The house was too quiet. Evelyn continued to pace to the window, waiting for Asher and his horse to return up the drive, but there was nothing to be seen except a wide, empty road.
She had spent far too much time stewing over what she and Asher had said to one another before he left, what he was planning for Lord Norwood, and what she would do once he returned.
Even the dowager duchess and Thalia weren’t home yet.
After taking tea and trying to concentrate on puzzles but having no attention to do so, Evelyn finally took herself out to the back garden, needing a distraction from all that was in her head. The fresh air was soothing, and she focused on the well-kept garden, trailing her fingers through the greenery, trying to soak up some of its serenity.
All would be well, she told herself, again and again, wondering if she repeated it enough, it would come true.
Rustling came from her left, and she turned, her heart rate increasing as she hoped it was Asher returned to tell her that all was well, that this was over — but he didn’t appear.
Just as she turned back, convincing herself that it had just been the breeze, she heard her name — but it wasn’t from Asher. No, she recognized that voice, even though she wished it wasn’t the case.
Lord Norwood stepped forward from the shadows.
“Your grace,” he said, though his tone was mocking. Evelyn held her chin high, hoping that she could hide the fear that was causing her heart to race.
“Lord Norwood. Did the butler let you in?”
“No, I took it upon myself to seek you out,” he said smoothly. “How fortunate for me that you made it so easy.”
Evelyn had been a fool. She had never suspected that Lord Norwood might come here, not when Asher had gone to find him.
“What can I do for you, Lord Norwood?” she asked as calmly as she could. “If you are looking for my husband, I can ask him to come outside to meet you, or we can go find him.”
She hoped her lie that Asher was home would scare him off.
She was to be disappointed.
“Would that be before or after he returns from my home, where I fear he just might be delayed as he waits for me to join him?” Lord Norwood said with a smirk. “Actually, I asked my wife to entertain him for a time, so we both know that it will be a while until he is released from her barbed tongue.”
Evelyn cringed, knowing the truth of his words all too well.
“Which leaves just you and me,” he said, that smile on his face spreading. “I’m going to need you to come with me, your grace.”
“Why would I do that?” she asked, arching an eyebrow.
“I need something from your husband. Provided he cooperates, I will release you.”
“Will you? Truly?” she demanded, placing a hand on her head as she began to feel slightly woozy. That wasn’t like her– she wasn’t one to be sent into fainting spells, even with something so unnerving as a potential murderer in front of her. “I have a hard time believing it.”
“Believe what you want,” he said with an indifferent shrug. “You will not be hurt — provided your husband cooperates.”
Evelyn took a step backward. Then another, each one becoming shakier. Lord Norwood just stood there, a knowing smile on his face, which she tried not to let unnerve her.
“Did you enjoy your tea this morning? The new maid in the house charged a great deal for her services, but now I believe it was worth everything I spent,” he informed her with a smirk, and her heart seemed to skip a beat. When she turned on her heel and tried to run, it was only to meet with a hard, unrelenting chest, one that she had lost all strength to escape. When she looked up into the face of a man she assumed worked for Norwood, she realized her attempt had been futile.
As her vision began to fade, all hope fled.
Then everything went black.
“Evelyn! Evelyn?”
Asher rushed into the house, desperate to find his wife. He hadn’t been proud of how he had left things, taking out his anger on her. She hadn’t responded in anger, maintaining that same calm that she always did, but his words had been on his mind the entire time he had ridden to Lord Norwood’s, then waited interminably long to see him. First, his butler had said Lord Norwood would meet Asher in the drawing room, and then he was more than chagrined when it had been Lady Norwood who had discovered him instead.
She had chattered away for more than an hour until he finally realized that Lord Norwood wasn’t coming.
Which made Asher wonder just where, exactly, Lord Norwood was, and why he had wanted Asher to be trapped in his home for so long.
