“Am I free to go, then?” the man asked.
Evie stepped back and lowered her pistol to her side. “You are, but if you approach Miss Holbrooke again, I will shoot you.”
The man nodded his understanding before he tucked his hands in his pockets and walked off at a leisurely pace, as if he didn’t have a care in the world.
Georgie watched his retreating figure. “How did my brother know where to find me?”
“I don’t rightly know, but I am going to find out.” Evie slipped her pistol back into the pocket hidden in the folds of her dress. “It is time for us to leave.”
“I couldn’t agree more.”
ChapterNine
William sat in the darkness of the coach as it made its way towards Hawthorne’s townhouse. He was dreading this evening. He wasn’t in the mood to converse with anyone, much less the lively Lady Hawthorne. She always had a smile on her face and a kind word on her lips, regardless of whether the situation warranted one. It was aggravating, really. What was worse was that she was genuine in her affection. How could someone be so blissfully content with their life?
The coach stopped in front of the whitewashed townhouse, and William stepped out, attempting to erase all hints of irritation from his features. Why had he agreed to dine with them this evening? His time would have been much better spent working on the list of things his man of business had brought up at their last meeting or having a drink—or two.
He knew he drank entirely too much, but the numbness he received in return for his imbibing was a relief to his reality; for a brief moment of time, he didn’t feel the unrelenting grief that threatened to consume him, making him more miserable in the process.
The main door opened, and the butler stood to the side to grant him entry. William stepped inside and glanced around the expansive hall. The blue-papered walls contrasted nicely with the black and white tiles of the floor.
Once the butler closed the door, he said, “Lord and Lady Hawthorne will be down in a moment. Allow me to show you to the drawing room, Lord Grenton.”
William followed the butler into the drawing room and was surprised to discover Miss Lloyd there, standing near the window and staring out into the gardens. She was dressed in a black gown, no surprise given her mourning, and her hair was piled high on top of her head with small curls framing her face. He stood for a moment watching her, reluctant at first to intrude on whatever thoughts were holding her rapt and motionless. But he eventually grew tired of waiting for her to notice him.
“Miss Lloyd,” he greeted, his voice terse to his own ears. “What an unexpected surprise to see you this evening.”
Miss Lloyd turned to face him, a smile tugging at her lips. “Pardon me for saying so, but you don’t seem pleased to see me.”
“Do not take offense where none was intended,” William said. “Frankly, there are very few people that I am actually pleased to see anymore.”
“May I ask why that is?”
William clasped his hands behind his back. “I have learned that people will inevitably disappoint me, and I’ve come to rely only on a small group of people that I trust.”
“That is a sad way to live, my lord.”
“I disagree,” William said. “I see no issue with the way I live.”
“Are you not concerned that your standards for pleasant company may be too high?”
“Why should I lower my standard of competence to satisfy another?”
Miss Lloyd studied him for a moment before saying, “It has been my experience that people will rise up when given the opportunity.”
William shook his head. “Time is a limited commodity in my world, and I don’t have the luxury to wait in hopes that someone has half a brain.”
“That is rather crass of you to say.”
“It is the truth, and I only deal in truths, Miss Lloyd.” He lifted his brow, challenging her. “Don’t you?”
Miss Lloyd cocked her head. “You wish for the truth, then.”
Surprised by her bold assertion, he replied, “I do.”
“I think you underestimate people, which is doing a great disservice to them and yourself,” Miss Lloyd said.
“Perhaps you overestimate them,” William countered. “I don’t have time to coddle people.”
