Page 126 of Outrageous

Whether Mel actually did love Tommy—or whether she was now in love with Lucien—Eva had still done the right thing.

The question of the child she was carrying—and how she would manage—would not be an easy one to resolve. But then, Eva didn’t have to make every difficult decision all on one day.

If you’d told your father, he would have made your decision for you.

Eva knew that was true. If she’d told her father she was carrying Godric’s child, he would have felt duty bound to tell the earl—and then perhaps shoot or stab him.

She knew her father had meant what he’d said at the inn—the decision was hers. But she also knew the marquess would want her to think very, very carefully before closing off what he would see as the best decision for the child.

And he was right. All along, Eva had been thinking only of the best choice for her. All she’d done was think about the humiliation of marrying a man who didn’t want her child. But that was selfish; she knew she would need to give a great deal of thought to the matter before ruling out Godric.

Yes, it would be a humiliating marriage and one devoid of even the little friendship they’d had before she’d become pregnant. She could marry him to give her child a home, but she could not forgive him. And she would need to spend her life guarding her child against his dislike and fear.

“Ah, Lady Eva—there you are.”

Her head whipped up. “James—what are you doing here? I thought I told you to take the day off after returning Clancy.”

“Well, I was going to,” James said, twisting his hat in his hands, “but then I met a gentleman at Sir Walter’s who’d come to talk to the squire about a stud he had to sell.”

Eva perked up. “Oh?”

“Yes, quite remarkable, really, from the Godolphin line and an overall fifth.”

Eva just as quickly unperked. “Lord, James, such a stud is far beyond our touch. Far beyond Sir Walter’s, as well.”

James nodded vigorously. “I know, I know, but the gent who owned him is proper dipped and in need of quick funds.”

“How much are we talking about?”

The figure James mentioned made her jaw drop.

“There must be something wrong with him?”

“Sir Walter seems to think he’s solid.”

“Huh. Well, I hope you got his name and direction so we can—”

“He’s here,” James whispered noisily, as if the man were outside the stall.

“In the stables?”

“No, he’s waitin’ in his traveling coach. I told him you might wish to know more.” He shrugged.

“Well, what are you waiting for?” Eva stood. “I’ll go change into proper clothing and you can—What?” she said, when James shook his head.

“He’s got a problem and can’t easily leave his carriage—not without some help.”

“Goodness. Injured like Salford, you mean?”

James hesitated and then said, “Er, yes, my lady, he’s not so different in some ways.”

“Ah, well, if you don’t think this would offend his sensibilities?” She gestured toward her clothing.

“Oh no, my lady. He seems the sort to understand.”

Eva somehow doubted that, but her desire to talk to the man overrode her already limited patience. “Let’s go meet him—if he is expecting me, that is?”

“I believe he’d like to see you, my lady.”