Page 70 of The Haunted Duke

“Very well,” he acquiesced.

Hand in hand, they walked out of his study and through the long halls until they reached the French doors in the library that opened up into the patio. Evander’s brows lifted in surprise as he took in Mary-Anne, chatting so comfortably with his own mother.

“Why does she look so very different?” he whispered to Helena as he watched the two mothers.

Helena squeezed his hand, and he could have sworn he felt the happiness that ebbed inside of her flow into him.

“She tells me Lord Ingram has not appeared or written even once since they returned to London,” Helena whispered excitedly. “Is it not wonderful how much brighter and happier she looks in the absence of his presence? And it is all thanks to you, and your willingness to protect us.”

Evander’s gaze quickly shifted from their mothers down to Helena, and his heart throbbed with love as he saw the utter gratitude shining in her eyes.

“I would do anything to keep you and your family safe,” he vowed, reaching up to caress her face. “In fact, I…”

He wanted to tell her then. To tell her how their letters from years ago kept the ember of humanity alive through all his torture. How her presence and her words, even though she hadn’t yet discovered it was he she was writing to, had saved him from fully becoming the beast inside him. He felt such a confession bubbling up in his throat, but as he parted his lips to say the words—something wet and sticky splattered across his cheek.

“Alex!” Helena shrieked, her flushed cheeks growing pale in an instant.

Evander turned in the direction her wide-eyed gaze had been drawn to, and he saw the young boy standing on the edge of the patio, smiling deviously as he held up another handful of mud. Evander grinned in a similar fashion as he wiped his cheek, forgetting not only about his confession but the threatening letters he had abandoned on his desk.

“Are you trying to goad me into a battle, young man?” he asked.

Alex tilted his chin up as his small eyes sparkled playfully, even as Helena and Mary-Anne both demanded he drop the bit of mud immediately and apologize.

“I am a knight,” Alex declared. “And you are the ogre that I shall slay!”

Evander’s grin grew more devilish even as the women continued to scold the boy.

“Oh, is that so, young knight?” he asked, raising the handful of mud he had swiped from his cheek. “You think a mere mortal can vanquish such an ogre as I?”

Alex’s eyes widened as he realized a bit too late that Evander would not simply stand as a target, and he did not move fast enough as Evander threw the bit of mud back at him. His little face scrunched as the mud splattered over his forehead; the act sent the women into silence.

Then Alex grinned and flung his handful of mud. Evander sidestepped the earthen cannon and dove toward the boy; his quick movements made the child let out a squeal of amused terror as he dodged.

“Toby!” Evander called.

“Your Grace!” Toby replied, appearing at once on the patio.

“Fetch my practice swords at once,” he commanded. “It seems a battle is afoot!”

Alex stopped running at once and doubled back to Evander with wide-eyed excitement.

“Truly? You will teach me how to wield a sword?” he asked.

“Every true knight must learn such a skill,” Evander replied matter-of-factly as he shrugged off his jacket. “Even if such teachings come from an ogre. What do you say, young man? Are you up for the challenge?”

Alex nodded fiercely, and within minutes, Toby had produced two wooden practice swords. Evander kneeled in the grass to Alex’s level, adjusting his hand around the hilt with great care.

“Not so tight,” he instructed, loosening Alex’s white-knuckled grip. “A blade held too tightly will tire your arm. Keep it loose, but steady.”

They sparred until Alex’s arms trembled with the effort of holding his blade upright. When Evander finally called a halt, tapping his own wooden blade gently against Alex’s in a mock salute, the boy stood there panting, grinning up at him as though he had just witnessed a miracle.

“You are the best knight I have ever seen,” Alex declared. “I apologize for calling you a beast and an ogre.”

“High praise indeed,” Evander replied, setting a hand briefly atop the boy’s tousled head. “Though I suspect you will surpass me before long if you keep practicing.”

Alex beamed at that, then Evander watched him barrel into Helena’s skirts, watched her laugh and catch him up despite the mud still clinging to his clothes, and a determined resolve settled in his heart.

He had survived worse. Whoever was out there could send their threats. They could try. But he would burn the world down himself before he let anyone ruin his happiness this time.