“He cares for you, as well,” Silas said.
At that, Evelina sat up and wiped her face. “Yes, he might. Sometimes he looks at me and it’s unlike anything I’ve ever felt from any man before. But…but I ruined everything, I think. I kept something from him, I wanted to protect him, but he found out about it. He feels betrayed.”
Silas leaned closer, draping his elbows over his knees. “Evie, that only proves to me that he cares. If he didn’t, why would he be bothered if you lied?”
She shook her head. “Because the lie was about-abouther. About his wife. I kept something from him about her. He walked away afterward and he claimed he just needed space to think about it, but now I wonder—I wonder if it’s more than that. And if he were offered the chance to repair what they once shared…would it be better for him?”
“That is nonsense!” Arabella barked out. “Evie, that woman is a nightmare.”
“I agree. But he felt so strongly about getting back at her. Pretended to hate her. But hate can be so close to love, can’t it?”
“Or it can just be a justifiable response to someone breaking every rule,” Silas said.
“You like breaking rules,” Evelina whispered.
He shook his head and there was no teasing to his stare. “Not those. Not ever.”
Arabella reached across the expanse and briefly squeezed his hand. Then she released him and put all her attention back on Evelina. “What happened next? You are keeping something from us. Tell me now.”
There was no denying her when she took that tone and in truth, Evelina didn’t want to. She needed help and counsel. “Harry showed up at your old house after Vaughn left me. And he…he wants me back. He wants to reset things and start over.”
Arabella huffed out a breath and got up, storming across the room where she put her hands on her hips and burst out, “Please tell me you told that tosser to get bloody fucked.”
“Arabella,” Silas said, softly but firmly. He held Evelina’s gaze. “You know this isn’t real, Evie. Of course he wants to reset things. He’s losing everything since he came out as Lady Blackburn’s lover. His friends have turned on him, he’s beginning to get bounced out of clubs and gatherings. It will take years for him to rebuild if he stays this course. But if he backs out, perhaps even finds some way to put the blame entirely on her…a man like that would always try to find an out.”
Arabella nodded like her head was on a spring. “Not to mention I would wager seeing you with Blackburn, seeing you light up in a way you never did with him, must make him jealous. Not because he cared. But because he doesn’t like to lose.”
Evelina shivered as all those reasonable arguments sunk in. “But wouldn’t I be cruel to deny Vaughn his choice? If Harry was removed from the equation, he could decide this future without the duke’s interference.”
Arabella’s face crumpled and she looked like she was going to cry. It was shocking, for her strong sister rarely showed such emotions. She returned to Evelina and sat down, taking both her hands. “My God, you would sacrifice yourself for Blackburn?”
“Not…not forever. I don’t want Harry. He took my hand and wouldn’t let go and I felt like it was spiders crawling up my skin. But for Vaughn I could bear it a little while.”
“You aren’t being rational,” Silas said.
She dropped her head. “I know. I know. But I…I love him enough to try to save him.”
“I’m going to talk to him,” Silas said, starting to stand.
Evelina lunged for him and caught his hand. “Oh no, Silas, don’t. Please, I adore you for wanting to help, but Vaughn is the furthest thing from the villain here and he’s been through so much these last few days. Just leave it be. Don’t pull him into yet another drama.”
Silas drew in a long breath. “Fine. If you don’t wish me to interfere, I won’t. But I think you’re making a mistake even considering this.”
She scrubbed a hand over her face. “Southwater is coming back to the house tomorrow and I suppose he’ll demand an answer then. I know you’re both right that in my haste to protect Vaughn, I might be considering wild and ridiculous notions.”
Arabella tugged her in and hugged her. “Yes. Please don’t do that. Don’t sacrifice yourself, not even for this man. If he’s worth the love you declare for him, he wouldn’t want it.”
“I must think. I just have to think,” Evie whispered.
“Then do so here,” Silas suggested. “Stay with us, have supper. We can talk further about this or we can talk about anything and everything else to soothe you. Please. Stay.”
Evelina stared at his man who had made her sister the center of his world and a swell of adoration for him rose. “I will, thank you. And thank you for turning even a tiny portion of the love and protection you give my sister onto me.”
“She will always have my heart,” Silas declared with a quick, powerfully loving glance for Arabella. “And so you will always have my sword, if you need it.”
“Come,” Arabella said as she moved to the sideboard. “Let me get you a drink.”
Evelina nodded and sat back down on the settee. She let them fuss over her and take care of her, but even a night in their fine company didn’t ease her spinning mind, the one that at that moment was willing to do anything if she could ease Vaughn’s pain even a fraction.
