“I was not in a clear state of mind. But it was for the best,” Evie said brightly. “The time alone was good for Manderly and me. We worked out our differences.”
Harkness’s brows shot up. “Did you tell him? About Wilmington?”
Fear nipped at Evie. Even though they were alone behind closed doors, she glanced around to ensure they had privacy.
“No,” she said. “But we cleared the air, and I think things will be better from now on. He believed that I thought he was unworthy…can you fathom that?”
Harkness harrumphed.
“Anyway, I shall endeavor to be clearer in my feelings. I want to be a good wife. To show him that Morgana Vernon isn’t the only one who can help him with his campaign.”
“That tart is interested in more than his campaign,” Harkness said with a snort. “He’s either blind as a bat or doesn’t want to see her intentions.”
The comment gave Evie pause. “Manderly is honorable. It’s difficult for him to fathom that others might be less so. At any rate, I trust him.”
“Does he return the sentiment? Should he?”
The pointed question felt like a jab.
“What do you mean by that?” Evie asked.
“This came for you earlier.”
Reaching into her bombazine skirts, Harkness removed a note. Evie snatched it, her heart racing when she saw her name written in the blackmailer’s hand. The seal was broken.
“You opened it.” Her voice shook as badly as her hand. “You had no right.”
“It is my job to protect you. How long has this extortion been going on? How could you keep such a thing from me?”
Evie felt herself falling, slipping into the shadows.
“It happened one other time.”
“Do you know who the dastard is?” Harkness demanded.
“No. I thought…I thought maybe after I paid him, he would go away.”
“My poor, innocent lamb.” Pity replaced the hurt in Harkness’s dark eyes. “Blackmailers never go away, not until they bleed you dry.”
Her heart hammering, Evie forced herself to read the note.
Silence is a rare commodity, and the price for mine has gone up. Deliver your mama’s pearls to the stone gate on the northern side of the estate this Saturday at midnight. You will see a rock unlike the rest, white and free of moss: deposit the necklace in the gap beneath. Come alone…or your husband and the well-heeled guests at the ball will be amongst the first to learn of your sin.
“He knows about Mama’s pearls,” she said through numb lips. “And about the ball. How does he know so much?”
“You’ve worn Beatrix’s necklace to many affairs. If he has seen it, he has been close to you at some point. He could be a servant…or a lord,” Harkness said darkly. “Either could learn of the ball as well. But the true question is, how does the blackguard know about your past?”
“I don’t know.” Coldness seeped through Evie. “What am I going to do?”
“You will start by telling me everything.” Harkness’s face was set in severe lines. “Then we will do what we’ve always done: work out a plan to survive.”
Chapter Twenty-One
When James entered his wife’s bedchamber two nights later, Evie and her companion were standing by the dressing table, their heads bent together. They spun around at his approach, their expressions alarmed.
He halted. “My apologies for startling you. Am I interrupting something?”
“No.” Evie’s smile didn’t quite hide the flutter of nerves. “Pauline just finished dressing me, and Harkness was, um, adding the finishing touches.”
