“Where is Miss Spencer?” he said, entering the Fox and Crown. Looking around, he saw no sign of her or the other women.
“She was worried for her family, so Mr. Greggor said he’d take her to them, seeing as she’d brought his daughter back,” Frank said.
“Well,” Toby said. “At least we can be sure you’ll not have everything your own way.”
Chapter Thirty-Four
Evie was tiredand hungry, but for all that, she was now safe and could return to her family.
Anthony had saved her, and she would always be grateful to him and his friends for that. But Evie was in no fit state to stay and face the man who had said what he had to her last night. The man who had taken her innocence and then sent her away.
She was tired and felt weepy, and there was no way she wanted to do that all over him. When it was possible, he would apologize to her for his behavior but still tell her he had no wish to marry her. If he actually wanted to talk to her, that was. No, it was better she returned to the house party and saw him when she felt stronger.
“That’s a mighty sigh,” Mr. Greggor said from beside her.
He’d offered to take her back to the Hampton house party. She’d refused as surely it was too far. He’d said nothing was too far for the woman who brought his daughter back to him. So here she was, seated beside him on his cart, while he sang softly.
“It has been a long day.”
“I’m sure, but you’re safe now and will soon be with your family.”
He started to sing a ballad that Evie knew so she joined in. Unlike Mr. Greggor who could hold a tune, she sounded like a cat whose tail someone had stood on. But he was polite enough not to mention that fact.
“You have a lovely voice, Mr. Greggor,” Evie said when the song was finished.
“Mrs. Greggor likes me to sing to her of an evening.” His craggy face split into a smile.
“You love your wife very much?” She wasn’t sure why that came out of her mouth, but it had.
“Oh, aye. She’s my reason for smiling.”
Evie sniffed loudly as tears clogged her throat.
“And you, Miss Spencer. Do you love that man who carried you before him on his horse into the village?”
“What? No,” she lied. “Why would you say such a thing?”
“I know the look of a man in love, and he had it.” He started singing again then. This time she did not join in.
Anthony didn’t know how to love her, but she wasn’t telling Mr. Greggor that. She found herself lulled into sleeping on his shoulder as he sang softly. It was the thud of an approaching horse’s hooves that roused her.
“Well now, it seems I was right about him,” Mr. Greggor said, pulling his cart to a stop as Anthony halted beside them. His face looked like it had been carved in granite.
Evie watched him dismount and stalk to where she sat beside the driver.
“What the hell are you about, Evangeline?” he demanded.
“I’m going back to my family,” she said in a cool voice.
“You were just abducted, put through hell, and now you’re traveling alone,” he snapped.
“I am not alone, as you can see. I have Mr. Greggor with me. He has been kind enough to sing to me.” She wasn’t sure why she’d said that.
“Good day to you, my lord,” Mr. Greggor said raising his cap.
Anthony nodded but kept his eyes on Evie. He then reached up and grabbed her, lifting her off the seat.
“What are you doing? Let me go at once!”
