“Your grace,” Lady Lancaster said, both surprised and relieved. “Of course.”
“The topic today was about the spread of information in Greek times, was it not?”
“It was.”
“I am sure that then, as it is now, rumors abounded.” He cast his gaze about the room, speaking in a calm, authoritative voice, as his father had taught his brother during his ducal training. Asher had listened in from time to time, though he’d had no thought that he would ever be the one putting the lessons into practice. “Today, I have heard the same rumors repeated againand again. I would like it to be clear that my wife’s father is an intelligent, highly principled man who raised a daughter of equal intellect. I am in awe of both of them and have no doubt that they are upright, outstanding citizens whom I am proud to call my family. Any evidence that has appeared lately is too inconvenient. Too inconsistent. The work of someone desperate, turning to theatrics. My wife is honourable, as is her father, and I expect not to hear any ridiculous, baseless rumors that suggest otherwise.”
With that, he stepped back, leaving a horrified, stunned silence behind him. A few people looked ashamed; others appeared startled that he would be so bold as to say such a thing publicly when they voiced their opinions behind backs and closed doors.
But he was heartily tired of it. He would far prefer to have it all in the open.
Lady Lancaster was one of the few who appeared thrilled at this declaration. Lady Norwood looked like she would like to take him on in a boxing match, if she could.
The only reaction that mattered to him, however, was his wife’s.
He sought her out and caught her eye. Her mouth was open in shock, and when she saw him staring at her, she closed it, bit her lip, and ducked her head as though hiding her pink cheeks.
He heard someone begin to speak back to him, but he turned and silenced the man with a look.
He was a duke. And he would use that power to protect his duchess. What else could be more important?
21
Evelyn couldn’t stop staring at Asher.
Her husband.
Who had chosen her. Time and again. Above scandal, above his reputation, above anyone else who might judge him or his family. Her throat was tight as the world sharpened around him and she had to blink away tears. She ignored all of the people now staring at her, at him, waiting for Lady Lancaster to do something, and focused only on Asher.
Why did he continue to sacrifice so much for her?
“Are you ready to leave?”
She whirled around. How had he gotten there, to her side, so quickly?
“Yes,” she said, her breath coming fast as a swirl of emotion rose inside of her. She tried to find the words to thank him, but they wouldn’t come, and she realized it was because nothing seemed good enough for what he had just done for her. “Yes, let’s go home,” she said instead, tucking her hand around his offered elbow and holding her head high as they strode out the door. She realized she hadn’t said farewell to Verity, but her friend would understand the situation.
Evelyn tried to find the words in the carriage, but they remained stuck in her throat.
She tried to find them when Asher helped her with her cloak at the foyer, waving off the butler who came to help.
It wasn’t until they were climbing the stairs to the bedchamber that she knew shehadto say something.
“Asher, I?—”
He stopped, turned, and placed his hands on her waist, holding her still in front of her bedroom door.
“Don’t,” he said.
“Don’t what?”
“Thank me. There is no reason to. You are my wife, and we approach these things together now. If someone is spreading a rumor about you, they are spreading a rumor about me as well. I will not see you diminished — not by rumor, and certainly not by lies.”
His countenance softened a fraction, and it was like sunlight breaking through clouds, for Evelyn realized that whether he knew it or not, he had seen her for who she truly was, and not just as an obligation or a scandal.
“Be that as it may, your entire life has changed because of me,” she muttered. “I feel as though I have become a burden. In fact, Asher, I have been thinking…”
“Do not say anything foolish,” he warned with a look on his face that told her he wanted no argument, but she couldn’t help but continue anyway.
