“And why is that, Mrs. York?” he asked.
“Because Her Grace has just returned home, Your Grace, and she is entertaining a very handsome gentleman in her drawing room. I daresay that the two of them seem quite... close.”
Somethingsnappedin Constantine’s mind. He was not sure whether the sound was imaginary or a blood vessel exploding from its tethers, but either way, it was quickly followed by a consuming sensation of livid rage.
She is doing what?
A feral growl loosed from his throat as he stormed out of his room, yelling a gruff reminder that servants were supposed to stay out of their employers’ affairs.
Chapter 18
“Iam so glad we ran into one another,” Elara stated.
Seated across from her, Damien gave his usual stone-faced nod as he leaned forward to accept the cup of tea she held out for him. They sat on opposite ends of her dusky blue velvet couch, and their tea was just being served.
“A happy coincidence indeed,” Damien agreed. “Your brother will be pleased to know that you appear in good health.”
Elara offered him a small smile as she stirred her tea. Regarding her physical health, yes, she was fine. However, even after spending the afternoon talking with Caroline about everything she had learned about Evander so far, her spirits still felt quite low.
It was as she was leaving Caroline’s house that she and Damien unexpectedly ran into each other. Happy to see a familiar face, Elara quickly accepted his offer to escort her home, and she invited him to tea.
Perhaps only he can give me the answers I seek about Evander.
“You are well, are you not?” Damien asked, giving her a speculative look.
“It is not my health that I am worried about, Damien, but my brother’s,” Elara replied.
Damien chortled.
“Adrian is still livid over your situation, but I assure you, he is fine. Bridget keeps his temper in check, and he is focused on the things he can control,” Damien told her.
“I am glad for that, but it is not Adrian I am referring to,” Elara said, setting her teacup on the table. “It is Evander.”
Damien choked on his tea.
“What about Evander, Elara?” he asked. “Do you miss him?”
“Every day,” she confessed. “However, that is not what I mean. I am starting to realize that what I thought I knew about my brother is actually very little. He seems to have done a lot of damage to many people here in London. Or so I am told.”
Damien cleared his throat as he, too, abandoned his tea and set it carefully on the small table before them.
“I know you are a dear friend to both my brothers, Damien, but I need you to tell me the truth. Is Evander a bad person? Has he hurt people?”
A look of sympathy passed briefly through Damien’s otherwise cold gaze.
“That is an incredibly complicated question to answer, Elara. Perhaps far more complicated than you may understand,” Damien replied.
Elara stiffened at his words, then frowned. They had always seemed to keep her away from the things they did. Even when Adrian and Damien were investigating Evander’s death, she was kept in the dark about it all. It was growing tiresome, especially now that she believed her brother to be alive.
“Why is it that you and my brothers think I lack intelligence?” she demanded. “Is it just because I am a woman? Is it because I am younger? I could have helped if you had just let me!”
“Elara, no,” Damien quickly insisted, his posture growing more tense as he scooted closer to her. “No one thinks that of you, trust me.”
“Then what is it?” Elara asked with exasperation. “Why will no one even speak to me about him?”
“Because Evander was a... complicated man,” Damien answered. Then he grimaced as his eyes resumed their cold nature. He murmured something under his breath, something Elara was sure was a curse of some sort.
“Adrian would have my head if he knew we were having this conversation,” he then said. “Why can you not just trust that some things have remained private for your own protection?”
