Page 94 of A Bluestocking’s Secret Courtship

“Your brother-in-law,” Jonathan added.

“That’s a short list.” Evangeline’s eyes narrowed. “Does Lord Dominic know the truth about you? He opened his doors to you.”

Jonathan didn’t want to alarm her, but he couldn’t lie again. “He is one of us, but your sister is safe.”

“Blast!” She hopped up from the ground. “Do you expect me to believe anything you say now?”

“No, but I’m telling the truth. Dom is disciplined about following orders, and he has none concerning your uncle.”

“Only you do.” Her voice was rising. “The man who pretended to love me when really he wanted to get close to my uncle. You’re a liar!”

“I wasn’t pretending.” Jonathan stood, too.

Wedmore tensed, but stayed put.

“Do you think falling in love with you made any of this easier?” he asked. “Do you believe I wanted any part of this damned assignment? I didn’t. I want a wife—a family. I want to study drumming and go on digs without always looking over my shoulder. I want you.”

She drew back. “Th-then why haven’t you resigned? Why not refuse the orders?”

“I tried.” Jonathan walked around the fire to stand in front of her. “I wanted to marry a nice young woman and put this behind me, but Farrin wouldn’t allow it.”

“You could have walked away, even if he refused your resignation.”

He moved closer, longing to hold her. “You don’t understand, love. The only way out is death.”

Her eyes widened.

“Farrin threatened my betrothed. If I’d refused orders, he would have killed her.”

The fire popped. An owl hooted in the distance. Tears misted her eyes, and she exhaled.

“A-are you promised to someone else?”

“I— That isn’t⁠—”

She spun around and ran into the dark.

Wedmore grabbed his arm before he could chase her. “Let me talk to her.”

“I’m not engaged,” Jonathan said. “Miss Thorne cried off before I left.”

Thirty-seven

The cart bumped over a rut, and Evangeline scrambled to grab the side before she slid over the back edge. She and Uncle Charles had been riding all day in the bed with the supplies while Jonathan led the oxen.

She had only offered him a curt greeting that morning, and even though her uncle had explained about Jonathan’s broken betrothal, it didn’t soothe her pain. She had been falling in love with him, and he would be married to his first love if Farrin hadn’t forced him to leave her.

Her uncle shaded his eyes and turned to look ahead. “We’re close to Athens.”

She dropped her head, avoiding meeting his eyes. “I figured.”

She had overheard his discussion with Jonathan when they had stopped a few miles outside of the city to give the oxen a rest.

“Maybe you should listen to him,” she said. “If Jonathan knows of a safe house⁠—”

“Lord Dominic would know about it, too.” He reached across the cart and patted her knee. “I’ll wait outside while the men talk. Sir Jonathan believes Lord Dominic will listen to reason. Besides, I need to see Regina. How is your sister truly?”

A rush of irritation flooded through her. “Happy with Xavier, but you know how she worries. This could send her spinning, and she’s pregnant. What if you had died and never returned to us? Do you have any idea how devastated we would be?”