“Evelyn,” he called after her. “Pray, there’s something I need to tell you…”
“Not now, Father,” she said, and returned inside. She had to talk to Nathaniel, and she had to do it now.
CHAPTER 36
She made her way through the room, stopping only occasionally when a lady or two asked about her efforts to help the climbing boys. Nathaniel’s speech had made a difference in that regard. More women were now interested, even those who had previously avoided her.
She took comfort in that. If she and Nathaniel were heading toward another fallout, at least she would still have that cause.
Goodness, how could she think that way? They had only just found each other again. They had only just declared their love. He wasn’t going to throw all of that away—not for some other woman.
But then… if that were true, what about the other part of what Halston had said? That she was nothing but a distraction—a problem that had to be solved.
She shook her head. No. She had to find Nathaniel. She had to talk to him right now. Because the moment she looked into his eyes and heard his voice, she would know all of it was nonsense—that they were still united.
She spotted him then, with Julian, the two of them heading into the adjacent room.
She rushed after them, excusing herself as she bumped into assorted ladies. At the door, she stopped, knocked, and entered.
No one was there.
She looked around and recognized it—it was the music room. Beyond it lay the gardens. Perhaps they had gone there. She crossed the room with purpose and stepped outside. She made her way through the gardens when she spotted them standing by the water fountain. She walked quickly toward them, but then something gave her pause.
Nathaniel stood with one arm raised, gesturing in the air before letting it fall to his side. Again, he shook his head, looking exasperated. Beside him, Julian raised both hands in a calming motion, trying to settle him.
What happened? Why is he upset?
She stepped closer, walking quietly across the grass, careful to avoid any errant sticks or branches that might give her away. She didn’t know why she was sneaking—why she wasn’t simplywalking up to him—but something about the way he moved, the way he looked, made her uneasy. She trusted him… yes, but it was always better to be safe than sorry, wasn’t it?
She crouched behind a carefully trimmed hedge and then heard his voice clearly.
“…trapped in a wretched marriage,” he said.
Her stomach dropped.
Behind her, the garden door squeaked open. She turned, momentarily distracted. The ground seemed to sway beneath her feet.
What was he saying? Why had her father lied? Why was Nathaniel acting this way?
She refocused just in time to see two ladies step down the stairs and circle the back. The two men were still speaking.
“I made it quite clear to her—I was not interested in anything. There was never anything between us. She must have lost her mind to think there was. She meant so little to me. If anything, she was nothing but a distraction.”
Evelyn staggered backward. Nothing but a distraction? Trapped in a marriage he didn’t want?
Was he talking about her?
What did any of it mean? They had been happy. She’d given him courage before his speech. So why would he say this? Had it all been a lie? Their heartfelt conversations… had they meant nothing?
No, she thought. This couldn’t be true. But she had heard him say it.
“I wish I had never met her at all,” he said then.
“Well, something good has come of it,” Julian said.
“Yes, but I would’ve liked for things to come about differently. Her interference has caused a great deal of trouble. And now she dares to think I’ll still dance to her tune?”
Evelyn let out a small gasp—then clamped her hand over her mouth.
