Eager to prevent a possible fainting fit, Lady Pendragon rose from her chair. ‘I will send someone to fetch some water.’ She rang the bell and they waited in awkward silence for a servant to come. No one did. Lady Pendragon began to fidget with her lace handkerchief, embarrassed by her staff’s poor attendance when they had a guest present. Eventually she could tolerate it no more. ‘You cannot find reliable staff these days,’ she said as she went to the door. She paused to look at them. ‘I will leave the door open,’ she added, her chaperone duties still firmly in her mind.
Feeling stifled, Evelyn moved to the other side of the room. It was the furthest she could be away from Drake without leaving.
She began to pace the floor before the bay window, aware Drake’s eyes followed her every move. She shot him an angry glance. He appeared so calm, while she felt like prey caged with a predator.
‘Why have you come back?’
His answer was well rehearsed. ‘Your father has commissioned me to—’
‘Save your excuses for someone who will believe them,’ she retorted angrily. ‘How could you without warning me first?’
‘I had begun to think you did not care.’
‘It isyouwho does not care!’
‘I care very much.’
‘Don’t pretend to have a heart now, Drake. If you did you would have thought of my feelings in all of this.’ Evelyn helped herself to some of her father’s brandy, carefully positioning her body between the glass and Drake to hide her trembling hands.
‘Steady,’ he warned. ‘You are not used to—’
Evelyn ignored him. Jerking her head backwards, she swallowed the small amount in one large gulp. She braced herself as she felt the burning flame travel through her. It tastedawful, but she would not give him the pleasure of seeing her disgust. She blinked away the pain.
‘I began to worry you had lost your spark,’ he said gently.
‘If I had it was you who extinguished it.’
‘I’m sorry for how we parted. It was poorly done.’
Evelyn turned, surprised at his apology and was even more so to see the sincerity on his handsome face. The taste of the brandy still lingered on her tongue, but the pain it had caused began to melt away. Her anger, however, remained.
‘I had to leave. I thought by leaving quickly it would make it easier,’ offered Drake.
‘Easier? For who? Certainly not for me.’
‘For both of us,’ said Drake, walking towards her.
‘You left me wondering what I had done.’
‘I tried to explain. I had just found out Timmins was seeing my mother . . . that he was my father. It was too much. Besides, you knew I would have to leave.’
‘I knew you would have to leave Carrack House as part of your apprenticeship, but not Cornwall. Not me. And now you are back as if nothing happened between us.’
Drake reached for her, but Evelyn stepped away. ‘Conceited, arrogant, self-centred man.’
‘Evie . . . please.’
‘I hated you for leaving me. I hate you now.’
She could see her words were hurting him, each well-aimed phrase finding their mark. He deserved it.
‘Then there is nothing I can say or do to make it better.’ He picked up her painting. ‘At least my return has awakened your spirit.’ He paused and looked at her thoughtfully. ‘Mawgan will never make you happy, Evie.’
‘Mawgan is ten times the man you are!’ retorted Evelyn. She only wished Mawgan was here now making demands for her company, but recently he had been too busy to see her and withno one to occupy her time, she did not have the excuse to avoid painting for Drake.
‘Where is he now?’
‘An old university friend has arrived in town and he felt obliged to entertain him.’ If Mawgan was here, she thought angrily, he would wipe that look of sympathy from Drake’s face. At least she hoped he would.
