“Good, good. Since we are all family, I think it is imperative that we help one another whenever possible, do you not?”
He turned to the man, now understanding what this was about. He hadn’t come here to congratulate him in any meaningful way. He wanted something. As he took in Evelyn’s father, he noted his small beady eyes and the sweat pearling on his brow. He rubbed his white beard, producing a scratching sound.
“Well, and because we are family—because I have done much to help you—I was hoping that you might try to help me.”
He wanted money. Nathaniel knew it without him having to complete his request. He let out a sigh. There was no point trying to appease him now or postpone the conversation. He would have to talk to him. He would have to put him in his place now. If he didn’t, this would only get worse.
“My Lord,” he said and indicated an alcove off to the side, “let us talk over there. Not everyone needs to overhear.”
The old man smiled and nodded eagerly. “Very well. Let us do that.”
And together, they walked to the alcove while Nathaniel could do nothing but glance over his shoulder and hope his eyes might meet Evelyn’s—so he could reassure her, even from a distance.
Alas, he did not see her. And thus, all he could do was follow his father-in-law and hope to find Evelyn later and put her mind at ease.
CHAPTER 35
Evelyn’s head swam. Why had he been talking to Lady Charmaine for so long and in such an intimate manner? True, he had stepped back a couple of times, but each time he had done it, he had looked at her in such a peculiar way. Why?
You must stop making such a cake of yourself. He was looking at you because he wanted to make sure you thought nothing was amiss.
But then she stopped again and glanced over her shoulder at Lady Charmaine, who beamed at her. Why would he have looked at her that way? As if something was wrong? Did she truly still not trust him? After all this time, after all they had been through?
She needed to get air. There were so many people here and so many whispers. She could not stand it. As she walked out, she saw her father and Nathaniel standing in the corner, talking intently. Nathaniel looked after her and raised his chin, as if tocall for her, but then turned away. What was her father talking to him about now?
She stepped into the garden and sat on a stone bench, one foot slung over the other. It wasn’t very ladylike, but she didn’t care right now. It had been more difficult than she had anticipated—being his wife, really being his wife. She loved it, of course, but at the same time, she felt the pressure on her. The way people looked at her, the way people examined every little thing she did, as if they could not wait but find fault.
She had even heard rumors that wagers were being placed on her ability to carry herself properly. As if she had been dragged out of the ditch somewhere and hadn’t already been a lady—the daughter of an earl.
Outside, she took a deep breath. This was all far more than she had ever anticipated. She could not wait to get home, to be alone with him. To not have to answer to anybody. To not have to keep up appearances. She leaned back. Just then, the door opened, and she groaned.
“That is not a very pleasant welcome,” Lord Halston said as he looked at her, but there was a smirk in his eyes.
“Lord Halston. To what do I owe the?—”
“To nothing, Your Grace. I was not looking for you. I was simply leaving. I cannot help it that you had to stay, my dear.”
“I am not leaving,” she said. “I am merely sitting.”
“Very well,” he said, and shrugged. “And where is that husband of yours?”
“Inside,” she said. “Entertaining.”
“I see. He does that rather well.”
“Please, Lord Halston, do leave me be. I am not in the mood for your cryptic hints and machinations. If you have something to say, I would much rather?—”
“Very well. I will repeat what I told you before. You, Your Grace, are a fool. For trusting him. For believing that you are anything more than an inconvenience, he had to get out of the way.”
“I daresay most gentlemen are not in the habit of marrying their inconveniences.”
“Are they not?” he said. “You must not be very familiar with the same society I am a part of.”
She couldn’t say anything further to that because it was true. She did know their society well. And she knew what they would be like. There were so many gentlemen and ladies married who could not stand one another, who had wed only for convenience, but that wasn’t why she and Nathaniel had married.
“If you must know,” she said, puckering her lips before continuing, “His Grace and I are very fond of one another. We share confidences. We trust one another.”
“Is that true?” he said. “And what of Miss Bellamy? And Miss Carlisle?”
