Evie saw Xander grimace at her mother’s tone, but she’d expected it.Ignoring the escalating volume, she answered in what she hoped were calming tones.“Yes.It’s honest work.I’ve learned a lot that I’ll share with you for your household.”
“And?”Her mother cast a look at Xander, her voice closer to normal again.
Xander was done waiting at that point.He bit out, “So you’re telling me you lied to me about your identity and were spying on me in my own house?”
“Yes.”Evie bowed her head for a moment.“I apologize, my lord.Women have very little say in their decisions which affect their world, and I hoped to at least influence who I was to spend the rest of my life with.You must understand a little, no?You’ve voiced how appalled you are at some of the bills that Parliament passes that burden the working class, without giving them a choice.”
He glared again.“They are open about it.They don’t sneak around and spy on people in their own homes.And anyway, they’re nobs.I expect it of them.Which I suppose fits this situation as well.”The last sentence was said through a sneer.He turned to her mother.“’Tis good you are here, Madam.I don’t know if you received my invitation, but I wanted to tell you that I am unable to honor the marriage contract with your daughter.I shall work out the particulars with your husband later.Now, if you’ll excuse me—”
Without finishing his excuse or waiting for an answer, he stood and walked out of the room.
Evie wanted to run after him, to beg and cry, but she knew Xander often needed time to process conundrums.And she’d created an enormous tangle.Guilt wilted her stiff posture, and she sniffed, reaching for a handkerchief she didn’t carry in her maid’s uniform.Grabbing her mobcap, she swiped at her tears with it and avoided her mother’s angry gaze.
She had counted on Xander being angry but forgiving her, certain he felt as she did.She’d seen a future of her helping him with correspondence, him teaching her even more in the bedroom.He hadn’t even taken an hour to consider her reasons for the deception, refusing the marriage outright.
Now what?
Chapter Twenty-Five
Xander was going to break a cask open if he kept throwing them around like this.But there was nothing else around to burn out his ire.He’d always deep cleaned or found casks to rearrange at the pub when he was angry or thinking through something.
His lips twisted as the morning’s conversation replayed in his head.He’d need to speak to the earl, but at least his intentions were clear.With luck, they were packing to leave on the morrow.If not, he’d make himself scarce again.
Movement in the corner of his eye brought his head around.The Marquess of Hollibrook stood by the pub’s back door, arms folded.
Xander lifted his chin and stomped over.“How did you find me?”
“Your valet.You do realize ’tis not good form to abandon guests at your house?”
“They were not invited,” Xander grumped.
“And myself and my colleague?”The Marquess raised his brows, but his tone remained mild.
“Right.My apologies.Are you aware of this morning’s…” he was at a loss for how to describe it.
“Revelations?Actually, I was aware of the issue yesterday.I recognized Evie in the front hall.”
Xander groaned, turning away and running a hand through his hair.He’d not get sympathy from this quarter then.He muttered, “So much for the Wayward Dukes Alliance, eh?”
Hollibrook snorted.“My cousin’s wife and her sister are a bit mad, if you ask me, and they’ve raised Evie to that standard.I understand your dilemma.”
“So you’ll help?”
“If you really need me to.But Rutland, the Alliance is here to save you from scheming young ladies, families, and the like.I know I appear biased, but I can tell you these particular females may be mad, but their intentions are pure.”
“Pure intentions would not include lies to one’s intended husband.”
“Come now.When we first met, you were going to meet the ‘chit’ and evaluate whether you wanted her.This visit, you were ready to throw her over without a thought for a maid.Even in a backwater pub in the wilds of Northumberland, you must have seen how little freedom women have in this world.When it comes to choosing one’s husband, most titled young ladies have less say than working-class girls.She wanted the same thing you wanted—a chance to evaluate your fit as a husband.And look how good a fit it turned out to be.”
Xander tried, but all he could conjure was every time Evie laughed at his ineptness as a duke.Offering a servant tea, not offering visitors a drink, and on and on.He’d taken her humor as joining him in seeing the ridiculousness of dukes’ entitlement.Now he could see it had been mirth at his expense.“I cannot abide lies.I hated the damned aristocracy until I became one of them—you.And the two together are beyond redemption.”
“Like it or not, even for a duke, wedding a maid would have caused a scandal.This solves your dilemma perfectly.You marry the girl youlove—your word, if you recall—and still fulfill the marriage contract.”
“I could never love someone who lied to me.”
* * * *
Hollibrook had had no response to his declaration.So after the evening meal, Xander called the earl and the marquess into his office.Hollibrook had agreed to mediate.He’d also asked Xander to include Evie in the meeting, but Xander refused.He could barely look at her over the supper table without losing his appetite to fury.
