That was awfully rude.
Evelyn and her father stood andpolitelythanked Mr. Pine before making their way to the door.
“Evelyn, would you give me one more moment to speak privately to Mr. Pine?” her father asked with a gentle smile. Evelyn nodded, of course, as confused as she was, for as far as she knew, her father told her everything. All that was left of her family was the two of them, but her father remained as aloof as ever, his interest directed more toward his books and societies.
She sighed as she stepped out into the slightly cool morning air, leaning against the brick wall of the office behind her.
She closed her eyes for just a moment, surprised when she opened them to find the Duke of Ravenscar standing there, staring at her — again.
“You will follow his advice, will you not?” he demanded.
“What do you mean?” she asked as her eyes ran over his face, not allowing her annoyance at him to show. He was tall, his shoulders broader than most although not so wide that they felt intimidating. His gaze was hard, his face drawn, as though he carried the weight of the world on his shoulders, and yet she felt that within those blue eyes of his was a twinkle that could re-emerge if he ever allowed it to.
“When he said to keep silent, you must keep silent. I am not pleased by the fact that my reputation is resting on you and your father’s ability to keep this to yourselves, but here we are.”
“I have no wish to spread gossip about you, your grace, but silence is a reaction. It makes us appear guilty.”
He bristled. “Nothing is gained by reacting in any other way.”
It was her turn to bristle, for it seemed that he had no regard for her opinion, but rather, was only telling her what he wanted her to do.
Evelyn lived the life she chose, one that was creeping closer to spinsterhood, directly because she wanted no one telling her what to do. She was not going to let some duke whose fortunes had accidentally become tied to hers.
“Pine said he would make inquiries, but perhaps we might do some of it ourselves. No one can be more motivated to discover the truth than we are.”
“Give him some time,” Asher said.
Evelyn heaved a sigh. “I will consider it. Although I suppose it wouldn’t hurt for us to compare information. When did you receive your note? Was it delivered by a footman or post?”
“I-I couldn’t say. My butler delivered it with my morning letters yesterday.”
“Was there a smudge on the lower corner? Did you notice indentations along the margins?”
“Not that I can recall,” Asher said, clearly affronted.
“What did you do with it, then?” She asked, her hands going to the side in exasperation.
“I threw it on my desk and summoned the solicitor.”
Likely in anger, she gathered, although he didn’t seem inclined to say that. Meanwhile, she had analyzed and memorized every bit of it, as though it could help her.
“The writing was with a heavy hand,” she continued, pacing back and forth in front of him. She didn’t miss the curious staresthat were sent their way from passersby on the busy street. Most young women her age would have given anything for a few moments alone with the Duke of Ravenscar. He was the most eligible bachelor in all of London – and the most standoffish. There were friendly wagers within the young ladies as to who could capture his attention for long enough to earn a few words from him if they were fortunate to obtain even one dance with him. “The night of the spring soiree, where were you before the chandeliers were lit?”
“On the edge of the dance floor, like everyone else.”
“Who was near you?”
He narrowed his gaze at her, as though she was accusing him, but she was merely trying to put together a timeline of what had occurred.
“I was standing with Lord Julian Hartford,” he said. “We were in discussion. I assume my mother and sister were also nearby, although I cannot recall how close they were.”
“Did you leave the gallery before the chandeliers were lit? Did anyone see you?”
Asher stood tall in front of her, and Evelyn realized how wrong she had been about him not being intimidating.
In a cool tone, he looked down his nose at her.
“Are youquestioningme, Lady Evelyn?”
