“The Vicomte?”Andrew and Wivenly said at the same time.
The hairs on the back of Eugénie’s neck prickled. She hadn’t heard from her father’s family in years. “What is it?”
“Dam . . . drat.” Wivenly’s hand tightened on hers. “He was the man behind the scheme to convince you the company was failing.”
“Do you know a Mr. Shipley?” Andrew asked.
“Not precisely.” Eugénie glanced from Wivenly to Andrew. “He came to my home after you left that first day.” Warmth infused her cheeks. “He offered to marry me and buy the company.” Had Wivenly known about that? What else was he hiding from her? “Why did you not tell me about Shipley and this Vicomte?”
“We”—Wivenly motioned toward Andrew—“thought it was over. Shipley left in a hurry as did the manager, Howden. We’d heard the sobriquet ‘The Vicomte,’ but were never able to find him.” Wivenly scrubbed his face with his hand. “I didn’t want to worry you.”
It appeared there was a great deal of misplaced desire not to fret others going on. She swung her gaze back to her mother. “Maman, why do you think my uncle has something to do with this?”
That might explain to-day’s attack and the strange men who’d chased her a couple of months ago.
“He . . .” Maman wrung her hands. “He wrote to me after your Papa left for England with a proposal for you to marry a Frenchcomte. The match would repair the war’s depredations of the Villaret de Joyeuse family fortune. I responded, telling him your step-father would not countenance the match.”
Without mentioning the proposal to me?“Maman, for what reason?”
“Thecomteis getting on in years and desperate for a son. The ceremony was to be by proxy.” She closed her eyes for a moment. “I could not allow you to wed in that manner. Eugénie, you deserve to be loved.”
Yes, she did deserve to be loved, and if that was what her mother wanted for her . . . For the first time since she’d agreed to Wivenly’s proposal, she knew she could not go through with any marriage unless she loved him and her regard was returned in full.
Eugénie’s mood had shifted, but for the life of him, Will couldn’t figure out what it meant. All he knew was it was more important than ever that she agree to marry him, and he didn’t have long. “We are still missing information. Such as, if Shipley was employed by your uncle, how did his marrying you further the cause to wed you to thecomte?”
“Mr. Shipley,” Aunt Sidonie continued, “appeared to believe I was Eugénie’s sole guardian. Perhaps your uncle thought to use Shipley as the proxy for thecomte.”
“Or,” Eugénie said, “my uncle might have come forward with the offer again.” She paused for a moment. “You must admit, even an elderlycomteis better than a Shipley.”
Will bit down hard on his inner cheek; a slight tang of blood soured his mouth. He drained his glass of rum shrub, and waited for someone to respond to her.
“Well, my dear,” Mr. Whitecliff said, “you’ll not need to worry about that with Lord Wivenly here.”
The tension in his aunt’s face eased, but not enough to satisfy him. “As I said earlier, I’ll send Griff to keep watch when I cannot be with Eugénie.”
“Thank you.” Aunt Sidonie slid a glance to her daughter. “I will feel safer.”
Eugénie remained silent, and he got the feeling he was somehow in competition with the unknowncomte. “Allow me to escort you home.”
The rest of their coterie walked with them to the front door of Wivenly House. At least his betrothed remembered to bring the flowers he’d brought her.
Will bowed to Eugénie. “You are handling this extraordinarily well. Please, do not hesitate to send a message if you need me. I shall see you in the morning.” He raised her hand to his lips, placing a kiss on her palm. Her breath hitched as he closed her fingers around it. “Adieu.”
She regarded him steadily, the spark of challenge back in her eyes. “Until then, my lord.”
No woman had ever tested him the way Eugénie did. He was certain she desired him every bit as much as he craved her, yet she fought him every step of the way, and held herself back from committing to him. He’d have to discover what she needed him to give her before she’d allow herself to capitulate. Well, he had wanted to have to chase the woman he would marry. What was it his mother always said?Be careful what you wish for.
He certainly wouldn’t take his charm and desirability for granted again. He bowed once more before making his way back toward the hotel. There must be a way to court her here that didn’t involve kissing her senseless. That obviously hadn’t worked the first time, and nothing had changed.
“Will.”
He stopped until Andrew reached him. “Coming back to the hotel with me?”
“No. Cicely has decided to help you with Eugénie.”
This was a change, and Will wasn’t sure he trusted it. “Why?”
His friend shrugged. “Mind you, I’m not sure I understand it myself, but she apparently saw something in you this afternoon, and thinks you’d be good for Eugénie.”
