She folded her arms as frustration bubbled up in her. “That little—I don’t appreciate being talked about behind my back.”
“Oh, trust me, I understand that,” Blackburn retorted, his eyes flashing now in a most interesting way. He was usually so controlled, just showing hints of emotion when it became very high. This was something more focused and direct. “But your family is concerned about you and when I heard about your plan, so was I. You should not lower yourself to see this man.”
She stared at Blackburn for a moment, the anger she so often suppressed rising in her chest. “And what right do you have to give your opinions? Ineedto see him.”
“Why?” He took a step closer, filling the room somehow with his presence. “He is an arse. He doesn’t deserve to shine your shoe, let alone to have you greet him looking so beautiful and with your eyes so bright.”
She blinked at that unexpected compliment. Slowly, she smoothed her skirts again and wished her cheeks weren’t getting hot. “It isn’t your business, Blackburn.”
He might have responded, but at that moment another carriage turned into her drive and she recognized that this time itwasSouthwater, on time exactly, just as he always was.
She moved forward and pressed her hands to Blackburn’s chest. His surprisingly firm chest. “You must go! Oh God, it’s too late to go. You’ll encounter each other.”
“Good,” Blackburn said, folding his arms and setting his jaw, which only seemed to make it a sharper line.
“Christ, you are frustrating,” she muttered. “What to do…go into the room across the hall. Hurry. You can wait there for us to finish.”
“Evelina—”
“Please!” she gasped out, and then shoved him backward.
To her surprise, he didn’t fight her, but lifted his hands in surrender and strode out of the room and across the hall just as she heard Parsons open the front door and greet Harry.
She shook out her arms in the hopes she could calm herself, but her chest felt like a thousand birds were fluttering around in it as her servant escorted the duke into the parlor.
She didn’t hear him being announced because she was staring into the face of the man she’d once loved. She’d loved him, hadn’t she? The hurt and anger were so strong now she could hardly recall what had come before.
He looked the same. Tall, broad shouldered, handsome with his blond hair in perfect place and his cheeks smooth. His bright gaze, which had once flitted over her with desire, now moved over her from head to two and reflected…nothing. There wasnothingin that stare. Like he didn’t even know her.
“Harry,” she whispered.
He stiffened at the familiar address she had promised herself she wouldn’t use. “Miss Comerford. I have come as you requested, though I’m not sure what we have to say to each other. You’ve been settled generously. I have no intention of giving you more if that is your hope.”
She wrinkled her brow. “You—you think I’ve called you here to demand money?”
He shrugged. “I assume a woman of your position isn’t above asking for more.”
“A—a woman of my position?” she repeated. “What does that mean?”
He stared down at her, his expression cool and almost blank. “You’re a courtesan.”
Her nostrils flared and the anger she kept trying to tamp down rushed up at his dismissal. “Yes. I was. Iam, I suppose. And you liked that when it suited your purposes. You also told me I was more. You promised me a future.”
“Men will say a great deal to keep a woman in his bed,” he said with a shrug. “As you say, it suited my purposes. You couldn’t have been foolish enough to believe that I would truly maintain you for life. That I would forgo a great love foryou.”
“A great love?” she repeated. “Are you talking about the wife of your best friend?Thatgreat love?”
Nowhisanger flashed, hot and quick, and in that moment she was happy Blackburn was across the hall in case she needed help. But no. No, she didn’t believe Harry capable of violence against her. That was ridiculous.
“Watch your tone,” he said, too softly to be anything but dangerous. “That is my future wife you are talking about.”
“You are outrageous,” she said with a shake of her head. “I thought if you came here, I would see that this is all a mistake, a terrible misunderstanding. That the man I thought I knew, the one who wouldn’t hurt his friend, still existed and could explain all this somehow. But that man doesn’t exist, does he?”
He shook his head. “Calm yourself, you’re being overwrought and dramatic.”
She ignored him and continued, “Because if you did, you would feelashamedfor what you did to Blackburn.”
Southwater let out a little snort. “He didn’t tend his own garden as well as he should have andyouwere a body to warm my bed. How could I feel shame about taking advantage of either of those things? This is a waste of my time. I came here to tell you not to write to me again. Our transaction is complete and that’s all it ever was.”
