you shall be married," the duke stated, his tone brooking no argument.
"Oh my dearest sister, congratulations," Rosalind said, pulling her into a quick embrace. "I'm so very happy for you," she whispered into her ear. "I know you shall be very well pleased married to his lordship."
Evangeline nodded, and deep down too hoped that would be the case. But a marriage of convenience, forced to wed due to an arcane law of propriety for unmarried ladies, was ludicrous. Not to mention the danger that now shadowed her every step.
"I wish to speak with St. George before returning to the ball. Will you allow us a moment alone?"
The duke looked to the duchess, and with the slightest nod from Rosalind, he relented. "Very well, but no more than five minutes, and if you're not back at the ball by then, we shall return and there will be hell to pay."
"We shall not be long," Evangeline promised, waiting for her family to leave. Once the door closed behind them, she met St. George's eyes. "There is something you need to know about the gentleman who danced with me this evening. I do not know who he was, nor do I think I've met him before, but our dance was not the reason why I was so out of sorts when you found me. Why I was cutting with you, my lord."
"We're engaged, Evangeline. You may call me Ezra."
The fluttering in her heart was not welcome. She could not be excited to have leave to call him thus going forward, not when there were other more serious issues at play.
"What did the gentleman say to you?" Ezra continued, watching her far too keenly than she liked.
"He threatened me to keep away from you. That if I did not want to be hurt, or my family, that I ought to keep my distance from you. That people who are near you end up dead." She bit her lip, hating that she allowed a stranger to threaten her. Never had she been spoken to thus, and as much as she liked to think herself strong, there was something about the man’s threat that seemed genuine and one she could not ignore. She could not place her sisters at risk, should the crazy man from earlier in the night be telling the truth.
"You see, that is why we cannot marry. I do not know your past, and while I know you've had a significant loss in your life, I do not know the particulars of that time. What did the man mean, Ezra? Will my family be hurt, or worse, killed by merely being around you?"
She met Ezra's eyes and found his face had paled. Without thought she reached for him. "Ezra, say something. I do not know what to do."
A muscle worked in his jaw and finally, at length, he spoke. "We will marry, and I shall find out who this fiend was this evening who dared threaten anyone of my acquaintance." Without warning he pulled her against him, held her against his chest. She welcomed his embrace, having been at sixes and sevens with worry in the short amount of time since she'd spoken to the stranger. To have Ezra's arms around her was a comfort she did not know she needed.
"Nothing shall happen to you or your family. Nothing. I shall not allow any harm to come to you. I shall find out who this bastard is, and I will rid him of this earth, I promise you that."
She looked up at him and could see he was in earnest. "You cannot kill a man. You'll be sent to the colonies, or worse, hanged."
"Do not think of him again. All will be well."
She debated arguing the point that the situation they now found themselves in would not be all well or so easily dismissed. "I'm sorry that you have to marry me, but you did follow me in here, so it is not entirely my fault."
"I do not blame you," he whispered, his thumb on her back rubbing against her silk domino and making her skin prickle in awareness. "I followed you in here, and I kissed you yesterday. If it is anyone's fault for the position that we now find ourselves in, it is because of me."
"So you're not angry?"
"I'm not against marriage, Evangeline. I merely did not wish to marry yet . But," he sighed, leaning down to kiss her lips softly. Her body roared to life, and even though she tried to extend his kiss, he pulled back. "Marry we must, and soon. Four weeks is too far away if I wish to keep you close and safe."
"You believe we should be married earlier?"
"I do."