Always a Maiden (The Belles of Beak Street #5)(56)

“Our apologies for arriving unannounced.” Ashton moved closer to Lord Morton, who was standing directly in front of her. “Our trip came up without warning.”

“Yes, yes,” acknowledged Lord Morton with an impatience that suggested he didn’t want to be hospitable. He took a deep breath. “You did catch us in the middle of dinner.”

Susanah stiffened. Something in the way his voice trailed away made her think he was lying. But she couldn’t fathom why he would. Unless Evan didn’t want to see her at all. Lord Morton was looking at her most particularly and not in the least bit welcoming.

“We’re so sorry,” she murmured.

“I worked with your father on the Papist Act,” Lord Morton said, his eyes narrowing. “I just had a letter from him. He said you were finally marrying. Lord Farringate, is it?

Susanah didn’t know what to do but swallow and nod. “Yes.”

Ashton gave her a sharp look.

“The wedding must be quite soon.” He took a puzzled look around as if he expected Lord Farringate to appear out of a darkened corner.

“Yes, next week,” she squeaked out. After all, what could she say? If this man knew and corresponded with her father, she couldn’t risk him sending a courier if he suspected she was running away.

She was all too aware of the Ashtons’ watchful looks. But she had to make him think nothing was amiss.

“Then whatever are you doing here?” Lord Morton asked sternly with confusion and censure in equal doses.

It was as if a winged bird were in her chest madly flapping about trying to escape. Her throat was tight, but she summoned her years of implacable expressions and began to give her rather weak explanation. She’d only posted her letter to her parents after they left town. That way they wouldn’t find it easy to stop her—or at least not without causing a commotion which might result in a terrible scandal.

Susanah didn’t look away from Lord Morton as she relayed that Lord and Lady Ashton had been at hand when Lord Farringate had been told of an emergency. He’d needed to see to the situation with all haste, which was a private matter she wouldn’t discuss without his leave. She, of course, felt it her duty to support and assist him in any way she could.

As she spoke, she knew she couldn’t risk betraying her turmoil. Besides if Evan wouldn’t marry her, she would have no alternative but to marry Lord Farringate.

After all, they had told the butler who answered the door they were here to see Evan, not his uncle. And if he wanted to see her at all, he surely would have been here before now.



*

Evan found tying his cravat far more difficult than it should have been. His stomach knotted as if trying to demonstrate for his uncooperative fingers.

When he was finally dressed, he alternated between wanting to fly to the library and dreading that he might have his hopes up about nothing. But what reason would the Ashtons have for calling on him—going miles out of their way to call on him—if it didn’t concern Susanah?

When Evan reached the closed library door, he took a deep breath and then entered only to find Uncle Phillip there ahead of him. He was talking to Lady Susanah.

All the air whooshed out of his lungs.

She was here. His heart sung.

Her eyes met his and then her perfectly controlled simper took over her face before he had a moment to guess what she was feeling or thinking. But she had to be here for him. What other reason would she have for being here?

She’d come to him. She must have arranged a way to escape her parents and come to him.

Then he heard what she was saying to his uncle.

“Lord Farringate’s emergency forced him to leave London before he could arrange for me to accompany him. But Lord and Lady Ashton were kind enough to offer to escort me to meet him. He—well, we are ever so grateful to them for making it possible for me to be by his side when he needs me.”

It was everything Evan could do to keep his eyes in his head. Sound rushed in his ears. Had she already married Lord Farringate? Surely she wouldn’t be traveling to meet him if they weren’t already wed. It had been a little over a fortnight since he’d left London. Long enough for the banns to be read thrice and the marriage completed.

“May I offer my felicitations on your conquest.” His voice was lower than normal and thick.

“Thank you,” she said so softly, he almost couldn’t hear her. Her eyes looked flat, but then she turned her patently false smile in his uncle’s direction.

What on earth?

His chest hurt. He folded his arms over it as if that would help. But then he realized Lord and Lady Ashton were also in the room and he hadn’t done so much as acknowledge them. He turned. “Ashton.” He nodded his head. “My lady.”

Ashton’s eyes were crinkled at the corners and his lips pressed tight as if he were amused. “Cooper,” he said in a sing-song way that made Evan want to level him or at least mar his comely face.

Why was he amused?

Lady Ashton, the eldest of the infamous belles, gave a soft shake of her head. “We are so sorry to have interrupted your dinner.”

Evan almost corrected her, but then realized that must be the excuse his uncle had given rather than invite them to the table. Instead, he focused his attention on her. It hurt too damn much to look at Susanah. She had married that old reprobate, even though he’d told her not to.