“Oh well, you could not go off to London and the lions without at least having a word from me,” she said as Tristan reached her side.
“I wouldn’t dream of it,” Tristan responded.
She only gave a brief smile in response. Her eyes settled on him as he stood by the open door, the smile on his face completely vanishing. “I know you think your grandfather is being dreadfully imposing, demanding you marry with such haste and to a woman you scarcely know.”
“I suppose he is the duke. It is either this or a life with no inheritance.”
Evelyn narrowed her eyes before nodding briefly. “Well, if there is one thing to appreciate about London, it is its excellent matchmakers. Trust me, your grandfather only wants what is best for you.”
Tristan handed his small travel bag to the waiting footman and gave his aunt a steady look.
“I do understand, Aunt Evelyn. And I understand more than you think. I know that when one is born to Evermere, duty must always transcend desire. Just because I am aware of my obligations should not mean I am not allowed to dislike all of this, now, should it?”
Her eyes softened at that, and she lifted one hand to stroke his cheek. “Oh, you poor thing. You still have so very much to learn about life, do you not?”
He allowed himself the faintest smile before she suddenly gasped and grabbed his left sleeve. “Good heavens, what is this?”
Tristan looked down, puzzled, then saw the tiny crease upon the upper part of his coat. “It is a crease, Aunt Evelyn. I believe I shall live.”
She straightened, aghast. “Live? You cannot step into London society with such disorder upon your person. A crease speaks of carelessness. Carelessness speaks of negligence. Negligence leads to ruin, and ruin … well, you see where I am going.”
“Not quite,” Tristan said dryly.
“You know very well,” she retorted. “If you had a proper valet, this tragedy would never have occurred.”
“I do not need a valet,” Tristan said firmly, adjusting the sleeve himself.
Evelyn’s brows arched in disbelief. “You do not need a valet? Do not be ridiculous. I know you are accustomed to that terribly rustic life in your hunting lodge—”
“It is not rustic,” Tristan responded.
“All you have there is one housemaid, a cook, and a housekeeper. Now what in God’s name do you call that?”
Tristan said nothing, though his mouth tightened.
“I know you are too proud to admit it,” she continued, undeterred, “but you are at Evermere now. The world expects a certain order from this house, and a valet keeps not only a gentleman’s clothes in order but his reputation as well. I shall speak to your grandfather before you return from London. He will see sense where you refuse.”
Tristan opened his mouth to protest, but she raised her hand as if she were a queen upon her throne. “No. Do not argue with me. It is unseemly to quarrel in the drive before the servants.”
He tightened his lips again and watched as she turned to the coachman seated at the front of the carriage.
“Watch out for the rough paths. I hear the Coral Bandits are ravaging the woods these days.”
“Of course, my lady,” the coachman replied.
Tristan climbed into the coach and leaned back against the cushion, letting the breath leave him in a long sigh. The great stone house of Evermere began to shrink behind him, its familiar towers fading against the pale morning sky.
He knew well enough that Evelyn’s meddling words would reach his grandfather’s ear before long. If he wasn’t forced to pick a valet the instant he returned from London, one would be picked for him in only a matter of time.
***
London was always noisy. That, or he was, once again, used to the quiet life at the hunting lodge. He watched for the better half of a minute, the way carriages and wheels creaked past the road before crossing to the other side.
He took off his hat with one hand and rested the other on the cane before stepping towards the building. He eyed the wooden post by the edge, reading the words almost aloud.
Sedgwick and Co.
The solicitor’s clerk opened the door with a bright smile on his face and ushered him into the room where Sedgwick usually received his clients.
