Chapter 9

CHAPTER 9

“He is, without any doubt, the most infuriating man to ever walk this earth!”

Evie was clutching her parasol so hard that it shook a little as she vented to the two other young ladies with her.

“Even Colin was not so domineering, and to think he is my brother!” she continued, hating the way her voice turned into a sort of wail.

How embarrassing that I, a grown woman, could be reduced to such a state by an overgrown, controlling tyrant!

It was a fine afternoon in the park, and many of the ton were out to enjoy the mild weather, dressed in their promenading finery. A few of them turned to look at Evie, but Scarlett merely shot everyone a warning smile, and they soon decided that it was in their best interests to mind their own affairs.

“Dearest,” Phoebe sighed, patting her arm gently. “I am sure His Grace only means well. On the bright side, he appears to be doing his due diligence in keeping you safe from those who mean to prey on your kindness.”

“More like he is going above and beyond due diligence.” Scarlett chortled, delicately hiding a mischievous smile behind her gloved hand. “One would think that the Duke of Ashton means to keep her unwed until her brother returns!”

“I think he means to do exactly that!” Evie groaned in dismay. “Oh, please do tell me—whatever am I to do with him?”

Both her companions shared a look before they sighed in surrender.

“I suppose you cannot do anything much beyond following his rules,” Phoebe murmured. “You are, after all, under his care and living in his residence at that…”

“Which is also a startling matter in itself,” Scarlett added. “Why, even my brother does not exactly live with Mama and me. He very much prefers his townhouse, and it is still considered acceptable.”

Of course, Evie was quite aware that she did not really need to live with Daniel for him to keep an eye on her. It was one of the things she argued about with Colin prior to his departure, but her brother had been adamant that it was for the best. That Daniel was someone he would trust even with his own life and that he was the most suitable guardian.

As if her grandmother was not formidable enough to scare off lesser men who dared to sniff around her!

But it was not the fact that he was so controlling that irked Evie—it was also the fact that she could hardly put him out of her mind.

Was she to have no respite from him at all? Must the man antagonize her even in her thoughts? Her dreams?

“Well, when a gentleman acts in such a manner, it could only be one of two things,” Scarlett pointed out. “It is either due to the obvious, which is that he desires control above all things, or…”

Evie frowned as she turned towards the redhead. “Or what?”

“Or that he actually desires you.”

At her friend’s words, she nearly choked. How was she to know that the redhead would be able to get to the heart of the matter?

But then again, Daniel did say that it was nothing more than a mistake. That they both should forget that it ever happened.

Evie could not even begin to grasp which was more mortifying—the fact that she had thoroughly enjoyed her first kiss, that it haunted her even in her waking hours…

Or the fact that the man who kissed her apparently dismissed it as nothing more than an error in judgment. A great error on both their parts.

“Well?” Scarlett looked at her expectantly. “Which one is it?”

“I… I…”

This time, both of her companions looked at her with renewed interest, and Evie wished she could come up with something—anything—to divert their attention.

How could she tell them about the kiss? Or that their interactions had an undercurrent of such passion?

Or it seemed like that from her side. With Daniel, she could never be sure. She could never deduce much from his cold expression.

She only knew that somehow, she could feel that she was not the only one so affected by it.

“Well, speak of the devil!” Scarlett smiled brilliantly as her gaze swiveled to two gentlemen headed in their direction.

Evie followed her gaze, and her heart clenched painfully in her chest when they landed on the tall, broad-shouldered man, his physique oozing masculine virility.

Michelangelo’s David could never compare…

Of course, the famed sculpture was simply carved out of marble, and the one before her was flesh and blood. It still did not make him any less a work of art, however.

No matter how horrible he was to her.

“Good afternoon, ladies!” the Duke of Sinclair greeted them, as charming as ever. “The flowers of the park pale in comparison to your radiance!”

Scarlett tittered. “Such a charming tongue you have, Your Grace. You do know how to make a lady blush!”

Being older than both Phoebe and Evie, Scarlett was easily more confident in her dealings with gentlemen, and she had no qualms about teasing them. She would even do the same to Daniel, although Evie had yet to see him reacting to any of her taunts with anything beyond a mild annoyance.

“Somehow, I do not recall giving you permission to go gallivanting about in the park.”

Evie fought hard to control the delicious shiver that ran down her spine when that smooth, low voice whispered in her ear, his warm breath fanning her sensitive skin.

She turned around and glared at Daniel, who looked most displeased by her excursion.

“And I somehow do not recall being your prisoner,” she shot back at him haughtily.

“Hmph.”

Evie wished he would take a step back from her.

Or maybe not.

Maybe he can stand by her side as long as he wished…

The moment those thoughts crossed her mind, she wanted to bash her head against a rock.

Have I truly become so depraved because of this man?

He truly was a rake. A scoundrel of the very worst order.

“If you were my prisoner,” he continued in that rich, dark voice of his, “you would not be able to leave my room. I shall have you bound to my bed…”

Evie shuddered. Her breath came out in shallow gasps. Desire pooled unbidden in her belly.

She whirled around and glared up at him. “Very funny, Your Grace.”

This time, he stood back with a self-satisfied look that she longed to wipe off his face with a good slap.

Or maybe I should kiss that smug look off his face? Let him know that he is not the only one capable of doing the most shocking things—what is wrong with me?

Evie could not have wanted to go home more than she did at that very moment, except that her home, for the time being, was Ashton Hall and not Blackthorn Estate. There was truly nowhere she could run to keep herself safe from the decidedly devastating effect this man had on her will and logic.

She was about to stomp off to keep up with Scarlett and Phoebe when she felt a strong hand clasping her wrist.

“I meant what I said last night,” he told her darkly. “As long as you live under my roof, you must obey every word I say.”

She shook his hand off her person, and with a haughty smile, she told him, “You do not own me, Your Grace.”

Never mind that the implications of that word—obedience—sent a delicious thrill through her, she finally managed to stomp off to join her two companions, who were casually chatting with the Duke of Sinclair as they promenaded in a most leisurely fashion.

Evie did not need to turn around to know that Daniel was probably glowering at her.

Let him stay angry.

After all, it was most unjust if only she remained unsettled. Perhaps he should have a taste of his own medicine as well.

Daniel was indeed glowering, but not for the reasons that Evie was thinking.

Just ahead of them, he had spotted a group of the most irritating dandies to ever walk the soil of Hyde Park. At the head of the group was none other than Thomas Salsbury, whose eyes shone with a disgusting light the moment they fell on Evie and her friends.

“Good afternoon, ladies!” he greeted them with the most absurdly foppish bow that Daniel had the misfortune to witness. “Especially to you, Lady Evelyn.”

To her credit, the little fool did not look so impressed by his gesture.

“Good afternoon, Lord Sidmouth,” she greeted him politely. “Lord Astley, Sir Stanley.”

The vile spawn, however, did not seem deterred by her aloofness. In fact, he only seemed to smile wider as he drew closer to her.

Much too close for Daniel’s comfort.

“I am dreadfully sorry to have missed the Horton ball the other night,” he sighed. “But you will be at the opera next week, I hope, My Lady?”

Daniel smirked as he crossed his arms over his chest. He knew very well why the imbecile was absent from last night’s ball. He just did not know how he was able to recover his audacity so quickly as to seek Evie out in the park the very next day.

Perhaps he is in need of another reminder of why he should very much keep away from what is mine… to protect.

He saw Evie open her mouth to reply, but he smoothly stepped before her, effectively putting himself in between her and the Earl.

“No, she will not,” he answered for her, glaring at the man.

Evie looked up at him in shock, and then vexation. “I beg your pardon, Your Grace?” she hissed at him, her eyes spitting fire.

Daniel merely smiled coolly. “It seems that Thomas here has forgotten about that lovely conversation we had just the other evening.”

“That is Lord Sidmouth to you, Your Grace,” the idiot reminded him with a smile that made Daniel want to bash his face in with his fist. “I do not recall us being on such close terms that we can refer to each other by our first names.”

My fist is about to become closely acquainted with your skull.

“And as I recall, you are neither the father nor the brother of Lady Evelyn,” Thomas continued smoothly. “Which means that you are not in a position to dictate what she does.”

“Idiot,” he heard Ethan mutter under his breath.

Idiot, indeed.

If Daniel had not known for a fact that the man’s finances were in dire straits, he would have considered bankrupting him within the next week or so. Murder was also illegal and a largely messy business, especially when there were so many witnesses.

As it stood, he simply did something else that he hoped would keep the man up in a rage for several nights.

“Ah, but therein lies your problem, Lord Sidmouth,” he sneered. “For I am to be her husband. Tell me now, am I still allowed to have no say in her affairs?”

Evie, however, was probably going to murder him.