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Chapter Twenty-Nine
Thomas sat in the darkest corner of the gazebo, alone, feeling perhaps the most foolish he’d ever felt in his life.
Lady Evelina did not believe him. Of course, she didn’t. Why would she, when Thomas could hardly believe the insanity of the situation himself? Had someone accused his own father of such dastardly action, he likely would have reacted even worse.
It spoke to the ways in which his and Lady Evelina’s natures were truly one and the same when she insisted on seeking out her own proof.
“Where are you going?” Thomas had asked, reaching out in desperation as Lady Evelina had scurried out of the gazebo.
“I am going upstairs, to Father’s study. I mean to find his books for the era in question myself. If your family’s records are missing, we shall have a look at mine’s.”
In spirit, it was a smart idea. Yet Thomas could not shake his panic at Lady Evelina so cavalierly being up and about at such a late hour. If anyone from her family or the staff caught sight of her, suspicions would certainly arise, and there would be hell to pay in the morning.
“Now?” Thomas had said weakly, in an awkward attempt to dissuade her.
It was perhaps the very first time in their relationship that Lady Evelina had looked at him with undeniable frustration. “Yes, now, Thomas. Time is of the utmost essence.”
“But surely you would have an easier time going about this in the morning, when it is not such a suspicious hour?”
Lady Evelina’s face pinched. There was a note of indecision in her features that, for lack of a better word,scaredThomas.
“I assure you,” Lady Evelina said at last, averting her eyes. “This way is preferable. For one, perusing Father’s study would be far more difficult during daylight hours. And furthermore…”
Lady Evelina’s voice trailed off. Thomas had a sudden inexplicable suspicion she wasn’t telling him everything. Yet before he could press the matter, she had turned and began creeping silently through the dark garden toward Alderleaf Manor’s back entrance. Thomas had moved to the side of the gazebo and watched her through the cross-hatched wood pattern until she disappeared from view.
Thomas forced himself to gather his breath and regroup as he waited for Lady Evelina’s return. He took stock of his injuries—his side was throbbing something fierce with every beat of his heart, as were the rest of his bruises—but he was doing better than he had expected. The night air was fresh around him, if a little crisp. And all in all, he’d known going in that this would be difficult. Nothing truly unexpected had happened thus far.
He tried to think of something pleasant as he waited for Lady Evelina’s return, rather than dwell on the very real risk that she might be caught out of bed.
Ten minutes passed.
Then twenty.
Still, Thomas sat in the darkness of the gazebo, awaiting the woman he loved. Had she gotten caught? Should he risk going in after her?
No, no…that would only make things worse.
At thirty minutes past Lady Evelina’s departure, Thomas’ breath caught when he heard someone approaching the gazebo.
“I’m back,” Lady Evelina whispered, exhausted, as she rounded the corner and glided back through the archway. She was carrying a fine-bound leather tome with her—one of Alderleaf Manor’s ledgers.
Thomas’ stomach dropped out from under him, and a cold sweat broke out across his brow.
Lady Evelina must have noticed, for her face shuttered in suspicion. “What is the matter?”
“That is one of your Father’s books.”
“Yes?”
“And you have no qualms about allowing it to be viewed by a potential business rival?” Thomas asked. He had an odd feeling stirring at the bottom of his spine, and the hair on his arms was standing on end.
Lady Evelina shook her head, confused. “You are not a rival. Not in my eyes, anyway.”
She held out the book to Thomas, though there was absolutely not enough light to read by there in the darkness of the gazebo, which it seemed neither of them had anticipated.
Still, Thomas accepted the book from her hands. “Should we…? Under the moonlight, perhaps?”
Lady Evelina looked unsure for a single brief moment before she nodded. “We can sit on the gazebo steps. It should allow us to stay mostly concealed.”
