Seven

Zachary

I wanted to crawl into a corner and pound my head against a wall.

When Lady Joanna and I bumped into the two Brown sisters I could not think my fate could become any worse. It did . Seeing her standing before me, looking as beautiful as ever, even in a dreadfully dismal color, she smiled as though life might go on as before. Our friendship, our connection… and then I suddenly realized no matter how much I tried to avoid my yearning for Evie it may never ever come to an end.

“Lord Zachary?”

I shook my head, “Yes?”

Lady Joanna’s brows nearly met in the middle and a frown consumed her face. Why had I offered to bring her to Gunter’s? I didn’t enjoy our first outing when we rode at Hyde Park, and now I suffered through a second.

“You missed the introduction of my sister and her husband.” The lady’s face pinched unpleasantly.

“Yes, forgive me.” I bowed. “A pleasure.”

Lady Joanna studied me, though said nothing. We met at a soiree before I left to go to war the first time, three years ago, and became reacquainted upon my return, but I still had no inkling as to why I pursued her company. Perhaps, with so few social events during the Little Season , a desperate need to keep my mind busy was to blame.

And if I hadn’t committed to being there for Jaxon, I would have most likely ended up staying with Lucas or Hunter infringing on their new marriages.

As long as Frederick remained at Havenscrest with my father, I was not welcome. Playing the role of the younger, unwanted son of an earl took little effort, and I managed it quite well. Frederick made it known the last time we erroneously attended the same event that he despised me with every fiber of his being.

Since our father fell ill several years ago, Frederick took over the duties of the earldom as expected and had tried, quite unsuccessfully thus far, to cut me entirely out of an allowance while my father still lived. Though my relationship with my father had been strained growing up, I had worked hard to repair it before I departed for the continent. At least that was one relationship I brought closure to before I faced the possibility of death. It also helped that Father had grown softer as his ailment progressed and I had found ways to forgive.

But as I sat here in Gunter’s Tea Shop, half listening, nodding where I should as Lady Joanna spewed some sort of venom about misfortunate families, I tried to tune her out, that is until…

“Yes, she flaunted herself about on Bond Street, can you believe that? As if she had a proper claim to be there?”

My ears perked up. Normally I did not engage in idle gossip, but for some reason the hair on the back of my neck stood up.

Lady Joanna’s older sister, Katherine, had married Lord Drake, the heir to the Bastian earldom. Though the sisters were lovely per society’s flawed standards, when they snickered and cackled, ugliness emerged.

“Do you think she might attempt to attend any events when the Season begins?” Katherine asked. I glanced toward her husband who ignored them both and stared at a woman at an adjacent table.

“Who?” I asked.

Lady Joanna’s expression told me I would know if I had listened.

Katherine spoke up. “Why, Mrs. Turner, of course.” She tapped her spoon against her bowl of strawberry ice. “Just because she is now a wealthy woman does not give her invitation to be amongst the ton . Truly, if it weren’t for her money, she would have no market value. But mark my words, men of all ages, backgrounds, and stations will crawl out of their holes and gutters to seek her companionship. A treasure seeking frenzy will surely commence.”

Heat trailed my spine and settled into my cheeks. My tightened jaw prevented me from saying something I might regret. Might .

Lady Joanna glanced at me. “Oh, come now, Lord Zachary, you may be acquainted with her, maybe even be friends, but she is far from our echelon of standards.”

I took several long, steady inhales through my nose.

Katherine chuckled. “And did you hear that she has taken in her husband’s by-blow? Does she truly believe the boy has a chance?”

My eyes flashed to Katherine. “She has a child?”

Both women appeared surprised at my sudden interest.

Lady Joanna added, “The child of her husband and his mistress is hardly news. It surfaced in the gossip columns weeks ago.”

Evie has taken custody of her dead husband’s child? My mind spun. I never read gossip columns, but for once I wish I had. Though the sisters’ conversation continued around me, I suddenly felt ill.

Katherine attempted to whisper her next comment, but it wasn’t low enough. “I had heard from Drake’s father that Sir Colin had given his wife complete control of his cotton distribution. Like she could make all the decisions. Even before he died. What man in his right mind would do that?”

“Deplorable,” Drake mumbled as he pulled out a cigar, seemingly back in the conversation. “A woman in business is an insult to all hard-working men.”

“Not here, love,” Katherine spoke up. “I detest the smell, save it for your club.”

I had made a dreadful mistake having anything to do with either of these families and, at this point, I hardly cared what they thought about me.

“Drake.” I snapped my fingers and drew his attention once more from the attractive woman nearby. “Will you see Lady Joanna home safely? I have an urgent situation to attend to.”

Lady Joanna’s face puckered in the slightest provocation. “You cannot be in earnest.”

I bowed swiftly and moved toward the door. She grabbed my arm before I reached the lever and leaned in, as if she might spew her poison without her family hearing.

“Do not do this, Zachary,” she hissed. My brows lifted at her casual use of my Christian name to which she had not been given permission to use. “You will not abandon me.”

I turned and reached for her hand, unclasping it from my sleeve and bowed over it. “I am not abandoning you, Lady Joanna. I am leaving you in the capable hands of your brother-in-law.”

“I should have listened to my mother,” she snapped back with a scowl. “You are nothing but the spare. Despite your family name and handsome qualities, you have nothing monetarily suitable to offer a lady of my standing.”

I took a step backward only partially surprised at her attack. With her draw to gossip, Frederick’s lies about me certainly would have reached her ears. “Indeed.” I smiled. “Well, one might wonder why you agreed to accompany me at all as dreadful as it was.”

She lifted her chin. “I had nothing better to occupy my time.”

Arching a brow, I subtly shook my head. “Allow me to make this simple then. Be assured this is our final rendezvous, Lady Joanna. I have no further intention of ever engaging your time.” I then darted out the door without so much as a return glance.

A light rain had begun but I didn’t care as I sprinted, most ungentlemanly-like, in and out of shops to try and locate Eveline once again. I was an abysmal friend, and she had taken on the world. Not only had she faced the death and consequences of her father, but she also married to save her family, agreed to manage her husband’s English affairs, and was now a widow and instant mother of a child derived from betrayal. I should have been there for her.

I continued to search in all the shops a woman might be found in down Bond Street, but to no avail. As I searched, however, Lady Katherine’s words materialized in my mind with perfect clarity. “But mark my words, men of all ages, backgrounds, and stations will crawl out of their holes and gutters to seek her companionship. A treasure seeking frenzy will commence.”

And suddenly the reason why I could never pursue Eveline transpired as clear as day… well any other day not weighed down with dark clouds and rain.

Despite my regard for her before she wed and became a widow, she might only see my re-emergence as a means to her money.

I came to a sudden stop outside of Anjelica’s Modiste. Caution exploded in my mind. Frederick had made it his personal vendetta to make sure everyone in society knew my circumstances. Though I kept my finances and investments private, he disclosed to all who listened that I was not in a position of wealth. Would Evie think I am only seeking her out now because she has inherited?

The rain increased, but I did not move.

Despite my desire to see her, comfort her, and tell her the true feelings of my heart, I could never do so for fear she would equate my sudden interest and return to her finances.

I removed my hat and wiped the moisture off my face with my other hand, groaning over the disheartening thought.

I could never allow Evie to believe that her value and worth lay in her money. Therefore, I could never foresee a future with Eveline Turner.