Chapter Five

E vie did the only thing she could think to do.

She wrote to Elias and begged him to come home at once.

Her betrothed was supposed to stay in town with his friends for another few weeks before he came back to Devonshire. Usually, Elias escorted his mother home, but this time, the Duchess of Wentworth had traveled home with her family.

She had yet to see Her Grace—and now pondered what the regal woman meant when she remarked if Evie were marrying the right son.

Had the duchess known of Hatch's feelings for her?

Hatch was a quiet man, unlike his outgoing brother. If he truly had these feelings for her all these years, he had certainly kept them to himself. She liked the fact that he had respected the age difference between them and not frightened her with a declaration of love in her youth.

Evie wondered if that was why he'd given her the brief kiss on the bridge that morning before he'd gone off to war.

She fretted that it would take Elias a good two weeks before he arrived home. By the time he received her letter and then packed and returned to the country, she would have spent more time in Hatch's company—which came to pass.

With David enthusiastic about spending time with his sister, and thrilled his best friend was now home, he wanted the three of them to be together often. They had gone for numerous rides. On these outings, Hatch conducted himself as a perfect gentleman, but Evie now looked at him with new eyes. His hands clasping her waist to toss her into the saddle. The brush of their legs together at tea. All of a sudden, she was more than aware of him as a man.

And her attraction to him.

She still wasn't certain whether she loved him or not, but she was intrigued by how she now responded to him. Evie thought about Hatch constantly. She wanted to pull him into an empty room and kiss him for hours. She needed to explore his muscular frame as his own fingers had explored her body. Evie told herself it was lust, not love.

Yet thoughts of Elias touching her in such a manner disgusted her.

In order for her to bear the children she so desperately wanted, her husband would have to be intimate with her. But now, she wanted the only man touching her to be Hatch. How could she be with a man who didn't have his goodness? His kindness. His courage. His thoughtfulness and care for responsibilities. Where once Evie had thought she would be happy wedding Elias and blithely accepting the fact they would go their separate ways, now she wanted more in her marriage. A closeness. An intimacy. Not only of bodies—but minds.

That moment of realization led Evie to believe that she was, in fact, in love with Hatch.

He and his mother came to tea that afternoon, and she quickly whispered to him they must talk. Though Hatch acted as if he hadn't heard her request, near the end of tea, he turned to her.

"Evie, were you going to show me that book in the library you wished for me to read?"

Oh, he was good.

"Yes," she said brightly. "Would you like to come look at it now?"

"Of course. If you will excuse us," he said to the others.

She thought it amusing that during her come-out and each Season beyond, it would have been totally against Polite Society's rules for her to be alone in the company of a gentleman. She would have been ruined—and that man would have needed to do the honorable thing and wed her. Circumstances were different with Hatch, however. They had been brought up together, and her parents looked upon the duke as another son, thinking nothing of the two of them going off alone together.

Once in the library, Evie became tongue-tied, and Hatch asked, "What is it?"

Not certain she could say what was in her heart, she decided her actions would speak for her. Clasping the lapels of his coat, she yanked his mouth down to hers, and he was only too happy to accommodate her.

Evie kissed Hatch with a desperation born of need. Desire for this man flowed through her veins, and she communicated that to him in her kiss.

The kiss was wild. Wanton. And deeply satisfying, letting her know this was the man she was destined to always love.

Hatch was the one to end the kiss and looked at her questioningly.

Finding her voice, she said, "I think I do love you, Hatch." She swallowed, correcting herself. "I know I love you. If wanting to only be with you is love. I think about you constantly. I yearn for your kiss. I can only see a future with you."

His smile caused warmth to radiate within her, and he embraced her, holding her close, making her feel cherished. He kissed the top of her head, no words between them. Evie thought if he only held her like this until the end of time, it would be enough. He was enough. Together, they could do anything.

Hatch said, "We should tell Elias together."

"No," she protested, breaking away. "I'm the one who got us into this mess. It is my responsibility to speak to Elias."

His gaze showed admiration for her. "When is he to return?"

"I wrote to him, asking if he would come immediately." She smiled weakly. "I thought if he were here, it would give me the strength to avoid you. As these days have passed, however, avoiding you is the last thing I wish to do."

"Then you will wed me, Evie?"

"If you are offering, Hatch, I am accepting."

He kissed her enthusiastically.

"Not a word to our parents," he cautioned. "It is only right for Elias to know first."

"Send word to me the minute he arrives at Davenport Hall."

*

Two days later, Evie and David sat on the front lawn of Valwood Park. Hatch had left a few minutes earlier.

"I see a rider," David commented, taking a sip of tea.

Evie's heart thundered. Instinctively, she knew it was Elias and recognized him as he drew nearer.

Looking at her brother, she said, "I must speak to him alone."

"Of course," David said, standing and kissing her brow, waiting to greet Elias before leaving.

She stood, too, waiting for her fiancé, nerves flitting through her. She was doing the right thing, yet she would hurt this man.

Elias brought his horse to a halt and slipped from the saddle, looking at her hesitantly. "I came as soon as I received your letter, Evie."

David said, "Good to see you, Elias. I'll take your horse to the stables to be watered."

Elias thanked him, and Evie indicated they sit.

Frowning, her betrothed said, "I was ready to leave town for a house party. What is going on?"

"I am sorry you had to change your plans because of me," she apologized.

"It wasn't very sporting of you, Evie. I thought we had made our arrangement clear."

"Do you truly wish to wed me, Elias?" she asked pointedly.

His gaze fell as he flushed. "We have the best of both worlds if we wed," he said stiffly. "We can be married to someone we are fond of and yet pursue our own interests."

"What of love?"

Elias looked shocked. "You, of all people, ask about love? This was your idea, Evie. I merely agreed to it. Love has nothing to do with us."

"What if I wished to break things off?" she challenged. Studying him carefully, she noted relief flashed in his eyes.

Still, he said, "If you cry off, Evie, it won't set well with the ton . A broken engagement, no matter who ends things, always reflects poorly on the woman. I won't have tongues wagging about you. You are as a sister to me."

She reached and took his hand. "And that is why things must end between us, Elias. I want to continue to be a sister to you." Pausing, she added, "In fact, I will be a true sister to you. A sister-in-law."

Watching, she saw the moment he realized the meaning behind her words. Then a slow smile spread across his face.

"Hatch finally spoke up, did he?"

"What do you mean?"

"I suspected how he felt about you. He never voiced it, but I felt it." Taking her hands in his now, he said, "This is the best of news, Evie. I am relieved. I wasn't ready for marriage, but our agreement made perfect sense to me."

"If you knew Hatch had feelings for me, why did you even agree to wed me?"

"Because I didn't think you looked at him in that regard. I can see, though, that you do have feelings for my brother. I couldn't be happier for the both of you."

"The gossip will fly," she noted. "Lady Evangeline Eastfield betrothed to one brother, yet wedding another."

Elias laughed. "Polite Society will say you tossed me aside in order to become a duchess." He squeezed her hands. "But the last laugh will on the ton , for I believe a great love story will play out between you and Hatch."

"You are taking this quite well, Elias. I thought you would be upset with me. Even angry."

"I am gaining a wonderful sister while maintaining my freedom." He grinned. "I'm certain the ladies will feel sorry for me and wish to comfort me in my loss."

"Why, you devil!" she exclaimed. "You'll turn this to your advantage."

He shrugged nonchalantly. "We are both getting what we want, Evie." He raised their joined hands and kissed her fingers. "No bitterness on my part. I wish you and Hatch all the best."

"Then I suppose the banns may be read starting this coming Sunday," she mused. "Won't the villagers receive a surprise when they hear the names announced?"

Evie and Elias both laughed, and her former fiancé said, "We must inform our parents of the change in plans. And Hatch. I hope he knows you love him."

She smiled. "He does. I never thought I would love my husband, but I love Hatch, heart and soul. I hope you'll find a love of your own someday, Elias."

"Maybe in a few years. For now, I celebrate my brother's love for you, Evie."