Evelyn supposed she would have to take that as a compliment.
“Your grace,” the butler said when he greeted them, flustered, “what can I do for you today?”
“We would like to see Lord Eastclere,” Asher said.
“I shall see if he is available,” the butler said, but when Asher gave him that look with one eyebrow raised that brokered no argument, he conceded and led them through the ostentatious manor toward the drawing room.
The house itself seemed tense, unsettled, and most of the staff were ignoring them.
The drawing room was not nearly as perfectly poised as it had been during the Spring Soiree, with a few papers scattered where they didn’t belong, books out of place, and a pillow that was precariously close to falling on the floor.
“Something is not right,” Evelyn whispered to Asher, but before he could answer, Lord Eastclere joined them.
“Your grace,” he said to each of them before taking a seat on the chair across from where they sat next to one another on thesofa. He was dressed, but it appeared that he had hastily tied his cravat, and his jacket buttons were misaligned. “What can I do for you today?”
It was the same question the butler had asked.
“It is not what you candofor us, Lord Eastclere,” Asher said, “but it is a matter that we would like to discuss.”
Asher continued to describe to him the events following the theft of the Paragon Diamond.
“Thatis what you are here to discuss?” the marquess said, blue eyes flashing. He was an attractive man, but there was something about him that Evelyn found rather cold. She had met him often enough through Verity, but he usually paid her little mind.
Tonight, however, was a different story, as when his eyes left Asher’s to fall on her, they narrowed, as though he was sizing her up.
“Yes,” Asher said without emotion. “Have you heard anything from your detective?”
The marquess scoffed. “Nothing that I have any interest in sharing. Now, why would we need to discuss this together?”
“The blame that we have received has changed everything in our lives,” Asher said.
“Including marriage to one another, I presume?”
“That was part of it,” Asher admitted.
“Ah,” the marquess said, a slow smile spreading across his lips. “So the gossips were right. This was not a love match.”
Evelyn froze at the reminder of the truth, while Asher leaned toward the marquess, practically coming between her and the other lord with his body.
“How our marriage occurred says nothing about its current status,” he said slowly. “And I would appreciate it if you would keep yourself out of my personal business.”
“Your personal business?” the marquess scoffed, his blond eyebrows nearly reaching his hairline. “I believe you are the one who currently finds yourself in my house, in my drawing room, arriving unannounced and discussing an affair that does not concern you.”
“It concerned me the moment my name was drawn in.”
“In which I had no part.”
“Perhaps if you had kept the diamond secure, then none of us would be in this situation.”
The marquess stood abruptly, fist cocked, his face drawn together.
“Why you?—”
“Pardon me, gentlemen,” Evelyn said, standing and raising her hands between them. “I do not believe this is getting us anywhere. We have all been affected by this situation, and flinging accusations at one another will get us nowhere. I believe it would be far better to have an open, honest discussion.”
The marquess slowly retook his seat, as Evelyn returned to the sofa.
“For you, your grace. I will leave this be,” he said, his eyes on Evelyn before flicking over to Asher with distaste. Evelyn couldn’t help but wonder whether there was any history between them, but that question would have to wait until later. “Did you not discover enough when you visited my gallery?”
