‘You have never let him down.’
‘I have.’ She lifted her eyes to his. ‘He tried educating me to take over. I failed him. I was not up to the task.’
Drake wiped her tears away with his thumb. ‘Your tutor was a sadistic bastard, Evie. Your father failedyou. He employed him and he did not give you another chance to prove yourself.’
Why didn’t her father give her another chance? Initially, he was adamant that she should be educated to the best standard, but he had easily given up on the idea. She thought at the time they were too frightened of overtaxing her, but perhaps there was another reason. Evelyn frowned. Her father had made it no secret that he believed women had neither the stamina nor theintelligence to own property. So why did he consider training his daughter for such a role in the first place if he did not think she was up to the task? Unless it had all been a ruse to annoy his brother. Had her father always thought Mawgan was the answer to his dilemma? Her father was only too happy to encourage Mawgan’s visits after her uncle had died. Evelyn, like a pawn in his game, had fallen into line yet again.
‘When will you speak to him?’ asked Evelyn.
‘This morning.’
‘And when he refuses?’
Drake reached for her and held her tight. His voice, hoarse with emotion, chilled her. ‘Don’t marry Mawgan, Evie.’ She felt him swallow and hold her a little tighter. ‘You will not be happy with him.’
It was only when she had returned to the silence of her bedroom, before the sun rose and the servants were about their daily tasks, did she realise he had not answered her question.
Chapter Nineteen
Evelyn listened intently at her father’s study door, her head bowed in concentration, her hands feeling strangely redundant. The quiet murmur of male voices from within did nothing to calm her nerves. She was unable to decipher their words, whilst their sombre tones gave nothing away. At least there was still hope. Although the tone was not congratulatory, at least it was not filled with anger. She heard Drake speak and there was silence. Evelyn’s heart raced as she waited for her father to reply. When his anger finally erupted, any hopes she had held plummeted to the pit of her stomach. Drake had finally broached the subject and asked for her hand and her father was not at all pleased.
Her father’s tirade grew in ferocity and drew servants from different parts of the house to the hall. On seeing Evelyn, they quickly slipped away again, one by one, realising it was a family matter and no business of theirs. Tilly was amongst them, but was the only one to remain. Evelyn noticed that she held the banister with a vice-like grip as she looked down upon her from above.
‘You arrogant upstart! Do you honestly think I would allow my daughter to marry beneath herself! She is a Pendragon! A Pendragon!’
Tilly’s face drained of colour as her father’s voice grew louder from behind the oak door. Guilt swept through Evelyn and she looked away. She had shared most things with her maid, but Drake had not been one of them.
Her father’s angry voice continued. ‘You have no breeding, no assets, no history. Society will laugh at the match. You are an embarrassment, sir. An embarrassment!’ Her father drew breath only to begin again. ‘Your marriage will bring shame on thisfamily. You are a conceited fool if you think I will allow you to take over Carrack House and lands when I die.’
Drake replied and although Evelyn did not catch what he said, there was a quiet, biting tone to his words. He was in control of his anger, but only barely.
Evelyn glanced up at Tilly, but she had gone.
‘Get out!Get out!’ shouted her father. Something was thrown and hit the panelled door, giving Evelyn a start. Something else was thrown, and Evelyn heard the large mirror fall to the ground and shatter into a hundred shards.
The door opened and Drake stormed out, passing Evelyn without seeing her. She ran after him, but it was not until he had reached the bottom of the granite steps outside did she manage to catch him. She did not need to ask how the meeting went. She had heard it, felt it and now saw it on his face.
She touched his arm. ‘Drake, where are you going?’
Drake scanned the horizon. ‘I am leaving. Your father has made it abundantly clear about his thoughts on the matter. I expected his anger, but I will not tolerate having objects thrown at me.’
The muscles in his arm felt tense with anger, but his eyes showed his pain. He had been hurt by her father’s insults and she couldn’t blame him. Despite all his hard work and rise in status, he would never be good enough in her father’s eyes.
‘Where will you go?’ she asked.
‘Away.’
‘What about us?’ For the first time Drake looked at her. His dark brown eyes searched hers, but he did not answer. ‘You said you wouldn’t leave me,’ Evelyn prompted.
‘He refused his permission, Evie.’
Evelyn lifted her chin. ‘I don’t care. We can marry without his consent.’
The outer corner of his eyes creased as her words sunk in.
‘You would elope with me?’ She nodded. He shook his head. ‘Your reputation will be ruined.’
‘My reputation is already ruined. We ruined it last night.’
