Nine

Zachary

2 October 1815

Trotting down the lane at Gottling Hall brought forth the memory of last December when I’d stayed here with Hunter. We were trapped within its walls for five days due to a ruthless snowstorm before we could return to London and to his new bride, Gwendolyn.

Fortunately for us, this time, the explosive colors of autumn kept the wintry weather at bay and enhanced the half day’s ride from London. Jaxon rode beside me on his gray mare, Chesapeake. This was the first time he had ridden his horse this far. These last couple of weeks, we had taken short jaunts around Hyde Park, Chelsea, Greenwich, and as far as Belvedere, but nothing this far in distance and, while a carriage would have been significantly easier, Jaxon sought to stretch himself and test his recovering strength. Though at this precise moment, upon our approach, exhaustion clouded his features.

Jaxon and I were met at the door by Hunter and Gwendolyn.

“Welcome to our home,” the lovely Gwendolyn said as she smiled and curtsied.

I could not be happier for my friend and his good fortune. Lady Gwendolyn Bissett, now Matthews, was not only a diamond of the first water, but the warmth and kindness she consistently bestowed contradicted her former nickname, The Ice Princess.

I bowed over her hand. “I’m pleased to be here, Lady Gwendolyn, and most thankful it’s not Hunter and me occupying the fire in your library any longer.” Her cheeks blushed while she laughed. This told me that the two of them had quite readily enjoyed the cozy hearth.

I winked in Hunter’s direction as he introduced Jaxon to her for the first time. While our friend had resumed wearing the finest fashions London had to offer, we still had not seen the old Jaxon come forth. His once outgoing and affable disposition had shifted to a more reserved and, at times, reclusive manner. And because we all knew that each of us had left something on the battlefields of war, we never pressed.

Hunter embraced us both in his usual brawny way. “Come, get settled and meet me in the study.”

“Is Lucas here?” I asked.

“Everyone is here,” Mrs. Gentry said as she entered from another room. The formidable housekeeper who nearly took a switch to me last December for bringing the pregnant Lady Baxter to Gottling had not changed one bit. “You two are the last to arrive.”

“Everyone?” I chuckled as I reached for her hand to kiss her knuckles.

Growling, she pulled her hand away and smacked my forearm. “Enough, you wicked man.”

This caused me to laugh harder. “Just how large is your house party, Hunter?”

Hunter chortled. “Do not fear, there are plenty of unattached women to entertain.” He laughed unbounded, then quickly added, “Properly.”

My friends knew I had never compromised a woman, though I had earned the reputation of being a relentless flirt and was often teased mercilessly over it.

After we were shown to our bedchambers and settled in, our borrowed valets set about unpacking while the four of us met in Hunter’s study. While his father, the Duke of Chilton, still lived, Hunter had moved into the heir’s position with grace and worked diligently to understand the workings of the dukedom honorably, far improved over the efforts of his twin brother before he died.

Hunter poured us each a glass of sherry then raised his tumbler toward us as we sat in his ornately designed wingback chairs surrounding a black marble table with ebony trim. “To my friends and your safe return.” He eyed Jaxon pointedly. “And despite everything we have faced, and continue to face, we are alive.” A grim reality lingered heavily in those words for the many men who did not return.

We each stood to our feet and raised our glasses. “Here, here,” we said in unison, clinking them together and finishing them off at varying speeds. I, naturally, had mastered the two-swallow and walked over to his sideboard to pour another.

“I still cannot wrap my head around the fact that you both are married,” I said, shaking my head in disbelief. Though Lucas didn’t openly make a comment, his eyes fell to my replenished glass. Both he and Hunter had cautioned me repeatedly about my increased drinking, though I didn’t believe I drank more than the average gentleman.

Walking over to the window, I glanced out over the picturesque gardens. Hunter, or I might venture to say Gwendolyn, had spent the summer here restoring Gottling to its former beauty after Josiah neglected it for far too long.

The beautiful estate included a significant portion of woods nearby, certain to provide for an adequate ride and hunt and a substantial pond for boating and fishing. As I finished off my second glass, I observed two women out the window walking arm in arm toward the gardens.

“Helena has already taken to the grounds.” I chuckled and glanced at Lucas. I recognized the color of his wife’s brown hair from behind. “And her frien—” I choked and sputtered. “What the devil?” I shouted.

The three men quickly joined me at the window, fearing some sort of harm had come to Helena. I pointed to the woman who walked beside her and, though she did not face us, I would recognize her figure and auburn locks anywhere. “You invited Evie?”

I spun around to see Hunter shrink back a bit at my outburst. He swiftly pointed to Luke. “His idea.”

I peered over to my friend as if he had lost his mind. Then I glanced back at the woman who no longer wore black and wondered why she left mourning so soon. “Why?” I scowled. “And why did you not tell me?” I looked to both men who, from the twitches around their mouths, were trying not to laugh.

“This is not funny!” I yelled.

Lucas stepped over to appease me. “Calm yourself, Collins, Evie was ready.”

“Ready for what?” I risked a peek again only to see how the lavender gown she wore complimented her curves.

“To enter life again.”

“Her husband only died six months ago. She shouldn’t be here.”

Lucas’ countenance bordered anger. “There’s a lot you do not understand.”

“What’s to understand? She’s a widow, wealthy from the rumors I’ve heard and…” my words faded as I continued to watch her. She laughed at something Helena said and my pulse increased. I had not seen her this happy in a very long time. “What do I not understand?”

Lucas stood beside me only now he crossed his arms over his chest. “If you had gone to visit Evie, she would have told you.”

“Told me what?” My nostrils flared. “That she is raising the illegitimate child of her husband and his lover?”

“You know?” Lucas’ arms fell to his sides in surprise.

“I heard,” I grumbled and grabbed the decanter to pour a fresh glass.

“There is more to it, but it’s not for me to say.” Lucas’ disappointment felt as palpable as the glass I held between my fingers. “Be her friend, Zach. Something you haven’t done for a long time.”

I sneered at him. “Don’t chastise me, Luke. Not about the drinking, and definitely not about Evie. She made a choice and married a man who treated her like one of his assets.” I circled around and pointed a finger at the men. “I can’t believe you two invited her here. She will be persistently hounded by the likes of Viscount Glade and Sir Charles the moment they see her. And with her money, she is not safe from anyone.”

“Including you?” Hunter dared add.

“Especially me,” I snapped and walked out, slamming the door behind me.

Returning to my bedchamber, I tried in vain to force my pulse to slow down. A storm of anger raged inside me. What I had said about Evie’s money was true. She would be the target of every fortune seeker on this side of the Thames, and the moment she returns to London, the other side will eagerly join.

But what nobody seemed to know was that even before the addition of her wealth, Eveline already possessed the perfect combination of beauty, intelligence, and kindness, and she probably didn’t have a clue how alluring this made her.

I did not lie when I said Evie would be more than a temptation to me and this was about to become the most taxing month of my life.