Twenty-nine

Zachary

After Eveline departed Havenscrest, bringing about a sudden loneliness, I decided to keep myself busy and my thoughts occupied. I spent the morning writing letters to Hunter, Lucas, and Jaxon, though I suspected that they might learn of the good news of our engagement long before the missives arrived. The correspondence, however, was two-fold. I also needed to share the sad news of my father’s passing. I included an addendum to Helena and Gwendolyn, asking if they would see about taking on the preparations of a wedding the same time as the soiree. I doubted that they would refuse but hoped for their assurances.

I spent the remainder of the day in my bedchamber packing my belongings into trunks that I will have sent to Saltdean once it was confirmed I owned the property. If not, they will be sent to the new property I planned to acquire for Eveline and me. I will have no further reason to return to Havenscrest on any occasion in the future. My brother had made his demands for me to vacate quite clear and, while I will miss certain aspects of the estate and the grounds like Mrs. Dunlap and Cornelius, those fond memories are portable and travel well.

Not only had I asked that all my meals be brought in, I also insisted that I do the packing myself—an unchartered task if there ever was one. Though I was certain my organizational skills lacked severely, the undertaking helped to keep my hands and eyes thoroughly engaged and my mind off of how much I already missed Eveline.

Halfway through the day, I learned from Charlie that Frederick had returned to the house. I wondered if at any point he would speak to me. I had not heard him create a ruckus or holler and stomp his feet, so either he learned the will was impenetrable, accepted it, and chose to sever ties, or he did indeed find a loophole in the document and had nothing to worry about. With a history of deceit and treachery, his men of business likely accomplished the latter.

It did not truly matter either way. While receiving the cottage and the ￡5,000 would make a significant difference in my means to provide for Eveline, it did not change the truth that we would marry regardless. In fact, I planned to leave for London tomorrow morning to acquire the special license to marry. For when I returned to Gottling Hall, I intended on making Evie my wife in short order.

Later that evening, I glanced over my four trunks and two valises, then took a last look around my empty bedchamber. A pang of sadness stirred within my chest. While I had not actually resided here for years, not all my Havenscrest memories were filled with sadness, and the greatest reason for that was Eveline—the woman I was about to marry and spend the rest of my life with. And I could not wait for that to happen.

If, somehow, all worked out with the will and I received the cottage, I knew Eveline would fall in love with it, and Patrick would love growing up near the sea. I could not wait to show him the shell creatures and tide pools I grew up on. We could acquire a small sloop and take it out on the bay, and we would teach him how to fish and, especially important, to swim. The very idea of us becoming a family thrilled me to the depth of my soul and it was with those pleasant thoughts that I slipped into a contented, comfortable slumber.

The next morning, Mrs. Dunlap knocked on my door at half past eight. I had been awake for hours but had not yet dressed for the day. “Lord Zachary?” she called. I cracked the door open. “Your brother wishes to see you in his study.”

His study. Of course it was. “Thank you, Mrs. Dunlap.”

She gently pushed the door open and wrapped her arms around my waist and squeezed. “We will miss you, boy.”

I hugged her back. “I will miss you too.” Then I whispered, “And once I have a home, feel free to come visit, or stay permanently if you wish. I would love to employ the best housekeeper in Britain.”

She slapped my arm. “You best be careful what you wish for, Zachary!”

I laughed as I closed the door and strode toward the bellpull. In two quarters of an hour, I stepped out of my bedchamber dressed, refreshed, and ready for the next chapter of my life.

Taking the stairs down to meet my brother in his domain, I felt a lightness in my chest that could not be squashed by whatever he had to say. If I didn’t inherit the cottage, it didn’t matter; I had Eveline.

I knocked.

“Come in,” he said.

I entered to find the prince seated on his throne behind the desk.

“Take a seat.”

I arched a brow. His request sounded more like a command. One in which I had no obligation to adhere to.

He groaned, “Please, Zach, take a seat.”

I did.

He tented his fingers before his lips and stared at me for a significant amount of time.

I was losing patience and daylight riding time. “What is it you need to speak with me about? I’m off to London.”

“Oh?” He stood up and went to his sidebar and poured two drinks. “What takes you to London?” He walked over and presented one of the glasses to me.

“I, uh,” I peered at the amber tinted glass. I had not taken a sip in eight days and that is the longest it had been in years. “I will pass, thank you.”

“What? You?” Frederick pushed it into my hand. “I never knew you to pass up a drink with friends. I am your brother, drink with me.”

I clutched the glass. The liquid taunted my throat. Couldn’t I indulge in one drink to celebrate my change in fate like Frederick insists? What harm would one drink do? My heart palpitated harder.

“So why to London, Zach?” He swallowed his drink with very few gulps.

I lifted my chin. He would know soon enough. “I’m getting a special license to wed.”

“To wed?” He pursed his lips and furrowed his brows. “Mrs. Colin Turner?”

I narrowed my eyes. When did he learn who her husband was?

Frederick’s lips lifted into a sly smile. “I must truly commend you on your talents, Brother.”

I remained silent.

“I did not think you capable of such stratagem.”

“What are you talking about?” I snapped.

“Mrs. Colin Turner’s wealth, of course.” He refilled his glass and lifted it in a salute to me. “Manipulating the chit into believing that you cared for her. Quite brilliant, really. Something I wish I had thought of first.”

I stood to my feet, suddenly enraged. Somehow, he had always managed to hit the heart of my emotion. “My love for her has nothing to do with her money.”

“Come now. Do not fret. Your secret is safe with me…” He cocked his head sideways. “For the moment,” he whispered. Then lifted his fresh glass. “Let’s drink to your good fortune.” Pointing to the draught still in my hand, he urged me to proceed. “To you, Lord Zachary Collins, whom the gods are smiling down upon.” He ended with a sardonic chuckle. “Blast, Zach, drink! You must be thoroughly pleased with how your future is coming together. Father’s will… the wrong will, mind you, and then, as if that is not enough, you must get your hands on a wealthy woman’s inheritance.”

“I had nothing to do with Father’s will and I’ve already told you, I’m not marrying Evie for her money.”

“Indeed,” he murmured.

I set the glass down on the table beside the chair and clenched my fists at my side. While I was not known to engage in a physical row, I would not sit here and listen to Frederick disparage me or Evie. “Did I or did I not receive the cottage?” I only needed to hear the results from his lips, then I would quit the house, never to return.

Frederick’s face pinched and his smile turned into a deep frown. “It seems you have managed to somehow win this battle, Zach.”

I threw my hands in the air and shouted, “What battle, Frederick? We are not at war!”

“Oh, we most certainly are.” He opened his snuff box and sniffed a pinch of tobacco. “You may have gotten your hands on the cottage, but I cannot allow you to manipulate my dear friend, Eveline.”

“ Your friend?” I choked out. He had never been kind to her in childhood. At least not until he saw how beautiful she had become and then apparently learned of her money. “This is preposterous, Frederick. You have everything. More property and money than one man could need in ten lifetimes. What have I done to you that makes you hate me so?” I asked.

“What haven’t you done?” he retorted.

I rubbed the back of my neck and paced the room. “I know that we have not been friends since we were babes in the nursery, but I have never wished bad tidings upon you. I only planned to take what Father rightfully offered me and leave you be.”

His jaw tightened. “And I imagine that includes Mother’s ring?”

I stopped and crossed my arms over my chest. “Yes, I gave it to Eveline when she agreed to be my wife.”

Frederick’s smile curved snakelike. I half expected him to hiss when he spoke. “Yes, I saw the ring on her hand.”

I froze. “When?”

“We had a… one might call it a tête à tête… when we crossed paths on her way back to Gottling Hall.”

My body stiffened. “What did you say to her?”

He only laughed.

“I may be your younger brother, but I will no longer allow you to have power over me.” I slammed both hands down on the desk before him and he jumped at the sound. “What did you do, Frederick?”

He stood to his full height and, though I still had several inches on him, he oozed confidence. “I simply told her what she needed to hear.” He glanced at the ormolu clock on the mantle. “She should be reading my missive any moment now.” His eyes sparked with delighted vengeance. “And she would be a fool to marry you now.”

I shot out the study doors and ran straight for the stables as dark clouds amassed above me. The ride to Gottling was six hours in fair weather, five if I pushed it. Yet, if these clouds resulted in rain, my travel time could lengthen.

Regardless, the sooner I departed, the sooner I could learn of what fate befell me. My heart beat nearly out of my chest. What did Frederick say to Eveline? I did not put anything past my brother’s lifelong intentions of causing me grief. Learning he had lost the cottage to me must have sent him over the edge, leading to a far from genteel farewell. He might go to any length to destroy any semblance of happiness I desired and, right now, the only place that centered was with Evie… and he knew it.

As I readied Thunder for the arduous ride, I hadn’t even taken the time to pack a bag, I only grabbed my greatcoat to prevent me from being completely drenched if I got caught in a deluge.

I raced from Havenscrest along the road that led me back to Gottling. And throughout the torturous journey, I invented scenarios in which Frederick shared the worst of my poor decisions. Were there things I had done in my past I was not proud of? Certainly, but I believed everyone had those ghosts haunting them from somewhere. Had I regretted some choices? Absolutely. But from the moment I gave my heart to Evie, I vowed to allow nothing to come between us. Didn’t she know I would be completely and eternally devoted to her?

As the light raindrops escalated into an inundation of water accompanied by an unkind wind, my mind spun with fear. Eveline is the only person that mattered to me, and if she somehow believed Frederick’s lies and I lost her… nothing at all in this world would matter.