“Lord Bethany told me he thought you were top-notch last week,” Jamie added.
“I am exactly who I have always been,” Anthony gritted out.
“Cold, calculating, and unemotional, do you mean? A man who won’t reveal himself unless his doors are closed, and only we, or your aunts, are present?” Toby asked.
He had been all those things, but knew Evie had changed him. He couldn’t allow it to continue…could he?
“Both of you, be quiet,” Anthony snarled.
“Very well, but for what it is worth, we like the changes,” Toby said.
“Now let us discuss our visit to Brawley while we are here,” Jamie said. “If Cavendish, Greville, and Calthorpe are involved in those girls going missing, we must bring them to justice.”
“Agree,” Toby and Anthony said.
“After that business with your fiancée, there is no more hiding in the shadows and seeking revenge unseen anymore,” Toby added. “They know you are watching them now, Anthony.”
“I want them to pay for all of it, but especially scaring Evangeline.”
“Because she’s important to you now?” Jamie said.
“He hurt her because of me. I cannot allow that to go unavenged.”
“You put your fist in both their faces,” Toby drawled.
“It was nowhere near enough,” was all Anthony said.
They walked back to the house as yet another carriage rolled into the courtyard. This one, he knew.
“Is that your carriage, Anthony?” Jamie asked.
“It is. The Spencers are arriving in it.”
“You are really playing the part of the besotted fiancé well,” Toby said.
Ignoring them, he walked to the carriage as it stopped.
“I have it, thank you,” he said to the footman hurrying to the door.
Opening it, he found Evie first, sleeping against the side of the carriage. He drank in the sight of her and felt the knot of fear inside him finally unravel.
“She’s been asleep for at least two hours,” Prudence said loudly. Her sister did not wake.
“Out you come. I shall wake her. You stretch your legs,” Anthony said holding out a hand for Evie’s sister.
“Well sprung carriage you have, Hamilton,” Lord Spencer said climbing out behind his daughter next. “But I’m pleased to have arrived.”
Anthony climbed inside. “Evie.” He touched her pale cheek. She didn’t wake. “Evie,” he said more loudly.
“Our mother said a herd of bulls could rampage through our house mooing and Evie would sleep through them,” Prudence said from the doorway. “Pat her cheek, as we have no water to flick at her.”
“You flick water at your sister?” Anthony turned to look at her.
“It is a sister thing, my lord.”
He snorted, and it was then Evie opened her eyes. She sat upright, blinking furiously.
“Hello, Evangeline.”
