"Please send word to His Grace immediately regarding his cousin's arrival," she instructed with the sort of calm authority that concealed her growing anxiety. "And Higgins? I should prefer that the Viscount not be left unattended in any room containing documents or correspondence that might be considered sensitive."
The butler's expression revealed his complete understanding of her concerns. "Naturally, Your Grace. I shall ensure that appropriate supervision is maintained throughout his visit."
After Higgins departed to carry out her instructions, Evangeline found herself unable to concentrate upon the ledgers and letters that had previously occupied her attention. Instead, she paced the estate office with growing agitation, her thoughts occupied by memories of Pembroke's calculating charm and the subtle malice that had marked his previous observations about their domestic arrangements.
What new mischief had brought him back to Yorkshire? What fresh ammunition had he acquired for his campaign against their marriage's validity? The questions tormented herwith their implications, suggesting possibilities that ranged from merely unpleasant to genuinely catastrophic for their continued happiness.
The sound of approaching hoof beats announced Lucian's return from his inspection of the estate improvements, and Evangeline felt a mixture of relief and apprehension as she anticipated the confrontation that would inevitably follow. Through the office windows, she could see him dismounting from his stallion with the fluid grace that marked all his movements, his expression already darkening as one of the grooms undoubtedly informed him of their unwelcome visitor's presence.
He appeared in the office doorway within minutes, his scarred features set in lines of controlled fury that suggested he had not forgotten the circumstances of Pembroke's previous departure from Ravenshollow Manor.
"Where is he?" he demanded without preamble, his voice carrying the sort of dangerous quiet that she had learned to associate with his most volatile moods.
"The smaller drawing room, under Higgins's watchful supervision," she replied, moving from her position behind the desk to face him directly. "He claims urgent family business requires immediate attention, though he has not elaborated upon the specific nature of his concerns."
"His concerns are undoubtedly focused upon my continued existence and its interference with his financial expectations," Lucian replied with bitter accuracy. "The question is what new approach he has devised for addressing such complications."
"Perhaps we should discover his intentions before assuming the worst about his motivations?"
"Edmund's motivations require no assumptions because they are transparent to anyone with sufficient experience of his character. The only question is how far he is prepared to go inpursuit of his objectives."
The grim certainty in his tone filled her with fresh apprehension about the encounter that awaited them. Yet there was no avoiding the confrontation, and she found herself straightening her shoulders with the sort of determined resolve that had marked her approach to previous challenges.
"Then let us face whatever schemes he has devised and deal with them accordingly. Together."
The emphasis on the final word seemed to affect him more powerfully than she had anticipated, his dark eyes studying her face with an intensity that suggested he was still adjusting to the reality of having a genuine partner in such difficulties.
"Together," he repeated quietly, as though testing the concept for flaws or weaknesses. "Yes, I suppose we must."
Their entrance into the smaller drawing room created an immediate change in the atmosphere, as Pembroke rose from his chair with the sort of elaborate courtesy that somehow managed to convey subtle mockery rather than genuine respect. He appeared even more polished than during his previous visit, his clothing and manner speaking of recent attendance at fashionable London society.
"Cousin! And dear Evangeline—forgive me, Your Grace," he corrected himself with exaggerated deference. "How delightful to see you both looking so prosperous. Marriage clearly agrees with you, despite the rather irregular circumstances of your union."
"Edmund," Lucian acknowledged with frost that would have discouraged further pleasantries from anyone possessing normal social sensitivity. "I trust your journey from London was not too fatiguing? Though I confess myself surprised by your return to Yorkshire so soon after our last conversation."
"Oh, but circumstances have changed rather dramatically since our previous meeting," Pembroke replied with the sortof satisfied smile that suggested he bore news of considerable significance to their continued tranquility. "I have been conducting certain inquiries regarding the circumstances of your marriage, and I must say the results have proven most illuminating."
Evangeline felt ice form in her stomach at his words, though she maintained her expression of polite interest despite the growing certainty that whatever information he had gathered would prove both damaging and difficult to refute.
"How fascinating," she replied with the sort of calm courtesy that concealed the anxiety churning beneath her composed exterior. "And what manner of illumination have your inquiries provided?"
"Well, for instance, I have discovered that your previous circumstances were even more desperate than I had initially understood. The debts left by your father were quite substantial, were they not? And the timeline between your arrival at Ravenshollow and your marriage to my cousin was remarkably compressed—barely a week, I believe?"
The questions were delivered with such silky politeness that it took Evangeline a moment to recognize them as the prelude to a more direct attack upon their marriage's legitimacy. Pembroke was laying groundwork for accusations of coercion or undue influence, establishing a narrative that would support legal challenges to their union.
"The timeline of our courtship is hardly a matter for public speculation," Lucian interjected with dangerous quiet. "I fail to see how such details could be considered relevant to any legitimate family concerns."
"Oh, but they are extraordinarily relevant when questions arise about the circumstances under which marriages are contracted," Pembroke replied with obvious satisfaction. "Particularly when those circumstances suggest that one partymay have been under duress at the time of the ceremony."
"Duress?" Evangeline's voice rose with indignation at the implication that she had been somehow forced into marriage against her will. "I assure you, my lord, that I entered into marriage with full knowledge of its implications and complete freedom to refuse had I chosen to do so."
"Of course, of course. Though one wonders what alternatives were actually available to a young lady facing complete destitution? When one's choices are reduced to marriage or the workhouse, can the resulting decision truly be considered free and unforced?"
The accuracy of his assessment struck her like a physical blow, highlighting the uncomfortable reality that her marriage to Lucian had indeed been motivated primarily by desperation rather than affection. Yet the fact that his observation was essentially correct did not make it any less insulting when delivered with such calculated cruelty.
"My choices were my own to make," she replied with dignity that concealed the sting of his words. "And I consider myself fortunate to have made them as I did."
"How admirably loyal of you, Your Grace. Though loyalty extracted through financial necessity rather than genuine affection might be considered somewhat unreliable in its permanence."
