Each word on the page betrayed an intimacy he could never explain away, a deep bond carefully concealed yet now laid bare for Emma to see. She had read this—he was sure of it. She knew.
A storm of emotions roared through him: guilt, regret, and fear. Searching the room once more, he looked for any indication of where she might have gone, though the answer was already clear. Emma wasn’t one to wallow silently in solitude. She would seek out her sisters or more likely her brother, Alexander. She’d want to be somewhere she felt …perhaps not save as she had not felt that way at her old home. But something that was familiar.
Without another thought, Evan turned on his heel and bounded back down the stairs, nearly colliding with Brigitte at the bottom.
“She has gone to Alexander’s, I am certain,” he said brusquely, brushing past her.
“Will she be safe?” Brigitte called after him, her voice trembling.
Evan stopped but didn’t turn around. “I intend to find out.”
Moments later, he was mounted and galloping toward the sprawling countryside, the powerful steed eating up the distancebeneath him. Every pounding hoofbeat echoed the urgency in his chest, driving him forward.
The journey to Alexander’s estate stretched into eternity, though in reality, it was no more than twenty minutes. Thoughts warred in his mind as the wind stung his face. Should he have been honest sooner? Should he have kept better control of his carefully curated secrets? All that was clear now was that Emma had to hear his explanation.
Finally, the imposing façade of Alexander’s grand home loomed ahead. Urging his horse faster, Evan’s resolve solidified. He wouldn’t lose Emma—not to her anger, not to her pain, not to the remnants of his past. Whatever it took, he would make things right.
Evan’s heart hammered as Alexander’s estate loomed closer, the afternoon sky turning gray with an ominous promise of rain. His ride had been relentless, every thundering hoofbeat echoing the storm inside his chest.
She knows. She knows, and I may have lost her.
He dismounted with haste, barely waiting for the groom to take his reins. His boots crunched against the gravel as he made for the door. He didn’t bother knocking, bursting through with the urgency of a man fighting against time.
Alexander was in the hall, his broad frame blocking the path. His face was set in grim lines, his eyes narrowing the moment they landed on Evan. Without waiting for Evan to utter the question, Alexander answered it.
“She’s here,” Alexander said, his voice like steel. “But she won’t see you.”
Evan ignored the words, his gaze sweeping past Alexander. “Where is she? I must see her. Now.”
Alexander stepped forward, his presence an imposing barrier. “Please, listen to me. She doesn’t want to see you. She came here for refuge, not for another confrontation.”
Evan’s temper flared, his fists clenching at his sides. “Alexander, I am her husband. I will not let her hide from me due to a misunderstanding. I can explain everything to her. Please! I know she must think me a rake and a philandering liar but…”
“Are you not? Did not you receive a love letter from a mistress?” Alexander demanded.
“I did not. Where is she? I am her husband.”
Alexander studied him, his features a mask of cautious calculation. The moment stretched unbearably before he finally relented. His shoulders sagged slightly, and his expression softened.
“Stay here,” Alexander said. “I’ll speak to her. Perhaps she’ll agree to see you once I’ve had a word.”
Evan gave a terse nod, pacing the foyer while Alexander turned and headed down the corridor. The waiting gnawed at his nerves, every second feeling like an hour. He stared out a nearby window, the tension coursing through him as the day’s events played over in his mind—Rose, the letters, Emma’s hurt.
Alexander returned, his steps hurried, his expression tight with concern.
“She’s gone,” he said abruptly.
Evan stopped pacing and turned, disbelief flashing in his eyes. “Gone? What do you mean, gone?”
Alexander pressed a hand to his temple in frustration. “She must have overheard us,” he said. “One of the footmen saw her rushing toward the stables. She left moments ago.”
The words dropped between them like a hammer. Evan’s mind whirled as alarm sparked in his chest. “Did she say where she was going?”
Alexander shook his head. “No. She only told the stable hand she wanted to clear her mind.”
“She rode away?” Evan said. “She hardly likes riding on my most tame horse. What has possessed her?”
“I think you know. Please, just wait here. She will return in due course,” Alexander said but Evan shook his head. He had to explain. It could not wait….He’d already waited too long.
