Thirty-nine
Evangeline woke to her sisters talking softly in the adjoining room. She didn’t know how long she’d been asleep.
After allowing her to cry herself dry and declining to drink the calming elixir Joy offered, Aunt Beatrice had coaxed Evangeline to put into words why she was sad.
Words had never been difficult for her, but they had stumbled over each other or evaporated mid-sentence as she tried to explain how the betrayal of a man she had known only a fortnight had wrecked her.
Now, she stared at the broad shadows stretching across the ceiling with a warm bundle of poodle tucked against her side. Maybe she should lie here forever. Then she wouldn’t have to face her sisters, who had each found a love and contentment that evaded her.
Once, she believed antiquities and books left no void, but after opening her heart to Jonathan, she felt depleted—empty. She had lost who she always had been.
Movement in the sitting room drew her out of her ruminations. The savory scents of rosemary and garlic wafted through the open door, and Cupid’s head popped up, his ears twitching. When the outer door snicked closed, he dashed off to investigate.
She rolled over and forced herself to crawl from bed, combing her fingers through her wild curls and trying to smooth wrinkles from her light cotton gown.
Her hair was still damp at the nape from when Aunt Beatrice helped her wash it.
She felt slightly less out of control with the dust washed from her and a dreamless sleep.
Maybe she would feel more like herself after a decent meal.
Sophia glanced up from placing silverware around the small table close to the window. “We asked to dine in here tonight. We thought you might not want to dress for supper.”
“Where is Aunt Beatrice?” Evangeline asked.
“Dining with everyone else,” Regina said. She was already seated at the table. The color in her cheeks had returned. “She wanted to interrogate Sir Jonathan.”
Evangeline groaned.
“Xavier promised to supervise.”
“You gave your husband an impossible task,” she said as she joined Regina at the table.
Cupid was on guard underneath—just in case any wayward food tried to escape.
Regina shrugged. “He volunteered.”
Sophia carried a platter of fish arranged on a bed of tomatoes and olives to the table and offered it to Regina first.
“Xavier is likely happy to not be on the receiving end this time,” Sophia said.
“What do you mean?” Regina asked, spooning a piece of sea bass onto her plate.
“Didn’t he tell you? Aunt Beatrice had a private audience with him after you announced your betrothal. She had quite a go at him for anticipating your vows before asking for permission to marry you.”
“But we didn’t—” A blush spread up Regina’s face, disappearing into her hairline.
Evangeline had been there and knew the true story, but she didn’t have the energy to engage in their exchange. “How is Uncle Charles?” she asked.
“Contrite,” Sophia said. “He feels guilty for leaving us at home without protection. I reminded him that we had Crispin looking out for us.”
Much to Sophia’s chagrin at the time.
Regina shook her head. “You and Margrave. I still find it hard to believe it.”
“Because you’re closer in age and think of him as a brother,” Sophia said. “Whereas, I don’t.”
“I should hope not,” Evangeline mumbled.
Sophia smiled. “There’s our sister.”
Evangeline couldn’t muster a smile of her own. Her time in Greece had changed her. Instead of observing life at a distance and identifying patterns, she was in the middle of the chaos.
She leaned on the table to stand. “I’m not really hungry.”
“Sit,” Regina said. “You need nourishment.”
“From food and the company of your sisters.” Sophia held out the platter. “Please stay.”
Evangeline sank back into the chair. They would follow her if she returned to the bedchamber. She would do the same if they were suffering.
Obediently, she chose a small piece of fish and didn’t protest when Sophia returned with a bowl of stewed eggplant with rosemary. Regina was politely waiting until everyone was seated, but she gazed at her plate with longing.
“You’re with child,” Evangeline said. “You needn’t wait.”
Sophia agreed and hurried to fill her own plate.
“Uncle Charles told us about your encounter with the Semkari,” Sophia said. “You and Sir Jonathan saved him. He was impressed by how calm you were.”
“Maybe I was calm on the outside, but Jonathan kept me from panicking.”
Sophia rubbed Evangeline’s upper back and sat beside her. “It must have been a shock to learn about the Regent’s Consul. Crispin’s involvement caught me by surprise, too.”
“You probably noticed signs at least,” Evangeline said and frowned. “You were always good at figuring out puzzles.”
“And you’re skilled at analyzing situations and drawing conclusions.”
“What are you implying? That I should have applied logic to see the real Jonathan?”
“Sophia isn’t implying anything,” Regina said. “You are hurt, and neither of us would kick you when you’re already low.”
“I wouldn’t kick you any time,” Sophia said. “I have always despised practicing Wing Chun. I’m happy Regina has Xavier for sparring now.”
Regina huffed. “Not anymore. He refuses because of the baby.”
“Well, don’t ask me to step in,” Sophia said. “I only use it when necessary.”
“You shouldn’t be sparring at all,” Evangeline said to Regina.
Sophia wrinkled her nose. “I had to squeeze the peach to get away from a man behind the Drayton Theater.”
Evangeline sat up straighter. “You grabbed his bollocks?”
“Yes, and it was disgusting.”
She laughed, imagining her tiny sister bringing a man to his knees with the move Uncle Charles had taught them. “That’s a story I want to hear.”
“Another time. This is your turn.”
Evangeline lowered her head. “There isn’t much more to say.”
She had told her great-aunt and sisters about the journey to find Uncle Charles and the revelations about Jonathan’s identity and mission.
“Uncle Charles said Sir Jonathan loves you,” Regina said softly. “Do you want to tell us how you feel about him?”
Fresh tears burned the backs of her eyes. “I thought I loved him, but I didn’t know him, did I?”
Regina’s brow furrowed. “I don’t know. Some parts are true. He wrote the journal articles you loved, so he’s a proper antiquarian like he claimed.”
“For heaven’s sake, Regina! He’s an assassin.”
Her sister cast down her gaze, pink flooding her cheeks. Evangeline regretted her sharpness immediately. She had lashed out when Regina had only meant to help.
“I’m sorry.” Evangeline reached across the table, but Regina didn’t look up. “I never intended to sound harsh, but what I said is true.”
“Is it?” Sophia asked. “It seems to me he could have easily completed his mission after rescuing Uncle Charles. He could have left him to the Semkari, as far as that goes. What was it? Two nights on the road you and Uncle Charles were alone with him?”
Evangeline inhaled, mulling over her sister’s observations.
“I love seeing this emotional side of you,” Sophia said, “but what do the facts tell you?”
Her chest tightened with anger. “Fact one. He recognized we were related to Uncle Charles at the docks and lured us to the villa. No doubt, he intended to hold us prisoner until Uncle Charles came out of hiding.”
“That’s a stretch,” Regina said. “We’ve been free to come and go since we arrived.”
“Fact two. He used us to find his target. I led Jonathan to Uncle Charles. I should’ve seen through everything, but I let fondness for him distract me.”
Sophia reached for her hand. “You’re being too hard on yourself—which is unfair to Regina. That has always been her role.”
“Sophia!”
Their younger sister shrugged, smiling at Regina before squeezing Evangeline’s hand. “We should gather all the facts and make a list. Let’s prove he loves you, and it isn’t an act.”
Evangeline rolled her eyes. “Emotions cannot be proven.”
“We can try. Don’t you want to know?”
“Of course I do, but even if he didn’t want to accept the assignment, he did it to protect his fiancée.” She pushed away from the table. “His fiancée, Sophia. He loves her, not me.”
Sophia leaned back in her chair. “Your research is missing pieces. Crispin was around when Sir Jonathan received his assignment. He didn’t know the details, but he is privy to the relationship between Sir Jonathan and his former betrothed.”
Evangeline stopped pacing to face her sister. Her heart pounded; her mouth grew dry.
“She married Ben Hillary, her old flame,” Sophia said. “According to Crispin, Sir Jonathan never stood a chance once Ben rekindled their association.”
Evangeline frowned. “So his love was unrequited. That doesn’t negate my statement.”
“Crispin saw it differently. Sir Jonathan was ready to have a family, and Miss Thorne was kind. He surrendered her to Ben too quickly for it to be true love.”
Regina dabbed the corners of her mouth with a napkin and placed it beside her plate. “Xavier told me that Sir Jonathan has been miserable all day.”
Sophia nodded. “And Crispin compared him to a hound banished to the yard. All mopey.”
Cupid shot out from under the table and ran to the door a second before it opened. Xavier escorted Aunt Beatrice into the sitting room. Crispin followed, closing the door behind him.
“Well, that was painful,” Xavier said.
“The Regent’s Consul recruited the wrong family member,” Crispin agreed. “Beatrice is a beast of an interrogator.”
Aunt Beatrice laughed. “I had him shaking in his boots, didn’t I?”
“Damnation! You had me shaking in my boots,” Crispin said, laughing as he crossed the room to stand close to Sophia.
“What is your impression, Auntie?” Sophia asked.
Xavier walked Aunt Beatrice to the settee, warning her about the small table so she didn’t bark her shin.
“The man is despondent,” Aunt Beatrice said. “If I’ve ever seen a lovesick gentleman, it is Sir Jonathan.”
Evangeline refrained from pointing out her aunt’s eyesight was not what it used to be.
Cupid jumped into Aunt Beatrice’s lap for head scratches and a piece of fish she had wrapped in a napkin. Evangeline’s aunt clicked her tongue. “I hope you let the poor man down easy when you tell him you are truly finished with him. Charlie wants us on the next ship bound for England.”
Evangeline’s breath caught. They were leaving sooner than she had anticipated. “I-I probably owe him a conversation.”
“Will you be kind about it, my dear?” Aunt Beatrice asked. “I hate to think of him suffering more than he already is.”
As the family discussion shifted to Sophia and Crispin’s engagement, Evangeline was quiet.
“There’s a man of the cloth lodging not far from here,” Crispin said. “Since we have her uncle’s permission, Sophia and I want to marry as soon as possible.”
“What about the marriage contract?” Regina asked.
Sophia turned to Evangeline. “You helped Regina and Xavier.”
“I imagine Uncle Charles is better suited,” Evangeline said. She would do anything for her sisters under normal circumstances, but her heartbreak was too fresh.
“Oh!” Sophia’s eyes widened. “I’m so sorry. I wasn't thinking.”
Evangeline shook her head. “I’m happy for you. Please don’t apologize.”
The conversation continued with her observing from what felt like a different realm. She was far away—in her body and not. Fatigue became unbearable, and she asked to be excused.
Aunt Beatrice followed her into the bedchamber and sat on the side of the mattress with her.
“For what it is worth,” her aunt said. “I believe Sir Jonathan is good at his core. You weren’t foolish for envisioning a future with him.”
Her throat tightened, tears prickling the backs of her eyes. Her aunt rubbed her back.
“If you’re satisfied with his answers and choose to forgive him, know you will have our full support.”
“How can I?”
“I don’t know,” Aunt Beatrice said. “But you’ve always been flexible when new information comes to light.
I witnessed how Crispin was manipulated by Farrin.
He had that power over others, especially the young men he targeted.
Sir Jonathan was barely a man, and he’d lost his family a few weeks earlier.
I understand why he clung to an anchor when it was offered. ”
She wanted to argue that he wasn’t a young man anymore, but she partially understood. Hadn’t she clung to books and knowledge to keep herself from becoming lost after her parents’ deaths?
“I want to be chosen,” she murmured.
“You have been, sweet girl. I would choose you a thousand times over. You and your sisters are my greatest gifts.”
Drat! She was crying again.