Page 27 of A Bluestocking’s Secret Courtship

“Aim for his tender bits,” Evangeline blurted. It was the main lesson she remembered from Uncle Charles’s training.

An insolent smile distorted the silvered scar intersecting the man’s top lip. His frigid stare raised the hair on the back of Evangeline’s neck. She moved closer to her sister and tossed a glance toward the stage. Xavier and Sir Jonathan had disappeared.

“Don’t be alarmed, ladies.” He held his hands out at his sides. His voice was cultured, smooth like a smoky Bordeaux, and insincere. She disliked him on sight. “As you can see, I’m unarmed.” He took a step closer.

“Stay where you are!” Regina jabbed the air, maintaining a fighting stance. “This is your only warning. We will defend ourselves.”

“Why are you sneaking about?” Evangeline’s legs trembled even as she spoke with bravado. “What do you want?”

“I am on the hunt,” the man said with an alarming gleam to his eyes.

“For what prey?” Regina bit out.

He chuckled; his face glistened with sweat. “Aren’t you a couple of feisty birds?”

“Poaching isn’t permitted on sacred ground,” Evangeline said logically, using the only weapon she knew how to wield with any skill. “The punishment is severe."

“I hadn’t realized.” He pulled a handkerchief from his jacket and mopped his brow, the smirk never leaving his face. “Fortunately, my prey, as you call it, is two-legged and has a name. Ah, there he is now.”

He lifted a hand, his gaze fixed on the stage.

“Are you referring to Sir Jonathan?” Evangeline asked.

She glanced over her shoulder; her breath quickened. Sir Jonathan was charging up the stairs like a sure-footed ram ready to defend his rock. His tranquil eyes had transformed into a stormy blue-gray beneath strong, thick brows. The stagnant air sizzled as he drew closer with his fists clenched.

“Move,” Regina hissed and herded her further away.

Evangeline’s brother-in-law, teeth bared, was no more than a few steps behind Sir Jonathan.

The intruder’s demeanor didn’t change. Either he failed to recognize the threat of violence or he was unconcerned. “Hackberry, did you forget about me?”

Sir Jonathan was upon them, looming over the man even though there wasn’t much difference in their heights. Xavier placed himself in front of Regina and Evangeline as if to shield them. Incapable of tearing her attention away from Sir Jonathan, Evangeline peered around her brother-in-law.

“What are you doing here?” Sir Jonathan barked.

A nonchalant shrug preceded another sardonic smile as the other man slapped dust from his jacket. “You said I should meet you at the Parthenon. Have I come on the wrong day?”

Sir Jonathan remained tense, fists at his sides, even after he stepped back. “No, of course. I forgot we were meeting today."

Another antiquarian, Evangeline concluded. She aimed a quick frown in her sister’s direction, annoyed she had allowed Regina’s paranoia to infect her.

“Sir Jonathan,” she said brightly, attempting to erase the poor first impression she must have made. “Please, won’t you introduce your colleague?”

Ten

“Sir Jonathan?” Evangeline’s voice filtered through the fog in Jonathan’s brain. “Sir Jonathan, can you hear me?”

He blinked her face into focus while wrestling his temper into submission. He drew in a deep breath, fighting to control his exhale. Xavier had positioned himself in front of the women and was glaring at Dom.

Jonathan removed his hat and plowed his fingers through his hair. Damnation! He had lost control of his faculties, barreling into this situation half-cocked, and abandoned every rule he had learned in his training. Observation, assessment, and action only after every piece of information has been gathered.

But when he had spotted Dom with the women, a wave of protectiveness had slammed him from behind, knocking the solid ground out from beneath him. Jonathan was in charge of this mission. He had ordered Dom to keep his distance.

Dom slapped his hand against his jacket a second time, appearing to be clearing it of dust. The purposeful movement registered.

All clear. No danger.

He wasn’t making a move against Evangeline or her sister, but that didn’t explain his sudden appearance.