“Evan, be serious,” she said.
“I am being quite serious.” He tamped down his fury and the urge he had to make another midnight call, with a pistol. “Do not go anywhere near the man. Fake illness and spend the next day in your chamber if you must, but ensure you are not in his presence.” Hecupped her cheeks in his hands. “Promise me.”
She nodded. “I promise.”
“I will return tomorrow night for us to depart. I am going to have men watch your house and inform me right away if Minto or anyone else should appear, and I will come straight here to you.”
She released a deep burst of air. “Thank you.”
“Feel better?” he asked.
“As well as I can,” she replied. “I’ll feel better once we are married and away from here.”
“I quite agree, love. Be sure to have a small bag ready.” He placed a soft kiss on her lips. “I should leave. There is much to do.”
“Do you have to?” She pouted.
He groaned. There was nothing he wanted to do more than to carry her over to the bed and hold her in his arms all night long. To let her know he would always be there to protect and love her for the rest of their days.
“I must,” he said. “But soon you shall tire of me because I shan’t let you out of my sight.”
She laughed. “Well, you’re probably right about that.”
“You wound me, love.”
“You’ll survive.” Her lips curved in a playful smile.
He kissed her again. “Barely.” He edged closer to the window. “I shall see you tomorrow.”
And then Lady Marina Osborne would safely be his wife.
Chapter Fourteen
Marina
Marina spent theentire first part of the day hiding in her chamber, just as she had promised Evan. She only had a matter of hours to wait until she could run off with the man who would be her husband. The thought brought a smile to the corners of her lips. Regardless of the situation, she wanted to be his wife, and everything else that came with it.
She lounged on the settee in her room with a book in hand. Having reread the same page over and over, she couldn’t say that she had been reading. Mostly she was holding the book and waiting for night to come.
Her door creaked open and closed, pulling her attention to determine who had entered. “Marina, Arthur has arrived.” Her mother crossed the room and urged her daughter to stand. “We must listen. He is confronting your father now.”
Marina let the book fall to the floor and took her mother’s hand. “Let us go now.”
The women made their way to the door outside of Papa’s study. It was closed, but the closer they got, they heard raised voices. Both women positioned themselves outside the door and froze in place to hear as much as they could.
“Father, you must cease this folly at once. You can’t marry Marina to that vile man. Marina can do much better.”
Marina smiled, thankful her brother was on her side.
“He is an earl,” her father said.
“I don’t give a damn what his title is. He isn’t good enough for Marina. End it now, Father.”
“It can’t be undone.”
“Have you already signed the contracts, then?” Arthur asked.
“No, but I have given my word.”
