Chapter 13
Mattigan’s Bookshop was one of Vaughn’s favorite places in the city, so much so that he almost didn’t regret parting ways with Evie earlier in the day.
They’d agreed to go about their regular business for a day or two.
Let themselves recover from the marathon of pleasure.
He actually felt sore from it and it was delicious.
He pushed the wicked thoughts away and went back to perusing the shelves.
As he picked up books, he found himself in the Gothic Romance area.
Evelina had mentioned her love of the genre a few times as they discussed and shared their reading habits.
He tilted his head to look at the titles.
She’d read that one. And that one. She’d discussed that one at length with him because he’d also very much enjoyed it.
He came around to the end of the shelf and looked toward the shop owner at his raised counter. “Mr. Mattigan, do you have any suggestions for new gothics? Or perhaps something that’s harder to find? I’m looking for a gift for a special friend.”
The shopkeep’s eyes lit up at the question, just as it always did when one asked him about books.
He was a delightful man, full of verve and intelligence and never disparaged any genre on his vast shelves.
“Let me think.” He pondered a moment. “You know, Mr. Kressley just released a new one last week and it’s been flying off the shelves. ”
“I didn’t see it there,” Vaughn said, and stepped toward the counter. “I don’t suppose you have one hidden?”
Mattigan smiled slightly. “For you, my lord?” He bent and when he straightened up he had a book in his hand. “I was holding this, but you’re such a good customer, I know it will have a fine home with you.”
“Ah, good man! That’s wonderful. Wrap it up and I may come to you with more shortly.”
“Of course, my lord. Excellent.”
Vaughn left the man to do his business and returned to the shelves with a vigor in his step.
He knew for certain that Evelina had been far too busy the last week to perhaps even know about this latest release of an author they had discussed several times.
She had the theory that the writer was actually a woman, publishing under a pseudonym.
Vaughn knew she would be thrilled when he presented the gift to her.
“Shopping for a friend, are we, Lord Blackburn?”
Vaughn turned, ready to encounter some gossipy person trying to invade his privacy and gather information. But to his surprise, it was Evelina’s sister Arabella who was standing on the opposite side of the aisle, not a pushy stranger.
“Miss Comerford—er, Mrs. Windham,” he said, stepping toward her. “I didn’t realize you were in the shop.”
He stared at her, for he could see all the features she shared with Evelina on her lovely face. Only they didn’t draw him the same way. Her eyes were different, too, a dark blue where Evie’s were such a rich brown.
“Nor did I until I heard you speaking to Mr. Mattigan,” she said. “I know we’ve met before, but it was a very long time ago, I think.”
She held out her hand and he took it to shake.
She had a firm handshake and she partnered it with an even stare that made him feel like he was being assessed.
But of course he would be. He’d no doubt Mrs. Windham was fully aware of not only his affair with Evie, but of the true nature of it.
She was so close to her sisters, she certainly would have told them.
“It’s nice to see you again,” he said.
“And so you’ve bought Kressley’s latest for Evie, it seems,” Mrs. Windham said with a little smile that softened her expression considerably.
“I have,” he admitted. “I know she’s an admirer of his work. Or hers, if her theory is to be believed.”
Mrs. Windham laughed. “I think it’s a good theory, considering how well the female characters are written.”
“I don’t disagree. Are you also a fan of gothic romance?”
“Not as much as my sisters,” Mrs. Windham said. “But I do enjoy them, yes. And if you’re giving her that one it means I’ll eventually get to read it, too, so I doubly approve of the gift.”
He tilted his head. “And do you approve of everything else?”
Her brows lifted. “How very direct of you, my lord. Fascinating. Do you actually have concern about if I approve of your…arrangement with my sister?”
“Not for myself, but she cares for you and your youngest sister a great deal, it’s evident in every way she speaks of you. So that matters to me.”
Something in her expression shifted at that, softened. “Good. She deserves someone to care about her well-being this time. Even if it is…temporary, shall we say.”
“I agree.” He pursed his lips. “Evie deserves a great deal more than that. Certainly more than what she was given. She…she told me about the situation with your father. That Southwater wouldn’t assist in finding you when you were taken.
I was incensed on her behalf and on yours.
And I’m happy beyond words that you weren’t harmed, Mrs. Windham. ”
“Arabella. I insist,” she said with a wave of an elegant hand. “I must say I’m surprised she told you that.”
“Upset?”
“No. Evelina has her own feelings about that night, I’m sure. It’s just that she doesn’t speak of them very often, not even to me or to Julia. I suppose it’s her way of protecting us from her pain.”
“Then I’m happy to be an outlet if she has no other.”
He shifted because he found that was true. And also that he felt a sense of…pride that she would feel safe enough to talk to him about something she kept close with others. It meant a great deal to be that for someone.
“Yes,” Arabella mused. “My lord, we are having a little gathering tonight at my home. It will be my sisters, Silas and our aunt Caroline Banfield. Won’t you join us?”
He started. “Invited to a family gathering?”
She nodded. “If you’re interested.”
“I am,” he said. “That would be wonderful.”
“Very good.” She smiled at him and there was a warmth to it that hadn’t been there before. “Join us at seven? I’ll send over the address this afternoon.”
“I’ll be there.”
“And now I must be off,” she said. “Silas is expecting me and I don’t disappoint him. Good afternoon, my lord.”
He inclined his head. “Arabella.”
She moved away, speaking briefly to Mr. Mattigan, with the shopkeeper’s laughter booming from whatever she’d said to him on the way out.
In her wake, she left a fragrant cloud of jasmine and vanilla and a little confusion.
Based on the nature of their relationship, Vaughn hadn’t thought he’d even be formally introduced by Evie to the other infamous Comerford sisters.
He certainly hadn’t thought he’d be included in one of their family gatherings.
He found himself excited by the idea, though.
To see Evie in an environment that wasn’t about courtesans and secrets?
He very much looked forward to discovering if there were layers to her that he hadn’t seen.
Even though getting closer to her wasn’t part of their arrangement. But things changed. They already had once. What harm could there be in it?
* * *
“And so you invited him?” Evie burst out as she paced Arabella’s parlor, drink in her shaking hand and heart throbbing with unexpected excitement and anxiety.
Arabella watched her from a position on the settee, tucked into Silas’s side. She didn’t even have the decency to look chagrined. “Why wouldn’t I?”
“Because we never include protectors in family supper,” Evelina snapped. She looked toward Julia and her aunt in the hopes they would support her reaction. Neither seemed to do so.
“I’m invited to family supper,” Silas said.
“Oh, you’re not a protector! You’re Arabella’s husband. You know it’s not the same.”
Silas glanced at Arabella. “It’s not the same,” he said.
Arabella shrugged. “It felt the same when you and I were running all around London, doing very naughty things and upsetting all the apple carts.”
“Oh, do shut up, both of you,” Evelina gasped, and glared at them when they laughed together. “Why didn’t you tell me earlier, at least?”
“Because I didn’t think it would cause so much upset,” Arabella responded, and got up to cross to her. “Gracious, you’d think I’d invited the queen to supper and you were in your nightclothes.”
Julia nodded. “You really are very pink, dearest. It cannot just be the late notice.”
Evelina took a few long breaths. Vaughn would be there soon, she had to pull herself together before then.
And also because it was obvious she was revealing far too much not only to her family, but to herself.
Why was she so worked up over Vaughn being there?
Harry had visited with her sisters many times.
Not with her aunt, but in the last few months Caroline had been far more involved in their lives, even the ones they’d once kept separate from her.
“I don’t know why,” she said softly, all the pepper going out of her. “I just—I just wasn’t prepared to see him.”
Arabella took her hands gently. “He isn’t cruel to you, is he, Evie?”
“No!” she burst out. “No, he’s infinitely kind.”
“Good.” Arabella let out her breath. “I didn’t get that sense, but I never did before, either.”
Evelina winced. Arabella was referring to a past protector who had been abusive to Evelina. One she tried to never think about. To put away where she wouldn’t be troubled by the memories.
Julia got up and joined them. “If it’s not cruelty, what is it?”
“It’s just…it’s not the same, is it?” she said. “He’s not my protector, not truly. No matter what is happening between us in bed, it’s not—it’s not real. And to bring him into this part of my life, it only confuses things.”
“Only if they have the potential to truly be confused,” Arabella said. “Do they?”
Evelina didn’t get the chance to respond, for Barnaby appeared in the parlor doorway. “The Earl of Blackburn, Mr. and Mrs. Windham.”