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Chapter 22
Gabriel fell onto the sofa with a loud oomph.
“Make yourself comfortable,” Clydesdale said as he settled across from him on the settee. Julie’s lips twitched in a smile as she sat close to her husband.
“What brings you here, St. Clare?” she asked.
“Your lovely little cousin.”
“Evie? Is something wrong? I mean, apart from her childhood home burning down.” Julie grimaced and shifted in her place.
Clydesdale snaked his arm around her and pulled her close. After all these years, it wasn’t surprising to see his best friend openly dote on his wife. The occasional touches and kisses were always present between the Clydesdales. But had someone told Gabriel that was going to be the case seven years ago, he wouldn’t have believed it.
Robert wasn’t an affectionate man. In fact, he was from the coldest aristocratic family Gabriel had ever known; it was surprising he didn’t freeze to death while growing up. He had also been burned by love, swore to never love again, and yet there he was, happily keeping his wife close, openly showing his affection. His love. Could Gabriel ever love that way?
“I haven’t seen her since we came back from Peacehaven. When we arrived in London, she was adamant about living alone in her townhouse. She even dispatched most of her servants to my place. She cited she wanted privacy, but I am afraid that privacy is now turning into concern. I understand the need to be alone for a while, but it’s been over a fortnight. She hasn’t answered any of my notes. Her servants say that she hasn’t left the house during all this time. I am really beginning to worry.”
“You talked to her servants?” Clydesdale raised a brow.
Gabriel just shrugged.
Julie turned to her husband briefly, and he put a comforting hand on hers. “What do you want us to do?”
“I want you to go check on her. I promised I wouldn’t intrude on her solitude, but she never said either of you couldn’t visit her. I just want to make sure she is well. I don’t like to think that she might be sick, or—or… I don’t know. I’d be drowning my sorrows in a drink right about now if I were her, but she doesn’t indulge. I’d say she’s galloping her frustrations out around the serpentine… astride”—he snorted—“but since the servants said she’s not leaving the house, I shudder to think what she could be up to.”
Julie raised her brows at her husband, and he nodded in answer.
“Just so you know, this silent conversation between husband and wife is not at all charming.”
Julie smiled. “Well, when you know someone as well as we know each other, words aren’t necessary.”
“I’ve known Clyde here a lot longer than you,” Gabriel said. “Yet we don’t converse through mute gazes.”
“Well, I tried a number of times, but you tend to misunderstand anything I attempt to tell you,” Robert grumbled.
Julie shook her head with a smile. “I shall visit Evie right this afternoon. I am quite worried about her myself. I am so glad you reached out.”
“Good, good.” Gabriel played with his cufflinks nervously.
“Is there anything else you wanted?” Robert raised a brow at him.
“No, that’s all. It’s just”—Gabriel ran a hand through his hair.Oh, for God’s sakes, just let it out—“I’d appreciate it if you could facilitate a meeting between Evie and me. As I said, she never replied to my notes, and she is not accepting any invitations, and I—well, I’d like to see for myself that she is healthy.”
Julie pursed her lips together while Robert grinned openly.
“Welcome to the land of the lovesick.” Robert walked over to Gabriel and patted him on the back.
* * *
A frantic knock on the door startled Evie awake. She sat up in bed and looked around. She was in her grandfather’s quarters. Ever since she’d returned to London, Evie had spent her nights in this room. No matter how hard Gabriel tried to coax her, she refused to stay with him. She had her own lodgings. Besides, she didn’t want to deal with pretending that she was all right; she didn’t want to feel guilt for not feeling better. She just wanted to wallow in her grief and self-pity, alone, in the peace and quiet of her home.
She had found that quiet in her grandfather’s room. The room had been locked ever since he passed away, so, fortunately, the Montbrooks hadn’t been occupying it. That was why it was one of the very few rooms that still felt the same as it had before. It still had a comforting scent of tobacco and lavender. Her grandfather always sprayed his room and his pillows with lavender perfume. He’d said that it reminded him of his wife and calmed his mind.
The scentwascalming. It immediately brought her mind to the past, when she was protected, cherished, loved—
More incessant knocking followed, and Evie frowned. She got out of bed and padded barefoot to the door. Who would be knocking so loudly in the dead of night? Was it a servant?
She opened the door, but nobody was there. She peeked her head out and saw Julie wildly banging on a door several feet away. On her door.
