An Earl's Guide to Catch a Lady (19 page)

“I don’t see why not, no one would suspect him helping us,” Jo murmured and Evelyn knew instantly who she referred to as ‘no one.’

“It’s not a secret that we all are good friends,” Evelyn pointed out.

“The great Viscount Weatherly involved in illegal activities,” Jo snorted. “No one would believe it.”

“Whether they believe it or not, they would have to prove it first, which would be impossible.”

Evelyn glanced slightly toward her left, where, through the half open door, she heard her brother’s footsteps. Jo followed her direction, each one of them having gone silent at the voice of her brother. They waited until they heard the door slam in the distance, signaling his departure, before they started to speak again.

“We should be more careful of speaking freely,” Evelyn murmured.

“I agree,” Jo responded with a nod.

Belle nodded too.

They all knew what was at stake.

“But, they would have to catch us first,” Belle said smiling.

Jo chuckled.

Evelyn managed a chuckle of her own although she really didn’t feel like laughing. She liked their optimism, but she didn’t share it. She would like to cry, weep, sleep and never wake up. But that would never do. The men were so determined to find out what they were up to that they had been forced to meet at unholy hours of the morning in secret. One morning in particular, Evelyn had opened her door to find her brother sitting against the wall across from her bedroom, asleep. The secret meetings stopped. They were now only speaking in code to Wesley.

A slight ripple of something peculiar stirred in Evelyn’s consciousness. A disorder of events, righting itself in her memory. Her breath caught in her throat and her eyes widened in shock and disbelief. As if observing a poorly acted scene at the opera, events unfolded in her mind.

The ridiculous wager of Lord Harry.

Her maid’s sudden illness.

Her carriage breaking down.

Her footman’s disappearance.

The shot that caused her horse to rear.

Damien’s appearance.

Simon not calling her out on her actions.

The reunion of the three men.

Like a lightning bolt striking the top of a tree Evelyn was hit with absolute realization, leaving her breathless and shocked. It had all been planned, from the very beginning.

“Evelyn?” Jo said worriedly.

“Are you all right?” Belle asked, a frown marring her beautiful features.

Evelyn glanced at her friends, then at the burning sensation on her legs. She had dropped her tea onto her lap. She jumped up, patting wildly at the wet stain spreading across her skirts. Her gaze flickered to the concerned faces of her friends.

“They planned it all along.”

“Who planned what?” Belle asked.

“My brother and his two… the lot of them,” she whispered dazed.

Taking Evelyn’s hand in hers, Jo asked, “What did they plan?”

“Everything.”

Belle frowned. “Wait, are you suggesting they are behind you meeting Grey and being compromised?”

Jo shook her head. “They could not have known she’d be compromised, but they would have wagered on the outcome,” Jo said, realization dawning.

Evelyn nodded. Yes, they could not have known whether she and Matthew would be attracted toward one another, but they had enough knowledge of both of them to take the chance. It was a grand diabolical plan, a plan that, if Evelyn hadn’t been so preoccupied with Matthew, would have seen a mile away. It was also the reason the plan had worked so brilliantly, because by the time realization dawned, it was too late.

Betrayal pierced her like tiny daggers stabbing into her heart.

Evelyn suspected there was more to her realization than just the obvious, like the reason her brother felt the need to act so devious to get her a husband, plotting and scheming behind her back.

“Everything makes sense now,” Evelyn whispered, looking down at her shaking hands. “Why Simon didn’t explode when Brahm brought me back home, why he didn’t act on anything I did.”

“I can’t believe they would stoop so low,” Jo said as she slumped back in her chair.

“I can,” Belle echoed.

“And I, the predictable Evelyn Tremaine, played into their hands like the fool I am, just as they must have expected I would.”

Jo paused. She looked at Belle. “They could not have anticipated your attraction to Grey.”

Evelyn shook her head. “They didn’t need to. They planned the setting to perfection, their timing perfect.”

“I remember that day,” Belle put in, turning her head in thought. “It rained heavily.”

“Yes,” Jo nodded her agreement. “I remember thinking you were crazy to travel to Bath in that weather.”

“That's my point,” Evelyn interjected. “It was planned to perfection.”

“Do you think Lord Grey was in on it?” Belle asked with a nervous glance at Evelyn, probably scared she would burst into tears. She certainly felt like she was about to crack open. Had Matthew known?

“I’m not certain, he seemed furious at the sight of Damien.”

Jo glared at the door. “We ought to teach them a lesson,” she said, disgusted at the entire male population.

“What a brilliant idea,” Belle responded.

Evelyn paused, collecting her thoughts. Yes, they deserved to be taught a lesson. “How do you suppose we accomplish that?”

She was met with two sly smiles.

Belle leaned forward and looked around; as if afraid someone might overhear her even though no one but them occupied the room. “You elope with Wesley.”

“What?” Good heavens, not this again. “I can’t marry Wesley.”

This was met with loud chuckles, and Jo finally said, “It won’t come to that. It only needs to look as though you’ve eloped with Wesley.”

“It’s perfect,” Jo continued smiling. “Your brother and Grey will give chase and it will serve as a valuable lesson to the both of them.”

Evelyn blinked, it might work. At the very least it would be fun. But it would accomplish nothing but a few hours of sport. They would still expect her to marry Matthew. It would be the final death blow to her freedom. Oh bother! Who was she kidding? Freedom was just a word she clung to. It had died with the introduction of the Earl into her life.

“And when is this elopement supposed to take place,” Evelyn asked resigned.

“A few days after the speculation of Madeleine Loveday’s disappearance has died down,” Belle responded, rather confidently.

“The speculation is never going to die down,” Evelyn contradicted.

Jo gave a slight nod. “No, but at least until the worst is over,” she said, shooting Evelyn a huge smile. “This is going to be so much fun.”

“Let us first survive the evening before we think about taking on the next big thing,” Evelyn murmured.

“But are you going to be fine?” Belle pressed once more.

Evelyn honestly did not know. She did however know that it seemed less and less likely that her dreams to travel the world would not come true and more and more likely that she would wed Matthew. Her lack of surprise led her to believe that even while she fought hard to cling to her freedom, deep down she knew from the start she’d fought a losing battle.

“I’ll be fine,” Evelyn murmured, wondering if it were true.

Walter cleared his throat in the doorway. “Madam, there is a-”

A woman Evelyn did not recognize sailed passed him, interrupting his introduction. Tall and lean, she displayed an air of elegance and sophistication, but on closer inspection the beauty and gracefulness that would have held any man and envious woman captive, was ruined by the malicious tilt of her mouth and coldness of her gaze, reminding Evelyn of a bitter winter night.

Slowly Evelyn stood, her friends flowing suit.

Shrewd eyes raked over Evelyn, taking in everything from the wet tea stain on her skirts to the messy hair that was pinned loosely together on her head.

“You are the reason the Earl of Grey returned to society? You.”

Evelyn stiffened. So this was the infamous Charlotte. Her eyes narrowed on her high forehead. Evelyn could tell this woman was used to intimidating women she deemed of lesser strength.

Evelyn wasn’t one of those women.

“I am to take then you are the reason the Earl left society?” Evelyn shot back.

Charlotte looked taken aback, but only for a mere moment before true hatred shone in her too big eyes.

“What are you doing here?” Jo stepped in and asked scathingly.

Charlotte spared her friend only the briefest of glances, before sauntering further into the room, her eyes on Evelyn.

“Why, I wanted to meet the woman who has ensnared my Earl, of course.”

“He’s not your Earl,” Jo remarked rudely.

Charlotte ignored her, her eyes never straying from Evelyn. “How did a plain, simple minded, boring little bookworm like you, captivate a man like that?”

Evelyn’s temper sparked, but she managed to rein it in. She took a purposeful step closer, lifting the corner of her lips only slightly. She saw the flash of uncertainty enter Charlotte’s eyes.

“I may be plain, but never will I be simple minded or boring.”

Charlotte gave a mirthless laugh. “Ah yes, there’s the spirit that would stir his interest. But let me be clear, girl, you will never have what it takes to keep him by your side.”

“Neither did you.”

Charlotte tilted her head. “What makes you think he has left my side?”

Evelyn’s mask slipped and Charlotte’s hawkish eyes did not miss it. She went in for the death blow.

“Where do you think I have been all this time while he was in the country,” she licked her lips at the implication, “and why do you think I am here now?”

Evelyn paled. It was a lie. It had to be. Matthew would never betray her like that.

Charlotte’s eyes glinted in pleasure. “It is true I had an affair, but make no mistake, he never left me, not in the way it matters.”

Evelyn wanted to be sick. No, she wanted to scream and then be sick, however, she settled for a simple, “Get out.”

The harlot’s eyes widened at her forceful tone.

“Get out, or I will drag you out by your hair and kick you down the stairs myself.”

The mental image brought a smile to her face.

“My, but aren’t you feisty one,” the harlot purred.

Belle and Jo took a step forward, straightening their shoulders, ready for battle.

The harlot lifted an elegant brow. “I shall go. I can see I am not welcome.”

“You never were,” Evelyn said in a soft threatening voice.

Charlotte chuckled, but turned to leave, “I hope I will see you at the Carrington Ball, little girl. It is said to be a spectacular evening.”

With those parting words she left, and Evelyn sank down to the ground, numb.

Chapter 17

The Carrington Ball was a huge crush and Evelyn and her friends observed the splendor of the crowd beside their usual potted plant. They were keeping a watchful eye for the arrival of the Earl of Grey and his former paramour, Charlotte. Her limbs were still numb from their encounter earlier that day, but she refused to let that woman get the better of her.

“I have decided to stay behind,” Belle whispered.

Evelyn and Jo whipped their heads her way.

“What?” Evelyn whispered back furiously, “We need you!”

“No, you don’t, you’ve got this in hand,” Belle replied, her voice barely audible above the orchestra playing.

Jo and Evelyn frowned at her.

Belle grabbed their hands. “Listen, if I stay behind I can help divert attention when Madeleine’s father learns she’s gone. I can help so suspicion does not fall on us. Besides, Lady Stockbridge will be attending with her lover in one of my gowns, while Lord Stockbridge is in attendance! I cannot miss that!”

“You’re supposed to keep an eye on the men,” Jo protested. “Much less be aware that Lady Stockbridge has a lover and find satisfaction in the whole disgraceful situation!”

Belle rubbed her hands together in glee. “Oh, as though you wouldn’t like to see that old lecherous hound be made a fool.”

“I pretend not to enjoy it.”

“Look, I’ve got the situation well in hand,” Belle explained patiently. “If you succeed in causing the most dramatic scene the ton has ever seen, then we won’t have any difficulty.”

Jo let out an exasperated breath. “You’re impossible.”

“I know.”

“I haven’t even met Lady Stockbridge yet,” Evelyn cut in.

“Neither have I,” Jo added.

“Don’t look now, but lover beau is heading this way, quite determined I might add.”

Evelyn looked at Belle. “Matthew is heading this way. He is here?”

“No,” Belle said with a sly smile, “The other lover beau.”

“Damn,” Jo muttered. “What does St. Aldwyn want now?”

And then they noticed it. A sudden buzz that filled the entire ballroom, people stopping to gawk at a sight they couldn’t see yet.

“Matthew?” Evelyn asked wide eyed.

Jo shook her head.

“Lady Stockbridge perhaps?” Evelyn asked, now curious.

“No,” Belle whispered back.

“How do you know?” Jo asked.

“I have it on good authority she won’t be arriving until later,” Belle said, craning her neck to see what the fuss was all about.

“What authority?” Jo asked skeptically.

“The lady herself of course, she wants to make an entrance with her lover. Apparently she rekindled an old flame, and she plans to flaunt him tonight in front of her husband and make quite the scene.”

“No doubt.”

“She told you that?” Evelyn asked surprised.

“Well no, she told the seamstress who in turn told me. I’ve never met the woman.”

“It’s her,” Evelyn said suddenly, “she’s here.”

“Lady Stockbridge?” Jo asked.

“No.”

“Yes.”

Evelyn and Belle said at the same time.

“Which is it?” Jo asked annoyed, not recognizing the woman lavishly dressed in one of Madam De La Frey’s scandalous gowns.

“Charlotte.”

“Lady Stockbridge.”

They both said at the same time again, staring at each other in horror as the realization struck.

Charlotte was Lady Stockbridge.

Matthew was her old lover. Her new lover? Had Matthew always been her lover?

Her husband was in attendance. Evelyn was in attendance.

Evelyn clutched her stomach. This was going to be the scandal of the decade, the scandal of a lifetime.

“Oh. My,” Belle said horrified with a few other expletives not fit for ladies ears. “I never once met Lady Stockbridge, I only recognized my gown.”

Both Evelyn and Belle stared at Charlotte, Lady Stockbridge in utter horror. She sauntered through the crowd hanging on the arm of none other than the Earl of Grey, flaunting their obvious relationship. The buzzing of the crowd grew as ladies tittered behind their fans, stealing glancing in Evelyn’s direction, some with pity and some with interest. By tomorrow word would have spread and she would be the talk of the town, gossip mongers relishing in her supposed humiliation. 

And even though Evelyn had known Charlotte would be in attendance tonight, this was not how she imagined it would be. Deep down, she never truly believed Matthew would still be involved with the harpy, mostly because he had hounded her tirelessly, courting her. She had believed she would be immune to the sight of them together. Oh how wrong she had been! Her heart felt heavy in her chest.

Evelyn inhaled deeply and then exhaled slowly in a painful attempt to gather her wits. You love him, you dolt. Her inner voice reprimanded her. She loved him. But stubbornness had cast a shadow her own denial. What did it matter whether her dreams of traveling the world came true or not? If it did, would she not have bothered to act on her plans?

“I don’t know if I can do this,” she gasped out.

Through blurred vision she watched as Matthew stiffly searched the crowd of faces, but had yet to find hers.

Jo put her hand on Evelyn’s arm. “There’s no reason to stay, we need not do more than what they have already done.”

She was right, Evelyn realized in dismay, her gaze flickering over their audience. Dozens of eyes that held nothing but unwanted pity waited for her hysterics, which she was expected to be overcome with at sight of Matthew in the arms of an old lover. Evelyn refused to look at the traitorous rogue. She expected such deviousness from Charlotte, but not from him. He had played her the fool.

“I’m so sorry, Ev,” Belle said, reverting to a nickname she rarely used, her face as white as snow. “I had no idea.”

“It’s not your fault. I will be fine, please don’t be sorry.”

Maybe if she said it over and over she would believe it.

“I don't like this at all,” Jo said. “Not one bit.”

“You go,” Belle said to Jo. “I’ll stay to deal with this. No one would expect her to remain after this.”

“It will cause an even bigger scene if she leaves now.”

“Exactly.”

“I’m standing right here,” Evelyn muttered. Her heart was breaking.

“This is good,” Belle said with a nod. “If you leave now not only will it cause a scene, it will give him the scare he so richly deserves.”

“I will be ruined.”

“You were ruined the moment you met him,” Belle said with a wink.

That was true.

“St. Aldwyn is almost on us, we need to leave now,” Jo said hurriedly, already dragging Evelyn to the door.

Where was Simon?

“Go, I’ll keep them here with my deadly stare,” Belle reassured them.

Evelyn appreciated Belle’s humor, but couldn’t bring herself to share it, or even smile. From across the room her gaze locked with Matthew’s and her heart hammered in her chest. For one brief moment the world narrowed on him. The tittering and music fading until she could only hear the sound of her heart beating wildly in her chest.

And then the woman on his arm laughed, bringing back with it all the tittering and music, and painful clarity. He was the cause of her pain, and he knew it. His expression remained blank, devoid of any emotion, but his eyes seemed to beg her for… something. She looked away before she embarrassed herself by bursting into tears. She was such an idiot!

Evelyn tried to remember everything she’d heard about Lady Stockbridge, but for the life of her she couldn’t remember anything, only that this was the woman who had, with vicious intent, broken up a friendship and caused the man she claimed as hers, to become a brooding recluse. Evelyn felt suffocated as horror seeped through her skin.

“You realize of course, there will be hell to pay if my brother catches us.”

Evelyn looked down at her costume with a skeptical eye. No one would believe they were maids. Worse, if her brother thought to comfort her after the Carrington Ball debacle he would notice she was gone. Not that she believed he would. He would wait until morning before he approached her. Like almost every male on earth he blanched at the sight of a woman’s emotions.

“There will be hell to pay if anyone catches us,” Jo commented wryly.

“Well, I for one will be leaving for my travels as soon as possible.”

“How convenient for you, I however don’t have the luxury.”

“Oh, hush,” Evelyn muttered, tiptoeing her way down another step. She surveyed their surroundings aware Jo followed right at her back. The wooden steps were narrow and steeper than the ones they used in the main hall. They could easily lose their footing if they rushed. 

“I must admit I find it relaxing to creep around my home like a burglar robbing us blind,” Evelyn whispered as she reached the bottom of the final round of stairs. “We should do this more often.”

“Lord no,” Jo muttered.

Evelyn glanced at her in amusement. “So dangerous parts of town and kidnapping members of the ton fall under your daily activities, but sneaking around a house creeps you out?”

“I never said I was perfect.”

Evelyn chuckled. “At least the stairs don’t creak.”

“A small miracle I’m sure.”

“Do you think Wes is waiting for us at the docks?”

“Saints, I hope so.”

Evelyn hoped so to. They had a narrow time frame before Madeleine’s disappearance would be noticed. She wondered whether Matthew would demand an audience with her. Her servants had strict orders to turn him away and if need be, shoot his knee caps.

But that’s not why she was worried. Madeleine’s father would realize she was missing at any moment. It was what made this endeavor so dangerous. What if Wes had been seen? What if they were caught? Evelyn stopped at the kitchen door to listen if anyone was inside. When they heard no one she opened the door and snuck through, exhaling the breath she’d been holding. Quietly they tiptoed to the door that led to the back entrance of the house.

“It’s eerily quiet,” Evelyn muttered.

Jo shuddered, silently agreeing with her friend. “I hate dark, quiet places, nothing ever good happens in them.”

They finally reached the back entrance and slipped out into the crisp night air, both inhaling the fresh chill as though just escaping a prison.

“We made it,” Evelyn whispered in relief.

“This wasn’t the hard part.”

An owl sounded in the distance, signaling for them. They ran down the street where James, the mountain, waited for them with an old worn out coach. He smiled as they neared him.

“Good evening ladies,” he greeted as he looked passed Jo at Evelyn. “Lady Evelyn, always a pleasure to gaze upon your lovely face.”

“Oh stop, you rogue,” Evelyn replied, rewarding him with a charming smile.

“Yes, please stop,” Jo said dryly. “Can we focus on the matter at hand? I needn’t remind you we are on a time frame.”

Evelyn chuckled as Jo marched past them and jumped into the awaiting coach. Excitement replaced the ache in her heart. Somewhat. If but for a small respite.

Evelyn winked at James and followed Jo. All appeared to be going according to plan. Perhaps too well according to plan? A faint stirring in her mind caused Evelyn a frown. What if everything had worked out too well?  She shoved those thoughts aside with a shake of her head. Everything would go as planned. It was why one made plans.

“Do you have the papers ready James?” Jo asked, breaking the silence that had ensued. 

“Yes, my surly brother managed to pull it off in record time,” James replied patting his coat pocket, a smile playing across his face. “It irked him no end to be called away at this time in the operation.”

“I imagine it had to be urgent for him to depart so suddenly,” Jo responded.

“No doubt that it is.”

Evelyn regarded James in bemused fascination. He was a conundrum. In her observations she had come to learn that he and his brother were the exact opposite of each other even if they looked the exact same. And while she had never seen him without a smile or in a foul mood, there was an underlining edge to him, like a tiger waiting to pounce. Whereas his brother was all surly, as James put it, an underlining gentleness seemed to exist underneath his hard exterior.

“Finally,” Jo exclaimed as the coach came to a slow halt.

Evelyn crossed her fingers and sent a silent prayer that Wes had been successful and he and Madeleine were now waiting for them on the docks. She jumped from the carriage, following James and Jo into the night air. Here it wasn’t so crisp and clean.

Studying her surroundings she saw no sign of Wes or Madeleine. Then two figures emerged from the shadows, and Evelyn breathed a sigh of relief. And wished she hadn’t. Her nose wrinkled as the sharp tinge of smoke and rotten fish entered her nostrils.

Jo rushed to Madeleine. “Are you well?” she asked concerned, noting her slight limp.