Evan could not help but hit Peter’s shoulder with his own as he left the library. His grandmother was in the hallway with an innocent look on her face. “Did you have a nice time in the library, dear?”
He glowered at her. “How would you like to be buried next to Uncle Harold when you die?”
She tsked and waved a hand to dismiss his words. “Oh, there is no need to be cruel, my dear.”
After Joanna and her maid left to go home, his grandmother retired for the evening.
“Don’t think we are done discussing that little stunt you pulled today,” he said.
“I have no idea what you are talking about, my dear,” she said, unconcerned. “I was with both of you the entire time, and I can assure that no impropriety took place.” She gave him a sweet smile. “Perhaps we can all go to Hyde Park together for an invigorating walk. That would be lovely, yes? Peter and I can act as a chaperone for you and Miss Thorne, so her maid can have a day off.”
“Grandmother, no more of your schemes. Please.”
“A walk is hardly a scheme, my dear. Now, I beg of you, I must go to bed. Even an old lady like me needs her beauty sleep, after all. Goodnight.”
She left to go upstairs. Meanwhile, Evan was not tired in the least, so he joined his brother in the drawing room, where he was enjoying a glass of brandy. Peter saw him and immediately poured a second glass.
“I cannot believe you went along with her madness,” Evan said.
“I didn’t know what was happening until she was pulling me out of the library,” he replied. “But I suppose if you and Joanna are going to spend some time alone together, it is best to do it here and not in a place where the two of you could be seen.”
Evan growled softly, but took a sip of the offered brandy. It was refreshing after that night. “What did you think of her?” he could not help but ask his brother. He didn’t know why it mattered when the courtship was just a charade, but he wanted Peter to like her.
“Miss Thorne is charming and beautiful,” he said. “She is a good match for you.” He grimaced slightly as he sipped his drink. “However, her father is a problem.”
Evan frowned. “It is not her fault that her father has a love of gambling tables and you should know better than to hold that against her.”
“Believe me, I know. I don’t fault her for it in the slightest. I am merely concerned.”
“About what? It’s no concern of mine.”
“It should be,” Peter said, sharply, setting down his cup with a little more force than necessary. “She isn’t getting enough toeat, Evan.”
The duke froze and looked at Peter. “How do you know?”
“Because I remember what it is like to be hungry and presented with a feast, and I saw how she ate at dinner. Perhaps she ate with more decorum than I did as a child, but the urgency was there all the same.”
Evan suddenly remembered their first date in the tea shop, where she ravenously grabbed the scones, only to become embarrassed about it for a moment. He had known even then that her enjoyment of the baked goods wasn’t part of her performance. And when he had shown up for tea, her fatherstalled him while the housekeeper rushed out to get cakes from the baker.
Joanna was on the thin side, but he had never paid much attention to that until now. He knew his brother was right. How could he not have seen it sooner?
“I know you like her,” Peter said. “But all the pretty dresses in the world will not help her if her family is starving. I suggest you marry her as quickly as possible. You can at least save her and her mother from the viscount’s folly.”
Evan knew his brother was right. Joanna was probably starving. “I will make sure she doesn’t suffer,” he said. “Even if I don’t marry her, I’ll find her a proper husband. And her sister will have a dowry and a proper Season next year.”
Peter arched an eyebrow. “So you don’t think you’re going to marry her, then. Despite courting her?”
Evan didn’t know how to reply without revealing that the courtship was a sham. “I’ll make sure she’s taken care of.” It was the only thing he could say.
Peter sighed. “I’m sure you will,” he said. “But despite your reluctance to marry, I hope you and Miss Thorne will be married by the end of the Season.”
But he could not marry her. The most he could do was help her and her sister through dowries so they could find proper husbands to take care of them.
Despite his convictions on the matter, the thought of Joanna marrying another man left a bitter taste in his mouth. He feared part of him would not be satisfied until she belonged to him in every possible way.
CHAPTER 26
The next morning, Joanna was reading in the drawing room when there was a visitor. Mrs. Long answered the door and announced that the Duke of Blackwell and his grandmother were there to visit.
