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She nodded and took her seat once more.
“I shall see you for lunch,” I said as I left her room. And there, outside the door, was Evander, eavesdropping. My eyes widened, and I closed the door quickly before grabbing his arm to pull him away. “What are you doing?”
“I came to see if you had talked some sense into her. But you folded and left,” he grumbled at me.
“What would you have me say to her?”
“Verity, this is foolish. Listen to your brother,” he said proudly and sternly, which only made him look sillier.
“And in what world do you believe she would have simply agreed to that?”
He sighed and lifted his hands to his head. “I do not understand how this came to be, Aphrodite. Several weeks ago, she scoffed at the mere mention of love and marriage. Now she is beside herself for this…this—person. She is not in her right mind. I know it. She is most likely lonely, and he took advantage of my absence. What your mother was doing—”
“Now it is my mama’s fault?” I snapped at him. “Do you blame her also for the times I found myself alone with you?”
“Aphrodite, that is not the same.”
“It is! There will always be a way for two people to see each other if they really desire—”
“Not on my watch. I will not allow it. Ever,” he repeated, nose flared, before he marched away. One thing he and his siblings had in common was resounding stubbornness.
I feared they would damage their relationship beyond repair.
28
Theodore
Her brother had kept to his word as I had kept to mine. He had forbidden me from stepping foot on his grounds and even had his men alerted to look out for me. No more letters had made their way from her to me, either. Nevertheless, I rode up to his boundary for six days and waited from sunup to sundown. I was unsure what it would accomplish, but I continued even still. I had readied myself for this battle and would not surrender. Though I had to admit that the return to Mrs. Stoneshire’s inn every night was disappointing. She, on the other hand, was set to build her riches on my head alone.
“Welcome back, Dr. Darrington.” She grinned, waiting for me at the door. “You have a guest in your room that will cost you.”
I sighed deeply. “Simon again? Can you not bill the magistrate for once?”
“And bring down on me the eyes of the law? I think not. Besides, it is not Simon.”
I frowned, not sure who else would meet me there. “Who then?”
She shrugged and then winked, turning away. I had a bad feeling and, thus, rushed up the stairs, two by two, until I reached my door. I paused and took a deep breath before going to open the door. However, I stopped myself, then reached up and knocked.
“You ruin the surprise by having me say ‘enter.’?”
Quickly, I opened the door, and there she stood in my small room, dressed in a dark cloak and matching gloves, my mother’s pendant around her neck, her curly hair down, and her face beautiful as always.
“Verity,” I whispered, unsure what to do. She could not be seen here, which meant I could not enter and close the door.
“Theodore.” She smiled.
“I am extremely pleased to see you, but you cannot be here,” I said from the door, and the smile on her face fell.
“I had to see you. Evander, he has all but trapped me inside. Unfortunately for him, I have long since found methods of escape that he is not aware of.”
“By doing so and coming here, he will become even more incensed.” I would have to work even longer and harder to wear him down.
She nodded and stepped forward. “I am aware, which is why I propose we run away.”
Immediately, I stepped inside and closed the door. “Verity—”
She hugged me, and I inhaled the sweet scent of her for a moment. It had been six days, and I desperately missed her. “Verity, did I not tell you we could not rush? I am prepared to wait him out.”
“He will not listen to reason.” She frowned, releasing me slightly.
“You knew he would not. What has you so impatient now?” We had spoken intensely on the day I finally went to see her brother. I had repeatedly tried to get her to leave me to speak with him alone, but she would not have it. Ultimately, it did not matter, since, either way, the duke would have thrown me out.
“I do not like being locked inside,” she muttered, glancing down. “He knows it and tells me I am free to walk the grounds, but he has two maids and a footman accompany me. You would think I was a princess with a parade behind me. He has gone mad.”
