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“And if it isn’t our runaway bride,” Clydesdale observed as he took in Evie’s appearance. “Are you all right?” he asked gently.
“Yes, she is all right, and we’ll meet you in your study to share all the gossip once you hand these little monsters to their governess.” Julie gave Victoria back to him.
The little girl squirmed and turned in her father’s arms. “Aunt Evie—”
“I want to go with you—” both children yelled at the same time.
“You need a bath before supper, or you are not eating,” Julie said sternly.
The children growled in disappointment. Jared shuffled up the stairs to his room. Clydesdale gave one more kiss to his wife’s forehead and followed his son up the stairs, carrying the little girl.
Evie regarded Julie in wonder. “I don’t know how you do that.”
“Do what?” Julie led her toward the study.
“Deal with them so easily.”
“It comes with practice. Once you have children, you’ll understand,” she said, then turned to Evie, biting her lip. “Shoot, I am sorry. I don’t know if you… If Gabriel…” She looked so worried and apologetic that Evie wanted to laugh.
“It’s all right, Julie. I don’t plan on having children.” She swallowed and put a wide smile on her face. “He did offer, though.”
“I bet he did,” Julie grumbled, which just made Evie laugh.
Clydesdale joined them shortly in his study. Julie had brought him up to date on the issue of Evie and Gabriel’s marriage by the time Evie finished addressing her letter to her friend Sam. Clydesdale looked at her then, a frown of concentration marring his brows.
“You are telling me you traveled over ten days alone with Gabriel, and nothing untoward happened between you two?” He cocked a brow at Evie.
Evie’s traitorous mind selected that moment to remember all of Gabriel’s penetrating kisses, the way he brought her to bliss in the carriage. She felt her skin growing hot. “Nothing untoward,” she said unconvincingly.
“Right. I’d like to have a talk with yourhusbandif you don’t mind. I’ll go with you when you leave for home.”
“It’ll have to wait.” Julie took her husband by the arm and massaged his muscles. “Evie is staying for supper. Right, Eves?”
Evie nodded her acquiescence. She’d rather spend her last evening with Gabriel, but she wasn’t quite ready to face him after this afternoon. Besides, she’d missed her cousin.
During supper, Evie told them all the adventures she and Gabriel had gone through on the way to Scotland and back. She told them all the stories, including Widow Jane, the thugs who were after her, how they got robbed, and even washing up in the river at night, omitting the most intimate details.
Clydesdale regarded her thoughtfully while Julie gasped and laughed as the story went on.
“Oh, my,” Julie finally said, laughing. “This does sound like some romantic tale.”
Clydesdale scoffed.
“You should publish it in the paper,” Julie continued, ignoring her husband.
Evie drew a deep breath. “No, thank you. I would rather return to my quiet existence at Peacehaven.”
“Who is representing your fortune in the marriage contract?” Clydesdale asked from the head of the table.
“Grandfather’s solicitor, Mr. Barrel,” Evie said.
“You don’t mind if I take a look at it, do you?”
“No, I don’t. But why?”
“I trust Gabriel more than anyone, but I would like to look out for you,” Clydesdale answered.
Evie put her fork down and regarded him curiously. “You are his best friend. And yet, even you don’t think he’d be fair to me,” she said accusingly. Somehow it chafed her that everybody, and especially his best friend, mistrusted him.
“Gabriel is a good person. I wouldn’t be friends with him if he wasn’t. He is also selfish. He likes to indulge in pleasurable activities and doesn’t think of the consequences. You don’t know him as I do.”
“And you don’t know him as I do,” she countered, earning curious glances from both of her hosts. “I appreciate you looking out for me, but what’s done is done. Gabriel is my husband now. We made a deal, and we’ll stick to it. I trust him with my fortune, and I trust that he will keep me safe from the Montbrooks or anyone else for that matter,” she said assertively.
That earned her another peculiar glance from Julie and her husband.
“You’re right,” Julie finally said and earned a doubtful gaze from her husband. “Well, she is. She is a married lady now, and we need to respect that. There is nothing we can do except make the best of this situation.” She looked at her husband and smiled widely. “For instance, your dear friend is now our relative.”
“Splendid.” Robert rolled his eyes. And both women burst out in laughter.
