“I expect it might be.”
“And so, we are in agreement that naught will be changed?”
“The choice is not mine to make, my lord, and I cede to your wisdom in this matter and all others.”
Anyone who knew Evangeline would have taken warning from this demure reply, but Rufus simply nodded. He spread honey on his bread with abandon then continued in a mild tone. “As a result, I am obliged to hunt this day, despite it being a holy day, to ensure that there is sufficient venison for the wedding feast. There have been so many guests invited that a day of hunting, or even two, will not suffice.” He shook his head. “And should we take a deer or two, the meat will have to hang. Nay, it is impossible to be idle, lest our guests be shown less honor than they deserve. My father would have insisted the same.” He granted her a quick sidelong glance. “I do as much only to see my father’s will done, of course. Not for the purpose of any enjoyment.”
“Of course not,” Evangeline agreed easily. His absence could provide the opportunity she sought. The key would be ensuring that Rufus could not catch up to her or retrieve her, for she guessed he would be vindictive if there was any outward sign of disloyalty.
She wished she knew how far he habitually rode to hunt and how long he might be anticipated to be gone. Perhaps she could ask the direction of the best hunting grounds, then go the opposite way.
“I was surprised that you brought no hawk,” he said. Evangeline knew how to hunt with a hawk, naturally, and had trained with a falcon from an early age. As a daughter of Inverfyre, where fine falcons were bred and trained, she could scarce have avoided the lesson, but truly, the hunt was not her favored activity. Her mother and younger sister, Mhairi, were the huntresses in the family.
“How could I?” Evangeline asked sweetly. “I would have to be certain of the accommodation for any favored bird, for not all holdings have a falconry. Is there one at Dunhaven?”
“There is not, but in our mutual fondness for the hunt, we might see that changed, my lady,” Rufus suggested with a smile. “Perhaps your father would see fit to indulge us with a breeding pair of falcons, then, if their housing was to your satisfaction.”
“Perhaps so,” Evangeline agreed, bristling that this man thought he should be given such a prize, simply for the asking.
“I would be most honored if you would accompany me on the hunt this morning. It will also grant you the opportunity to see more of Dunhaven’s lands.”
Evangeline’s smile felt stiff but she doubted her betrothed would notice. “I should be honored, sir. Do you ride out immediately after breaking your fast?”
“Of course.” He chuckled lightly before making his bread vanish. The speed with which he ate reminded her of a wolf or a hungry hound. “You should take warning, my lady, and ensure that your morning repast is hearty. I have great affection for the hunt. We might not return to the hall before evening.”
A curse upon him. She was unlikely to be able to evade him this day. “Oh, but, I could not compromise your pleasure in any way, sir. I need not ride out with you and take such a risk. I am not, after all, accustomed to such long days in the saddle.”
He eyed her, his gaze gleaming, and when he leaned closer, it took all within Evangeline to keep from flinching. “But I had understood Lady Evangeline of Inverfyre to be more intrepid than most maidens,” he fairly purred. “I could not imagine the loss to the expedition if you do not join the party. Indeed, I cannot wait to hunt alongside you.”
He knew.
He knew and he contrived that she would be watched, that she could not flee, that here would be no evasion of these wretched nuptials. And then, once the celebration was over and the guests had returned home, once Evangeline was alone in the solar each night with this man, he would ensure her silence forever.
She had to wonder why he delayed the matter. He did not care for his father’s view, so why wed her at all? Evangeline, though, did not know the details of the nuptial agreement. Perhaps Rufus would be obliged to repay some portion of her dowry if he put her aside, or even all of it. She did not doubt he had a scheme, and she would not cease to seek a way to thwart it.
Perhaps he simply savored the hunt and she was his current prey.
Perhaps he would not delay the matter. Perhaps every day brought her closer to her own demise. After all, her family would be convinced to agree with her, once they arrived. Her heart skipped that her demise might come sooner than that.
She had to escape Dunhaven.
But in the meantime, she smiled, thanked him for his consideration and agreed with every suggestion he made. She had a second piece of bread and complimented him upon the fare.
She could only hope her manner might lull him into complacency, but Evangeline was not relying upon that.
“I see you do not wear your betrothal ring,” he said then, the glint in his eyes making her heart clench.
“I fear to lose it, sir, and truly, since we ride to hunt, such an unfortunate incident might occur.”
“But you did not know of my plans when you dressed this day,” he said darkly. “I hope you have not lost it already, my lady.”
“Of course not,” she lied, for there was menace in his tone. “I merely left it secured in my chamber.” She took a breath and a chance. “Shall I fetch it?”
He was impatient with the suggestion. “Nay, for we ride to hunt.” He fixed her with a glare and his voice dropped low. “But I will see it on your hand at the board this night, my lady. Such a token should not be hidden away.”
“Of course, my lord.”
Somehow, she would have to trick Rufus.
