“I’m sorry, Miss Spencer, for my behavior. It was unforgivable.”
Evie wondered what it was about this place that people suddenly felt the need to apologize to her?
“I’m afraid I should have known better, but Lord Cavendish has been my friend for some time you see.”
“I wonder he is still your friend, sir, if he has questionable behavior.”
“We have been friends since childhood,” Mr. Calthorpe added. “It is not easy to walk away from that.”
She nodded, unsure what to say, because unlike Miss Beasley she didn’t want to forgive this man, because he’d played a hand in mistreating Anthony and his friends. That, as far as she was concerned, was something she would never forgive or forget.
“Excuse me,” Evie said taking her plate back inside. She then selected two large sugar biscuits and hoped Mr. Calthorpe wouldbe gone when she returned. He’d said “my cousin” so that meant Lord Hampton and he were related. Her mother always used to say you can’t pick your family members, but your friends you could be fussier with.
Walking outside she saw no sign of him and started down the path in the direction she hoped to find the croquet, or at least her family. Her feet crunched on the path as she nibbled on the first biscuit. On either side, trees rose and then met in the middle above her, creating a canopy that allowed shafts of sunlight to peek through. She couldn’t see around the trees to where the trail led but heard someone approaching.
“Hello, you’re awake.” Anthony appeared, his face softening as he smiled at her.
The man was just too much of everything. Too large, too handsome, too appealing. She could go on but stopped herself and swallowed the mouthful of biscuit she’d just taken.
“Hello, is the croquet that way?” Evie pointed her biscuit in the direction he’d come from.
“It is. Is that for me?” He stopped before her. Not an acceptable distance away, and far too close.
“Pardon?”
“Is that biscuit for me?” He pointed to her right hand.
“I have a father and sister. You don’t think it could be for them? Or that I wish to eat it after I have finished this one?” She raised her left hand to show the half-eaten biscuit.
“Well, to save you the dilemma of to whom to give it, I shall eat it.” He then lifted her hand and took a bite while she was still holding it.
It was something a couple who were in love may do. Or a couple who had been married for many years and actually liked each other. It was not something two fake engaged people should do. It made her feel weak at the knees, watching his dark head lower and those white teeth taking a bite of her biscuit. Evietook a step back, but because he was holding her wrist she did not get far.
“Are you scared of me, Evangeline?”
In that moment, she understood all those rumors about him. He looked dangerous and wicked standing in the shadow of the trees with small pockets of light dancing around him.
“Why would I be scared of you?”
“Because your pulse is fluttering right here.” He tugged her closer and used his other finger to trace the skin over her pulse.
“Why are you touching me?” Evie was never one to talk around a subject.
“Because I can’t seem to stop myself.” His eyes were serious now.
“You should try.”
The finger moved down, and she swallowed, making a gulping sound. He then cupped her cheek.
“Anthony.” The name came out breathy and not at all like the way she usually sounded.
“Evie,” he whispered and then he was kissing her. Her wrist was released and Anthony’s arms wrapped around her, pulling her into his hard body.
For the first time in her life, Evie felt fragile. His arms crushed her to him, and his mouth took hers in a slow, sensual exploration that had her reeling. Her hands clutched the lapels of his jacket to both steady herself and hold him close.
“Open your mouth.”
She obeyed the command, and he deepened the kiss, and Evie lost the ability to think at all. Lost every thought but one.Anthony.
