AllFreeNovel
Share Us
She cursed her tendency to overlook the necessities for the trip. Twice already, she was traveling with Gabriel with not nearly enough clothing.
They reached the tall, dark wooden doors of what Evie assumed was the earl’s study, and Gabriel stopped dead. He looked at her sideways and squeezed her hand.
“Are you ready?”
Was there a note of uncertainty in his gaze?
The earl asked Gabriel to bring his new bride to his study before supper for introductions, and she hadn’t thought anything of it. Of course, she knew the discomfort with which Gabriel talked of his father. The fact that he hadn’t come home for over a decade spoke for itself, not to mention the tension it must have caused when the earl cut off Gabriel’s funds. But her always confident husband, the angel with the devilish attitude, looked extremely nervous now.
Evie gave him a reassuring smile. “Of course, my dear.”
Gabriel smiled back at her and knocked on the door.
“Come,” a deep male voice beyond the door called, and she started at the harsh sound. She held her head high as she entered the room on her husband’s arm.
The study was spacious and long. At the far corner stood a large mahogany desk, and a proportionally large gentleman was sitting behind it. Evie had to blink a couple of times. The earl’s posture, the way he held himself, everything about him was extremely familiar. In fact, she thought as the man stood to greet them, she believed she was staring at her husband some thirty years into the future.
She smiled at the thought. The earl was tall and stately and quite large. His form was athletic, and he moved with fluid grace. But for all the similarities, the earl’s face was harsh, his mouth hard. His nose was overlong, and he had quite a few worry lines on his face. Even the only feature on his face that actually reminded her of her husband was different. He had the same winter-blue eyes as Gabriel, but his were frosty.
Gabriel stopped a few feet from the desk and sketched a formal bow. Evie sank into a curtsy at his side and smiled up at the serious face of her husband’s father, her father-in-law.
“My lord,” her husband said. “Let me present to you my bride, The Duchess of Somerset.” Evie’s eyes widened as she saw the man’s face break into a smile. His formerly cold eyes took on a warm glint. “My lady,” Gabriel continued, “this is my father, Lord Winchester.”
“A pleasure, my lord.” Evie curtsied again. To her surprise, the man walked around his desk until he stood in front of her and took her hands in his.
“The pleasure is all mine, I assure you, my child. Aren’t you lovely?” he said, studying her intently. She felt Gabriel stiffen at her side. “Tell me, how did my buffoon of a son manage to sweep you up? I wasn’t certain he had enough wit to propose to such a fine lady as you.” The statement was meant as a jest, and Evie’s smile brightened at the friendliness of the earl’s tone.
Based on all she knew from Gabriel, this was the last thing she’d expected from the meeting. She was warmed by his greeting and decided to keep the flow of the conversation. “Alas, you were not wrong,” she said, grinning up at him. “It was I who proposed to him.” The earl’s eyes widened, and Gabriel cleared his throat.
Winchester laughed heartily. “At least he wasn’t foolish enough to turn you down.”
“He couldn’t afford to, my lord. Lucky for me, you cut him off.”
The earl gave a bark of laughter. “I believe luck is singularly on my son’s side, my child.” The earl smiled down at her warmly before turning to look at his son, his brow raised. “Well, it seems you chose well.”
“Yes, thank you,” her husband replied dryly. “Can we leave now?”
Evie thought the earl would be hurt, or surprised, at the dryness of Gabriel’s tone, but he hadn’t missed a beat. “It would be extremely rude if you did. Didn’t you see, we have a house full of guests? People who’ve come from all over England to celebrate your nuptials.”
“How lovely,” Gabriel said in a flat tone, and Evie swallowed a chuckle.
“The party starts tonight, with a ball,” the earl declared.
“A ball?” Evie was not laughing anymore. “But… But…” She looked from one gentleman to another. “I have nothing to wear.”
“Yes,” Gabriel said without taking his eyes off his father. “See, we were only supposed to stay one night.”
“Nonsense,” the earl declared, then turned to Evie and repeated, “Nonsense. I am sure we can do something about your attire, my child. In fact, I think we still have my late countess’s old gowns. They are a little out of fashion, but surely nothing can mar the perfection of a lady such as you.” He smiled at Evie, and she turned to gauge Gabriel’s reaction. He was staring ahead with a stony expression on his face.
“Thank you,” Evie said and almost choked on the word. Somehow it all felt very wrong now. “That would be lovely.”
The earl went to the servants’ bell and rang. He barely turned when a portly old lady entered the room. By the state of her attire, Evie guessed she was the housekeeper.
“You rang, my lord?” she said with a curtsy and kept her head down.
“Yes, Mrs. Ford. Please, take my daughter-in-law to the old countess’s chambers and pick out a gown for her to wear for tonight’s ball.”
The housekeeper raised her head at the mention of her late mistress but quickly lowered her gaze as if looking straight at her master would turn her to ash.
