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To say Lord Ashcroft looked surprised would be understating the situation. Eyes wide, he sat up straighter in his wooden chair.
Evie moved to the back of Gareth’s, placing her hand on its top rail.
“Evelina, what are you about?” he asked, obviously displeased.
“You know precisely what I am about. You are not my father. That distinction is Sir Eamon’s, something I should have known a long time ago.”
“He told you.” Ashcroft’s face turned red.
“We knew you would not accept Gareth’s offer despite that you know well the kind of man he is, recruited to this order for his skill and valor. Leading a charge that could well be the turning point all have hoped for, his bravery and honor unquestioned. But you care little for those values. We are not alike, in that, however. I care little for more lands and titles. As we both know”—she waved her hand around—“neither makes you happy. You smile rarely, only tolerate my presence and—”
“Enough.” Lord Ashcroft slammed his hand on the table, its contents scattering. “This is my hall, my chamber. And I will not be spoken to in it by my daughter in such a way.”
“I. Am not. Your daughter.”
With that, Evie turned and walked away, leaving Gareth alone with an extremely irate baron. He did not mind, however. Gareth had dealt with men such as him before. Remaining calm, he waited for Ashcroft to throw him out of his chamber. When he did not, Gareth shrugged.
“It seems we are at an impasse.”
“I would disagree,” the baron said. “By rights, she is my daughter and will not marry a traitor’s son.”
“Traitor?” Gareth raised his brows. “My parents are on the same side as you, my lord.”
“But were caught. Because they were careless.”
Ashcroft meant to goad him, but it would not work. “Not careless, but loyal. You are lucky to remain here, so publicly supporting the knight school, and yet not in Stephen’s crosshairs.”
“Do you threaten me?”
“I do not. As a Guardian of the Sacred Oak, I took an oath I mean to keep. But we will be exposed in time. With luck, Matilda will be on the throne before it happens.”
He stood. There was naught more to be said or done here this day.
“If you reconsider my offer—”
“I will not.”
He was, if nothing else, consistent. Gareth bowed. “Then, good day, my lord.”
With that, he turned and left.
Gareth would find Evie to devise a new plan. He did not care for Ashcroft’s insistence that Evie’s betrothal was already underway and did not trust the man. She could be in danger of being wed against her will—something he would never, ever allow to happen.
24
Evelina hadn’t seen Lord Ashford since she stormed out of his solar chamber. She had waited for Gareth to leave the manor and spoke to him briefly on his way out last eve. They agreed to a new plan, one he’d speak to Eamon about.
Would her father, her real father, agree?
At least she had not been held against her will or locked in her bedchamber as Evelina feared. She had little doubt, however, such extreme measures were not impossible, which was why they were not taking a chance.
“I cannot believe this is happening,” Amalia said beside her as they waited in the chapel’s garden. Finally able to tell her friend, she and Amalia had packed a small traveling bag each and, incredibly, were not stopped as they left the manor’s grounds.
“I am sorry I was unable to tell you sooner. Eamon asked I wait, and I followed those instructions, at least.”
“If only you had followed all of your father—your real father’s—instructions.”
She winced. Amalia was right, of course, but what was done was done.
