Chapter Twenty

CHAPTER TWENTY

LEVI OVERTON, DUKE OF LENNOX

"I t's no trouble, Miss," Levi said, ignoring the rapid beat of his heart when the scent of lily of the valley washed over him.

He inclined his head, then grasped Warwick's arm and forced him around Miss Braddock. Unfortunately, Levi didn't avert his gaze fast enough, and the soul-crushing expression on her face burned itself into his brain.

"Manners failing you?" Warwick asked, struggling to keep pace with Levi's gait.

Levi glowered at him. "You promised me an evening of frivolity."

"Apparently, Miss Braddock came expecting the same outcome." Warwick shrugged, grinning. "Consider it a fortuitous occurrence."

Narrowing his eyes, Levi stopped and turned toward Warwick. "You're not claiming responsibility for this accidental meeting?"

"What resources would I possess to arrange something this complicated?" The grin on his friend's face widened.

"Coward!" The word echoed behind them.

The remaining patrons milling about outside the theater collectively shifted their attention toward Mr. Braddock, who bore down on Levi with unparalleled fury.

"I caution you to watch your tone with me, Mr. Braddock," Levi said, turning around and striding forward.

Mr. Braddock swung before Levi registered the movement, his knuckles catching Levi squarely in the jaw. Levi staggered backward, momentarily stunned. Then he raised his arms and strode forward, his hands clenching into fists.

They circled each other.

"I have a grievance to settle with you, Your Grace," Mr. Braddock said, snapping his left arm out in a quick jab.

Levi sidestepped the punch and countered, hitting Mr. Braddock and causing him to stumble into the street. Blood dripped from Mr. Braddock's nose, leaving a trail of crimson in the snow. Levi followed.

With a snarl, Mr. Braddock lowered his head and charged, plowing into Levi's chest and shoving him into one of four columns decorating the exterior of the theater. Grunting, Levi pushed Mr. Braddock backward, then swung, striking Mr. Braddock in the face.

Before Mr. Braddock regained his balance, Levi flung himself forward, tackling Mr. Braddock and knocking him to the street. Hands clenched on each other's coats, they wrestled, rolling across the ground and covering themselves in frozen muck.

"Stop," Warwick hissed, stabbing the corner of Levi's greatcoat and pinning him to the cobblestones.

Neither man relinquished their grip.

"Either you release each other this moment, or I will use my cane to beat you both unconscious." Warwick snarled, his eyes flashing. "You've drawn quite a crowd with your foolishness; the theater must be empty at this point."

They glanced over at the pavement, then at each other. Mr. Braddock expelled a sheepish chuckle and opened his hands, letting go of Levi, then he rolled away, stood, and brushed the grime from his clothing.

"Our grievance isn't settled, Your Grace," Mr. Braddock said once his breathing returned to normal.

Levi rose, shook the snow from his greatcoat, then jerked his head toward a black coach. "Speak with us in private."

"Us?" Mr. Braddock's head swiveled between Levi and Warwick.

"Warwick is aware of my point of view and lacks the emotional connection I have to the situation." Levi nodded at his friend. "He's impartial."

"Will His Grace allow me to strike Your Grace if I so desire?" Mr. Braddock asked as they strolled toward the carriage, keeping their pace slow to accommodate Warwick's limp.

Warwick snorted. "If the situation calls for it, I will not interfere."

"Thank you for the support," Levi muttered.

"Impartial was your description." Warwick jerked open the coach door. "And I'm curious to learn how big of a fool you truly are."

Levi pursed his lips and climbed into the coach. Once all three men were seated, he slammed the door, leaned back on the bench, and steepled his fingers, glaring at Mr. Braddock.

"Lay out your grievance."

"You know my complaint." Mr. Braddock folded his arms and glared at Levi.

"Your sister has denied anything inappropriate occurred between us." Levi mirrored Mr. Braddock's stance.

"She lied," Mr. Braddock replied, leaning forward.

"I task you to prove otherwise."

Mr. Braddock punched the carriage wall. "You're going to lose her!"

"As you said,"—Levi shrugged—"she lied."

Dragging his hand down his face, Mr. Braddock expelled a low curse word. "Are you aware of how dangerous Mr. Drummond truly is?"

"Mr. Drummond?" Levi's heart stopped, his arms unfolding. "Her fiancé's name was Humphrey Drummond? Is he of any relation to Miss Selina Drummond?"

"She's his sister," Mr. Braddock replied, keeping his eyes locked on Levi. "When she arrived in Wiltshire, she made it her aim to torment Eveline at every turn. And with Miss Drummond's threat—this very evening—that Humphrey will not only harm Eveline but anyone who stands up to protect her, Eveline chose to run again."

She was gone!

His world imploded. He'd been foolish and prideful and… The names didn't matter. This anguish was his doing, and he deserved every moment of it for the way he dismissed Miss Braddock.

Warwick dug his elbow into Levi's side, pulling him from his paralysis.

"Where did she go?" Levi didn't recognize the hollow voice coming from his mouth.

"I don't know," Mr. Braddock growled. "She told me to enjoy the performance and return home tomorrow morning to await her letter. Then she took my carriage."

"Why didn't you stop her?"

"You've met my sister, Your Grace." Mr. Braddock tilted his head. "Could you have stopped her?"

Scowling, Levi ripped open the door and grabbed onto the edge of the coach, craning around the side until he saw his driver. "Take us to Miss Braddock's house."

"Whose residence?" Mr. Spencer frowned.

"Miss Rowe's," Levi snapped, jerking the door shut.

If they hurried, they'd catch her before she departed… and he'd somehow convince her to remain in Wiltshire.

A moment later, the coach pitched forward, traveling at a rapid speed.

Warwick stretched out his leg, rubbing his knee. "Tell us more about Mr. Drummond. You said he was dangerous. How so?"

"He's a better fighter than me," Mr. Braddock said, shifting his eyes to the left.

"I'm a better fighter than you," Levi murmured, earning another poke from Warwick.

"Have you killed a man?" Mr. Braddock's quiet question hung in the air.

Levi licked his lips. "It's not been an experience I've had to endure."

"Mr. Drummond is responsible for two deaths. Both of them occurred without witnesses. Therefore, only his version of the events explained the circumstances." Mr. Braddock shook his head. "He was acquitted of the crimes."

"Why would you connect your sister to such a man?" Levi asked, bracing himself as the coach careened around a corner.

"I didn't know his history." Mr. Braddock sighed, his eyes sliding to the flicking lantern flame. "I felt fortunate. A great man such as Humphrey Drummond requested my opinionated sister's hand."

Warwick snorted. "Intimidation isn't greatness."

"I had no man to compare him to." As if remembering himself, Mr. Braddock twisted in his seat, then bowed. "Forgive me, Your Grace, present company excluded."

Waving his hand, Warwick shifted on the bench. "When did your opinion of him change?"

Mr. Braddock's eyes returned to the lantern.

"I returned late from a dinner," he said after a long moment of silence. "The house was dark, as I expected, but something felt wrong, like a chill settled over the residence. I called for Eveline, searching first the library, then the parlor."

His eyes closed, pain flashing across his features. "A chair was upended, a vase smashed, and, near the fireplace, a small pool of blood glistened. Yelling, I raced through the house, waking all the servants, but Eveline was nowhere to be found."

"You must have been frantic," Levi said.

As was he.

Twitching aside the curtains, Levi peered at the quiet street.

How far were they from Miss Braddock's residence?

"I instantly thought of Humphrey." Mr. Braddock opened his eyes and returned his attention to Levi. "I sought him out and accused him of harming Eveline."

"Had he?" Warwick asked, a hard edge in his voice.

"By his definition, no."

"By any other man's?" Warwick pressed, his face darkening.

"He explained to me—with his fists—that Eveline struck him without cause, and when he regained consciousness, she was gone with his ring." Mr. Braddock reddened and glanced down. "He left me ‘sleeping' on the floor of his study as punishment for my accusation."

"You encouraged her to run tonight," Levi said, the realization stealing his breath.

Mr. Braddock grimaced. "I can't protect her, Your Grace, and I know of no man willing to risk his life."

"I am."

A grin exploded across Warwick's face, but before he could expound upon his glee, Levi added, "I know. I'm a fool."

"The largest possible kind." Warwick's mouth stretched wider.

"I'm attempting to rectify that error," Levi said as the coach slowed.

Grabbing the door handle, Levi shoved the door open and leaped from the carriage before it stopped. He landed in a snowbank, sinking to his knees, but maintained his balance. Slogging toward Miss Braddock's house, his gaze landed on a faint black speck in the distance.

Eveline's coach.

"Mr. Braddock!" Levi stumbled toward the street, hopping from one foot to the other as the frigid slush seeped through the legs of his trousers.

When Mr. Braddock's blond head appeared in the cabin's doorway, Levi pointed at the dot as he ran. "Is that your coach?"

"Damn! She must have finished packing her trunk."

"We need to stop her." Levi climbed onto the step and shouted for Mr. Spencer to follow Miss Braddock before diving into the cabin.

Mr. Spencer swung his whip, and the team of horses leaped forward, causing Mr. Braddock to fall from his bench. He scrambled back into his seat and braced his hands on both walls.

"Did she give any information regarding her destination?" Levi asked, needing the distraction of conversation to keep his negative thoughts at bay.

"For my protection," Mr. Braddock said, shifting his body to maintain his balance as the coach rounded another corner, "she wouldn't say anything except that she didn't intend to leave England."

Levi's stomach flipped. "And you believed her?"

"I had no reason to doubt her." Mr. Braddock's eyes rounded, and he paled. "If she departs the country, I'll never see her again."

Neither will I.

Banging on the wall, Levi encouraged Mr. Spencer to increase the coach's pace. A loud crack followed the non-verbal direction, and a second burst of speed shook the cabin.

"Is this safe?" Warwick asked, his eyes on the wildly swinging lantern. "The ground is quite slick."

As he spoke, Mr. Spencer yelled and yanked on the reins, slowing the horses. The coach, however, didn't decelerate. Instead, the wheels slid, scraping on the icy cobblestones, and the coach skidded sideways toward a plethora of screams.

The rear wheel stuck in a rut, and the coach tilted, balancing on two wheels, hovered for a moment, then crashed back down again.

"Did we lose Miss Braddock?" Levi asked, jerking the window curtain aside and gasping when he recognized their location.

"I'm unharmed," Warwick said, using his cane to smack the back of Levi's calf. "Thank you for your concern."

Levi turned, ignoring Warwick. "We're at the theater."

"Why would Eveline return here?" Frowning, Mr. Braddock moved around Levi and opened the door.

He stepped down from the coach, followed closely by Levi. The two men, disregarding the murmurs that accompanied them, trudged past the theater entrance to Mr. Braddock's coach. Scooting in front of Levi, Mr. Braddock opened the door, stuck his head in, and swore.

"She's not there." Mr. Braddock stepped aside, allowing Levi to peek into the cabin.

"Neither is her trunk." Levi's chest constricted, crushing the oxygen from his lungs.

Mr. Braddock strode toward the driver, who was covering one of the horses with a wool blanket.

"Why are you here, Mr. Allan?"

"Your sister asked me to return." He pushed his hat back, exposing thick, black hair. "Said it wasn't right to leave her guests stranded at the theater because she felt ill and had to retire early."

Levi sagged against the coach.

"Come, Your Grace." Mr. Braddock grabbed Levi and dragged him back across the street. "She may still be at the residence."

His body numb, Levi nodded, and he allowed Mr. Braddock to shove him into the cabin.

"Where is Miss Braddock?" Warwick asked as Mr. Braddock gave instructions to the driver.

"At her residence," Levi said, struggling to maintain the hold on his temper. "We chased an empty coach."

Warwick laughed, then sensing Levi's distress, he stopped mid-guffaw and clapped Levi on the back. "We'll find her."

Silence punctuated the carriage ride back to Miss Braddock's residence. Though Warwick appeared as though he wanted to speak, he held his tongue, his hands kneading the top of his cane.

When they reached the house, Levi and Mr. Braddock squeezed through the small coach door, raced through the break in the iron fence, rushed up the path toward the house, and ripped open the front door.

"Eveline!" Mr. Braddock screamed, running across the foyer and dashing up the staircase two steps at a time.

She appeared at the second-floor landing, her red hair loose and tumbling down over her shoulders, the vision causing Levi's heart to explode into triple-time.

"Ernest, has something happened?" She hurried toward him, freezing when she spied Levi at the base of the stairs. "Your Grace."

The warmth that greeted her brother didn't extend to him.

"What is he doing here?" she murmured, her voice tightening.

"I brought him," Mr. Braddock replied, taking her wrist. "He'd like a word with you before you depart."

Miss Braddock jerked her hand free. "He had an opportunity to speak with me and chose not to."

Levi placed his foot on the bottom step. "I regret that decision."

She slipped around her brother, marched down three steps, and planted her hands on her hips. "What did Ernest tell you?"

"That your previous fiancé is a dangerous man,"—Levi moved up another stair—"who threatened to harm not only you but those you love."

"That's not your concern." She lifted her chin, ignoring the whispered castigation from her brother.

Tilting his head, Levi climbed another step. "You don't love me?"

She flinched. "No."

"Had we just been introduced, I would have believed you, but…" He moved up one more riser. "Like your brother, I can tell when you're lying to me now."

Her mouth popped open, scarlet exploding across her cheeks. "How?"

"A tiny line appears on your forehead between your eyes." Levi reached out, the tip of his finger brushing the faint wrinkle. "Which means you do love me."

"It doesn't matter."

"It does." He grabbed her before she turned. "I behaved in a manner unfitting my title."

A tear rolled down her face and dripped onto his hand. She twisted away, rubbing her palm beneath her eyes.

"I accept your apology, Your Grace." She spoke to the staircase.

"Eveline." He drew her face back toward his.

Misery swam through her eyes.

"May I have a few moments to speak with your sister privately?" Levi flicked his gaze to Ernest.

Descending the staircase, Ernest shook his head. "Absolutely not."

"Come, Mr. Braddock." Warwick's buoyant voice floated up from the hallway. "What trouble could Lennox cause with just a few minutes?"

Mr. Braddock leaned over the railing, seeking Warwick. "You don't have any sisters, do you, Your Grace?"

"Thankfully, I do not," replied Warwick, his mouth twitching.

"Ernest," Miss Braddock touched his shoulder, "I swear not to close the chamber door."

"Neither of you will shut it." Mr. Braddock pointed his finger at his sister, then Levi in turn. "Understood?"

When they both replied to the affirmative, Mr. Braddock, quite reluctantly, descended the staircase and followed Warwick into the parlor.

Levi took Miss Braddock's elbow and guided her up the steps toward her bedchamber. She didn't speak, keeping her head down as they traversed the hallway. When they entered the room, Levi released her, turned, and closed the door, leaving less than a millimeter of space.

"You swore to my brother," she said, indicating the door with a graceful gesture.

"The door is not shut," he replied, gliding over. "I haven't broken my promise."

"You did to me." Her words stabbed him through the heart.

"I know." Sighing, he took her hands in his. "I swore not to harm you, then acted most cruelly toward you upon my first test."

"I forgive you," she said, her gaze dropping to his cravat.

He ducked his head, finding her eyes with his. "I'll not believe you unless you agree to marry me."

Her head whipped up. "Your Grace?—"

"Levi," he said, tightening his hold on her wrists.

"Levi." She offered him a melancholy smile. "Your title won't protect you from Humphrey. He doesn't care if you're a duke or even a prince."

"He should," Levi growled, his ire causing Miss Braddock to start and shrink away from him. "And neither he nor his sister will ever threaten my fiancée again."

He released her, allowing her to scurry backward.

"If she'll accept my proposal," he added, softening his tone.

Miss Braddock chewed her lower lip, glancing at her dressing table. "I'm not going to refuse you."

"That's a relief," he chuckled, exhaling the breath he didn't realize he'd been holding.

"However, I'm going to give you something, and afterward, you can decide if you want to propose to me." She trembled, but when he moved to embrace her, she darted out of his reach. "I'll understand if we never speak again."

He couldn't fathom what item she could possibly give him to provoke such a drastic reaction. Stroking his chin, Levi strode to the open trunk on her bed and peered inside at the meticulously arranged contents. His chest constricted.

"If the result of this gift is that we never speak again, I must refuse it, for I cannot imagine spending the remainder of my life with you and not talking." He closed the distance between them and wound his arms around her waist, molding her against his body. "Nothing will change my heart."

He placed a finger on her lips, stopping her retort.

"I realize I made that promise once before. Know that the time I spent thinking I'd lost you was agony, and I will not be parted from you again… for any reason."

She nodded once and unwound herself from his arms. Expelling a heavy sigh, she trudged to her dressing table and dragged the jewelry box to the edge.

"There's something in here that belongs to you," she said, rubbing her thumb over the wooden lid. "Something that I took."

"What is it?" Levi asked, sidling close enough to Miss Braddock to inhale the intoxicating lily of the valley scent that clung to her skin.

She lifted the lid, stuck her fingers into the box, and removed a small item. Then, she spun around and held out her arm. Peeling open her fingers, she revealed a gold band with a ruby stone.

His father's missing ring.