“Is that what this is all about?” the duke asked Evan. “I took her from you, and now you are taking her from me?”
Evan had not involved himself in this part of the plan but agreed with Apollo that any wife of the duke should have the chance of escaping whatever fate awaited her. Charlotte had not hesitated to take the offer. Evan thought of Luz Alana’s words about women’s choices, and despite everything, in that moment he wished Charlotte some happiness if she was able to find it.
“There is nothing of yours I want, Father.”
“You will pay for this,” his father threatened, toothlessly.
“We have all paid dearly already.” Evan turned to leave. “Now it’s your turn.”
Despite the turmoil and worry coursing through him, Evan instantly felt at peace when the carriage came to a stop in front of his town house. He knew without a doubt that Luz Alana would be waiting for him inside.
He wanted that for the rest of his life.
Coming home to this woman could be the North Star of his existence, and he’d die knowing his life had been filled with purpose. Before he made a move to descend from the carriage, he turned to Apollo.
“Will you come in for a dram?”
Evan warmed when Apollo’s serious expression changed into obvious pleasure at the invitation. Then he ruined it by opening his mouth.
“I’m not sure it’s the right hour to enliven your home with my presence.”
This time Evan laughed at his brother’s transparent attempt to provoke him.
“Don’t you want to make a plan for tomorrow?” he asked, head swimming with the possibilities of what his father could be plotting.
“We have a plan,” Apollo reminded him. They did. They’d considered every possible scenario. Even one where his father retaliated with violence. The staff of Apollo’s estate near Aberdeen was ready for their arrival if they needed to leave Edinburgh. Beyond that, Evan had a cottage in the north of France also available.
“But we need to—”
Apollo shook his head.
“You have a beautiful woman waiting for your safe return. Our father has stolen too much of our time, Evan. Don’t let him rob you of this too.” The impact of his brother’s words almost made him double over.
“You’re right,” he said, sounding winded.
“It’s about time you started listening to your older, wiser...and better-looking older brother.” Knowing Apollo, he was only half joking.
“Do women find this arrogance charming?”
“It’s not arrogance if it’s true!”
Evan scoffed, turning to descend from the carriage, but a tight hand on his shoulder stopped him. “See you in the morning.” He nodded through a constriction in his throat as Apollo tapped the roof of the carriage.
He was so engrossed in his thoughts he didn’t hear the noise coming from his parlor and nearly missed his wife rushing out to meet him. She was still in the gown she’d worn to the ball—she hadn’t even gone upstairs.
“How was it?” she asked as he took her into his arms.
“Come sit with me,” he requested huskily.
“Evan, tell me!” she protested. But she let him pull her by the hand and sank down onto his lap in one of the armchairs.
He almost groaned at the delicious friction.
“Are you regretting your request, husband?”
He answered with a pained laugh, locking his arms around her waist and pulling her in tighter.
“I’m just happy to be home.” Her eyes lit and then softened at his words, and then it dawned on him.
