She knew it wasn’t at her, not directly.
Asher was jealous. Not because of her, specifically. It was that another man wanted what he saw as his. Which was ridiculous, for she was actually rather interested in this man for himself.
But it was nice to think that he cared.
Even if it was for only a minute.
17
Asher stared out the window of the carriage, fists tight.
Do not say anything, he told himself.Don’t let her know.
But with Evelyn being Evelyn, there was no hiding anything from her.
“If you have something to say, say it,” she said from between what sounded like gritted teeth across the carriage from him.
“He is hiding more than financial trouble,” Asher finally managed, although his voice was strained, the emotion bleeding through despite his best intentions not to allow it do so.
The truth was, he was jealous.
Supremely jealous of a man looking at his wife with appreciation, even though nothing had happened, nor had Evelyn given him any reason to think it was possible she would ever stray. She seemed the loyal sort.
But that didn’t change how much he hated that Eastclere seemed to think that she was available for the taking.
Nothiswife.
Not Evelyn.
He realized then that it didn’t matter whether Eastclere was more interested in Evelyn as his wife or as an entirely separate person.
Asher didn’t want anyone else to lay a finger on her, nor to think that there was any reason they could. That brush of a kiss on her hand…
“We came at him too hard,” Evelyn said, kindly taking on half of the responsibility. “He is a defensive man.”
“He is,” Asher conceded. “Eastclere and I… were always competitive. At school, at sporting events, with…”
“Women?”
“Yes….”
“Oh,” Evelyn said, dipping her head. “I see.”
“One of his mistresses became… interested in me,” he said, unable to look at her, not wanting to tell this story but also not wanting to lie to her. “There was nothing between us, but he was always sore about it afterward.”
“I see.”
She still wasn’t looking at him, so he reached out, placing his fingertips against her chin and gently turning her face toward him.
“That was all before. A long time ago, in fact.” He hadn’t had any time nor inclination to chase after women since he had become the duke. “You know that, do you not?”
“Of course,” she said, but her smile was obviously forced.
He wanted to continue, to remind her that neither of them would be seeking another for the foreseeable future, but he had a feeling that forcing his edicts on her would have the opposite effect.
They were silent for the remainder of the carriage ride, but when they returned home, he still felt inclined to finish the conversation, to make it clear that he didn’t appreciate her flirtation with another man, even if it was no fault of her own. Heknew she had only been trying to disarm Eastclere and, in fact, it had worked.
He still hadn’t liked it.
