Anthony may not have known her long, but he knew she would never have simply walked out of that ballroom without telling her sister where she was going.
“I say, is that Miss Spencer?”
Anthony stepped off the path into the trees at the words. It was there he found Evangeline in Cavendish’s arms. She was struggling to pull free. He took all this in, in seconds. Just as hetook in Calthorpe and his sister. Both looking smug, watching everything unfold.
“Unhand her now, Cavendish, and I may just let you live,” Anthony said moving closer.
“Well now, I’m sorry to say that your fiancée is free with her favors, Hamilton. I should imagine you’ll be happy to discover this before your marriage to Miss Spencer.”
Before he could plant his fist in the man’s face, Evangeline had wrenched free and swung hers. It connected with Cavendish’s jaw, snapping his head sideways. She then raised her knee into his groin. He bent groaning.
Anthony would have laughed if he had it in him. Instead, he said, “Come to me, Evangeline.”
She spun, eyes wide, face leeched of color to look at him.
“I didn’t… he’s ly-lying,” she stammered.
Anthony could have killed Cavendish with his bare hands in that moment, for the utter devastation he saw on her face.
He’d had many such urges since Blackwood Hall, but he’d thought making Cavendish suffer slowly was a far better punishment for the hell he’d subjected Anthony, Toby, and Jamie to. But not now, looking at Evangeline’s pale face he contemplated cold blooded murder.
“Come here now,” he said holding out his hand. When she moved it was to stumble toward him. He pulled her into his arms and held her tight. Her entire body was shaking, and his rage climbed. He needed an outlet, and his eyes were on Cavendish, who was now on his knees.
“Anthony, what has happened?” Toby and Jamie arrived.
“Miss Spencer just assaulted Lord Cavendish, and that was after she threw herself at him in a wanton manner!” Calthorpe said.
“Look after her.” Anthony pushed Evangeline gently toward his friends. He then advanced on Calthorpe and his sister.
“I say, Lord Hamilton—”
They were the last words he spoke. Anthony punched him hard in the jaw, sending Calthorpe stumbling backward. His sister shrieked. Anthony pulled Calthorpe back to his feet, blood now streaming from his nose. He then dragged him to where Cavendish now stood, bent at the waist clutching his groin.
“Before today, I simply hated you for what you did to us.”
“Others are coming,” Toby said softly.
“I will not bruise and bloody you both as I wish to, but I will seek retribution for what you have done to my fiancée in other ways you will not see coming,” Anthony said.
“Your fiancée is—”
Anthony stopped his words with a fist, and the satisfying sound of a crack had Cavendish’s head snapping back again. Calthorpe’s sister shrieked once more.
“Heed me,” Anthony said, making both men look at him. “If the foul deed you did this night reaches anyone’s ears. If anyone hears a lie about my fiancée making advances to you, or if anyone speaks slanderously about her, then I will find you, no matter where you hide.”
“Y-you can’t threaten us,” Calthorpe said, now blotting his nose with his handkerchief. “I will tell everyone that you hit me without provocation.”
Anthony’s smile held no humor. “I have a reputation for a reason, Calthorpe. It would pay you to remember that, and the fact I care little what people think of me.”
Calthorpe looked scared, Cavendish furious.
“I suggest you watch your backs, gentlemen, because I will be aware of your every move from this moment on.”
He turned and looked at Calthorpe’s sister. “I will ruin you, if one word of this reaches anyone. Do you understand?” Her nod had him dismissing her.
“You two go first, and we will follow,” he said to Jamie and Toby when he reached them and Evangeline. “It is best we return, as if we have just taken a stroll in the gardens for some privacy,” Anthony said.
His friends agreed with a nod and left without another word.
