“J-James,” she stammered.
His damp hair curled on his forehead, and his eyes were bright with righteous fire.
“No more lies,” he said grimly. “I will have the truth or, by God, I am done.”
As he confronted his wife, James realized that he’d never been this angry. Self-control had never been a problem for him, but right now he wanted to drive his fist into a wall—better yet, into the face of the bastard she was meeting.
How could I be such an idiot?
Twice now, when he’d married Evie and during their recent reconciliation, he’d believed that they would overcome all odds. He’d thought that love would be theirs at last…that the years spent building a proper foundation, allowing things to unfold in their own time, had not been wasted. He’d striven to be a patient and supportive husband. And his reward?
The knowledge of her betrayal would have crushed him if he allowed it. Instead, he used his molten rage to forge pain into armor. This time, he would not be swayed by her lies.
Enough is enough.
“Who were you going to meet here?” he demanded. “Who is he, Evie?”
She blinked at him. “I…I don’t know what you mean.”
Her hair hung in wet tangles around her face, and her eyes were huge in her pale face. She looked like a bedraggled orphan, alone and afraid?—
Afraid of being caught in the act. The duplicitous bitch.
“Stop lying.” He bit out the words. “The game is up. Why else would you sneak out of a ball and show up here? I knew you were up to something—you’ve been acting strangely for weeks. That night, when you came home late and lied about being in the greenhouse, I suspected you had taken up with some bounder. Yet like a witless dupe, I believed your excuses. I thought that whatever you might have been up to, you were not capable of infidelity. When you told me you were still grieving our lost babe, I believed that too.”
“That wasn’t a lie,” she whispered. “I do grieve?—”
“Grieve?” he said mockingly. “You are not capable of feeling—of caring about anyone but yourself. Clever of you, by the by, to feign jealousy over Lady Vernon when you, yourself, were engaged in adultery. When I saw you leave through the terrace, I knew you had something nefarious planned. Unfortunately, the dance detained me, and you had a head start. Then I thought of this cottage—the perfect place for a tryst. I was surprised when you were not here; did you get lost in the storm? I assume that is what prevented your lover from showing up as well. No matter, I shall deal with him soon enough. Now I will have the bastard’s name before I decide what to do with you.”
“Please, it’s not what you think,” she pleaded. “I would never betray you?—”
“Give me his damned name.”
She jerked at his roar but held her ground. She took a shaky breath while he clenched and unclenched his hands, struggling for self-control. His gaze shot to the door when it suddenly rattled…but it was only the raging storm. He almost wished it were his wife’s lover—then he would have the satisfaction of tearing his rival limb from limb.
“I…I don’t have a lover.” Evie licked her lips. “I swear upon my honor?—”
“Your honor,” he said bitterly. “Do you think that means anything to me now? You have destroyed everything I thought unshakeable. Everything I held dear. It is over between us, and there is no going back. Tomorrow, you will return to Grove Hall. I will stay here until I figure out a permanent solution for our living arrangements.”
“P-permanent solution?”
“I want you out of my sight. If I had my way, Evie, I would never see you again.”
Even through his shield of anger, he felt piercing anguish.
How could she have done this to me—to us? She treated our marriage like a tot treats a toy. She smashed it to smithereens for sheer pleasure.
The heat in his chest was matched by the heat behind his eyes. By Jove, he would not unman himself. He would not give her the satisfaction of knowing the wound she’d inflicted.
“James.” Her eyes, big and deceptive, beseeched him. “I never…I never wanted this.”
“You don’t wish to tell me his name? Fine. I shall find out another way.” He couldn’t bear to be in her presence a moment longer. “Goodbye, Evie.”
He strode past her.
“Wait,” she choked out.
Unwilling to hear more lies, he reached for the doorknob.
