And living only a mile away from her would be hard enough. If she married Lord Calvin, at least they’d live farther away.
Vincent’s heart clenched again. He didn’t know how he could handle her marrying that man. Although Adam was his friend at one time, things were so much different now. No longer would Vincent feel guilty for sending his friend into battle.
He stretched his arms above his head as he moved away from the stable. The helpers had long since gone home. Vincent needed a bath. And to sleep. And a bottle of brandy…not necessarily in that order, either.
He turned back toward the manor. In the distance, someone on horseback rode toward him. Although he wanted it to be Ellie coming back to tell him she wantedhimand not the other man, the closer the rider came, the more he could see it wasn’t a woman.
Within moments, Vincent recognized the rider. He gritted his teeth, waiting for the man to stop and dismount.
Adam Haddington—also known as Calvin Drake—jumped off his horse so perfectly that Vincent wondered how the man had achieved the move. When Adam had left to join the battle, he could barely mount, let alone dismount without stumbling. Had he really gotten that good in three years? Vincent supposed it was possible.
“Good day,” Adam greeted Vincent as he approached. “I see you have erected the stable. It looks amazing, my good man.”
“Yes. I had some help, thankfully,” Vincent grumbled.
He studied the other man, trying to see Adam in the person standing before him now. The hair color was the same, maybe slightly darker, as was his eye color. But Lord Drake wasn’t the thin man who had left three years ago. This person in front of him had muscles. Was thisreallyAdam?
“I hope you don’t mind that I dropped by unannounced,” the earl said, “but I really needed to talk to you.”
“Yes, we do have a lot of catching up to do.” Vincent nodded. “After all, I thought you were dead for three years.”
Lord Calvin’s eyes grew wide. “You know?”
“Ellie told me.” Anger rose inside of Vincent, growing hotter by the second. It was hard to face the man who would win her heart.
“Oh. I’m glad she did.”
Vincent didn’t dare say anything. Not yet. Right now all he wanted to do was wrap his fingers around the man’s neck and squeeze.
“Then I suppose I do owe you an explanation. Or did Ellie give you that, as well?”
“She told me,” Vincent mumbled.
Lord Calvin sighed and removed his hat. “I had good reasons for doing what I did.”
“I’m certain you did.” Vincent turned toward the manor and took large steps, hoping to get inside soon and get himself that glass—or bottle—of brandy. “I don’t think I would know what to do if there was a man trying to kill me, as happened to you.”
“Yes. That’s exactly what it was.” Lord Calvin’s strides were keeping up with Vincent.
“So tell me,” Vincent snapped as he opened the door and stormed inside, “why did you come back?” He walked directly into the nearest room and to the liquor tray. “Why after all this time, did you return?” He poured a good amount of brandy into a goblet and tossed it down his throat.
“Well, you see, the man who was after me is caught and at Newgate Prison. That was when I decided to return home and start my new life.”
Vincent threw his former friend a glare. “And what, pray tell, is that? Will you still be a spy for the Crown? Or do you plan on living the life as an earl, marry, and have children?”
Lord Calvin chuckled and walked to the window, moving the drapes and peering outside. “That is a good question. I hoped to pick up the pieces where I left off before leaving for battle, but…I’m not Adam Haddington any longer. Everything I’ve done since leaving you has shaped me into a new man.”
Vincent arched an eyebrow. “You are certainly a different man now.”
Lord Calvin looked at him and nodded. “I’m quite impressed with the changes I have made. Living in danger and on the edge definitely makes a man re-evaluate his life.”
“I’m sure it does.” Vincent took another deep swig of his drink.
“I almost miss it.”
Vincent froze, holding his breath. What did he mean by that? “What do you miss, exactly?”
Lord Calvin chuckled. “There’s a feeling of euphoria that shoots through one when one realizes one has cheated death yet again. I enjoyed the adventures of being a spy, and especially assisting in getting Napoleon sent to Elba.”
