What Addy said was mostly true. Their father had nearly had an apoplectic fit when Addy had returned from Oxfordshire married to Mr. Dominic Winter, the illegitimate owner of one of London’s most infamous gaming hells. Although Mr. Winter had proven himself an excellent husband to Addy—doting and loving in a fashion one never would have expected from the otherwise ruthless crime lord—their father still had not warmed to the notion of his daughter married to a commoner.
Evie’s marriage to Denton was to have been the balm upon the wound. A means of removing the taint of scandal from the Duke of Linross’s precious reputation. And Evie herself had not minded. Lord Denton was handsome, sought after, the perfect match in every way.
Save the only one she now realized mattered most.
She was not in love with him, and nor would she ever be.
Her heart belonged to one man alone.
“I cannot explain what happened,” Evie admitted softly, slowly. “I did not care for him at first, it is true. I thought him a rude ogre of a man. But he is not at all the man I supposed him to be.”
“I do not understand. If you are in love with Devil, why has he suddenly gone from your side? Why did he send me a note suggesting you were ill and that I needed to attend you immediately?” her twin asked.
“Because he believes we are too different, that our worlds cannot mingle. He is trying to keep me from him, to put distance between us and prove to me that a lady and a man born on the wrong side of the blanket cannot find happiness together.”
That part still hurt her heart quite desperately. Knowing he would sooner disappear than fight for her…Oh, Theo.She would fight for them both. However she must. She vowed it.
“It would not be easy for you to be certain,” Addy said. “There will be some doors that forever close to you, as they have for me. Our society can forgive many sins, but mesalliances are not one of them.”
Evie knew that already, of course, as did Addy. From the time they had been old enough to walk, the rigid notion of propriety, the rules of society, and every expectation their parents had for them had been rigidly ingrained upon them. For all that, they had turned into quite the scandalous lot. Their sister Hannah had been forced into a marriage of convenience by their father to hide her past indiscretions. She had been quite miserable and had only just reunited with the man she loved. Addy had married Dominic Winter, their brother Max was a notorious ne’er do well, and now Evie intended to jilt Lord Denton and chase after Theo.
Supposing he would have her, that was.
The reminder of his morning defection stung anew.
“I do not know if Theo wishes to marry me. Certainly, he has never spoken of such matters,” she confessed. “I…have no expectations.”
Not even after what had passed between them. He had taken care not to make love to her completely. Evie may have never kissed a man until Theo, but her insatiable curiosity, coupled with some salacious novels Addy had pilfered from their brother’s belongings, meant she knew enough to understand what they had done together hours before had left her a virgin.
Because he intended for her to marry Lord Denton.
Her heart gave a pang.
“He said nothing to you?” her twin asked.
“Of course he did not.” She sighed. “Theo is… He guards his heart well, I believe. But it is there, big and tender and generous. I want to be the one to keep it, to protect it, if only he will let me.”
“Evie, please tell me you have not been…indecorous with my husband’s brother,” Addy said, her tone scandalized.
Evie bit her lip, pondering her sister’s words. “Mayhap you ought to define indecorous. Your notion of it may differ from mine.”
Addy’s eyes widened. “You know quite well what I mean. Have you allowed him liberties?”
“Pray, do not act shocked, sister mine.” Evie raised a brow. “Have you forgotten it was I who helped you to sneak away to The Devil’s Spawn without getting caught? Or that you returned at nearly dawn, looking as if you had been utterly debauched?”
Because Evie rather suspected her sister had been debauched that night, though Addy had remained somewhat secretive about what had transpired between herself and Mr. Winter at the time. Evie did not think the gentle roundness swelling behind her sister’s gown could suggest anything other than a thorough bedding on the evening in question.
Addy flushed. “Of course I have not forgotten, but that was different, Evie. I was aiding Max.”
“Max should never have involved you in his recklessness,” Evie countered. “But that is neither here nor there. You cannot play the role of outraged sister with me. You are no stranger to scandal yourself. Goodness, none of us are.”
Addy sighed. “I merely want to protect you, Evie. I fear I have already brought enough danger and upheaval into your life by marrying Dom. If it were not for me, you would never have been shot by brigands. And now, you are speaking of upending your entire future after a fortnight spent with a man whose acquaintance you have only recently made. A gentleman you were quite strong in professing your dislike for.”
“Do not look at me as if I have lost my wits, Addy. I know what I want, and it is not to be Lady Denton. I want to follow my heart as you have done. I want a love like Romeo and Juliet’s.”
“Romeo and Juliet both ended up dead,” Addy observed grimly.
“Not the conclusion of their love,” Evie explained. “But the strength of it, the way it endured despite all the obstacles between them. The way they loved each other, though to the outside world it seemed they should not.”
