Chapter 15
Evie knew it was a mistake to marry Jeremy. Even though they weren’t really married. She’d moved into the marchioness suite and stared at the door separating her bedroom from his for the past three nights. Wondering. Hoping. Dreading. Hoping again. Then chiding herself for thinking such foolish, wicked thoughts. Only to start the whole wretched process over again.
When the mission was resolved and Viper and his Nest couldn’t harm anyone anymore, she’d skip off to France with Belle and not give Jeremy another thought.
Liar.
With a sigh, Evie shook her head and left her room to wait for Jeremy downstairs. She’d worked for months, believing she had finally wrenched the man from her heart. Only to have him sneak back inside within five minutes of being around him once again. What she needed was distance, she told herself, then frowned as she stepped down the last step. That would be impossible for a while longer. Especially now that they were, as far as the world was concerned, married.
Married to Jeremy. She came to a halt in the center of the hall, the hem of her emerald-green dress swirling around her ankles, and she pressed her knuckles against her lips. That had been a dream for so long, but she realized she had been in love with a charming rogue. A man everyone worshiped, who could do no wrong, who always said and did the exact right thing.
But that wasn’t the real Jeremy. He’d given up his life to work for an organization that helped people. He rescued women he didn’t even know because they had no one else to help them. Evie swallowed back a groan. He allowed the world to believe he had seduced and then married a lady to secretly save her life.
The real Jeremy was even more dangerous to her heart.
Footsteps brought Evie around, face to face with the man who continuously flooded her thoughts. His eyes raked up and down her low-cut evening dress and a wolfish smile slowly spread across his lips. “You look exceptionally beautiful this evening, my lovely pet,” he said in a soft purr.
So do you, she wanted to say. Evie didn’t want to admit it, but Jeremy in evening black always did strange things to her insides. She quivered and went hot and cold at the same time. Just as she was doing now.
He reached out and she held her breath as he lifted the glowing square emerald resting just an inch above her cleavage. “The Fielding emeralds never looked better,” he said. When his fingertips grazed her bare skin, she couldn’t stop the odd sound in the back of her throat or the fire that erupted low in her abdomen. Her breaths came out shorter and faster, and because she couldn’t stand another second of the delicious torture, she stumbled back a step, off balance.
That only made things worse. Jeremy reached out and pulled her to him. “Easy, pet,” he whispered into the top of her head. “I won’t see you hurt.”
Evie closed her eyes against the onslaught of emotions warring within her. She took a shaky breath, inhaling his clove and cherry scent, then raised her head. That was a terrible mistake. His hazel eyes grew dark and filled with wicked promise as he glanced down to her lips and back.
Carefully, Evie stepped back. She crossed her arms as though suddenly chilled. “It’s too late for that, I am afraid,” she admitted in a quivery voice.
When he cocked his head to one side, drawing his brows together, she wanted to tell him why it was too late for her getting hurt, but stopped herself in time. Instead, she glanced toward the stairs. “How is Myran?”
Jeremy blew out a breath and nodded. Amelia said earlier he will keep the use of his legs. The feeling in them is returning.” Then he frowned. “Although I believe he would be happy to stay in bed forever so long as Mrs. Fagan keeps bringing him heaping trays of minced meat pies, all the while clucking over him like a long-lost chick.”
That made Evie smile. “I am happy to hear he is recovering so well.” Then she remembered it could have been Jeremy lying there instead. She clenched her hands together before her, knowing it was all her fault. And that was the reason she could not face poor Myran. Not just yet. Not until the guilt subsided long enough to have a decent conversation with him. Where she could apologize without sobbing all over the man.
Jeremy seemed to know her thoughts and gave her an earnest look. “You are not at fault, Evie. Quit blaming yourself.” Then he rocked back on his heels. “Are you ready?”
Evie frowned. “Is it too late to change my mind about tonight?”
He flashed a quick smile and turned toward Bentley, who held Evie’s matching green cloak in his hands. Then Jeremy surprised her by taking the cloak and settling it around her shoulders himself. He lifted the mass of curls Alice had arranged back into place, grazing her neck with his fingertips. The contact sent bolts down to weaken her knees and freeze her breath in her chest. She stared into his heated eyes, knowing his naughty thoughts. Knowing her own betraying thoughts were just as naughty. She wanted him. He wanted her. The atmosphere between them charged with sensual tension and grew day by day, swelling, nearly boiling over.
Jeremy was patient with her, never going too far, although she could tell how much he wanted her. It was in his smoldering gazes, in his lingering touches. He would allow her to decide just how far things would go between them. And that worried Evie more than if he were to just toss her over his shoulder and carry upstairs.
Evie drew in a shaky breath and turned away, not at all certain what would happen if it reached the point she could no longer resist him. If she did give in to her overwhelming desire for this man, how would she ever have the strength to leave when the time came? Yet, it was either leave him or watch him leave her again. She straightened her spine, steeling her resolve to keep her longings in check. This time, she would be in control. This time, she would be the one to leave without a backwards glance. And she would only be able to do so if she did not give in to him. So long as she did not give Jeremy the last piece of herself, one that he hadn’t yet claimed, then she would have the strength to say good-bye. Keeping her maidenhead would be her salvation.
Evie clapped her hands together and laughed when she learned her friends had fought over who would host the party to celebrate her wedding. In the end, Megan had won out, claiming oldest friend privilege. Torie, who had argued she had known Evie longer, had to admit she hadn’t gotten so close to Evie until Megan brought them all together. Silver and Amelia had to agree and the Claremont town mansion had been quickly transformed to host the most important gala of the year. Jeremy’s wedding celebration.
Sipping her champagne, Evie watched the teary-eyed young ladies sob, some not so quietly, into handkerchiefs. She wanted to roll her eyes. Others shot her looks of pure hatred and Evie smiled triumphantly, making them turn away. She wondered if a few of them would try physical violence before the evening was over. Good thing Belle had insisted on self-protection techniques, teaching her that women could be more violent than men at times.
Then her gaze wandered back to Jeremy, as it had dozens of times in the last hour. It worried her how stiff and uncomfortable he presented himself to the commiserating audience surrounding him. The brooding eyes and downturned lips. He even drank much more than usual this evening.
Oh, he had warned her in the carriage ride to Claremont he would behave in such a manner. After all, he had run from any mention of marriage all his life. He could not seem pleased in the least.
Evie narrowed her eyes. Did he have to act the part so well, though?
“You are deep in thought. Think you made a mistake?”
Turning to Megan with raised brows, Evie didn’t know how to respond for several seconds. She set aside her empty flute and took a fresh glass of champagne from a passing servant. “That is a good question.”
Megan glanced to Jeremy, her amethyst eyes narrowing to slits. “I wish, for once, he would put on an act and just pretend.”
Evie nearly dropped her glass. She didn’t know if it was the amount of champagne she’d already consumed or something else, but a giggle escaped her lips, quickly followed by a hiccough. Then she giggled again.
When Megan turned back to her with brows raised, Evie drank more champagne to swallow down a fresh batch of giggles. Then her friend pulled her behind a huge white marble column and spoke quietly. “Evie, what happened? Did he seduce you?” she asked, concern glistening in her eyes.
Now, what was she supposed to say? With a nod, Evie gave another hiccough. “Yes.” Then she shook her head. “Er, no. I seduced him.” She waved a hand from her bosom to her thighs. “He couldn’t resist.” A giggle slipped out. “We couldn’t resist each other, really, and spent the entire night in each other’s arms.” She gave what she hoped a wistful expression. “I was thoroughly…” she hiccoughed, “deflowered. And when the morning came, I made him take me straightway to Scotland.”
Megan scowled. “He could have given you a proper wedding. Why, the blasted scoundrel could have called the banns. That would have given us plenty of time to make arrangements.” She crossed her arms with an angry hrumph. “Or he could have gotten a special license.”
Evie bit her lip, then shrugged. She had already lied to her friends so much, a few more didn’t really matter. “No, no. I forced the issue. It was my choosing, Megan. Truly. I-I couldn’t give him the chance to change his mind.” People had to believe the charade and think she forced this on Jeremy. It wouldn’t work, otherwise.
Megan was still clearly upset at Jeremy and continued to send him angry look pricks from across the room. She threw out her arm. “Will you look at him? The rogue is flirting with yet another woman.” She hissed out an angry sigh. “Not half an hour ago, I overheard Lady Wesley tell Lady Skeffington she is glad Jeremy is married because his home is no longer off limits. The woman went on and on about how she can come to him now for their pleasurable visits.” Megan rolled her eyes over to Evie. “Those were her very words. And she admitted Jeremy was quite receptive of the idea.”
Evie gulped back her champagne and reached for another. She hadn’t thought about what she would do regarding Jeremy’s women. He dallied with many of them, surely. Lady Wesley had been openly bragging about the liaison for two months. Evie had no idea what she would do if those women started showing up at Jeremy’s house.
“Speaking of the very devil, Evie. Lady Wesley just greeted Jeremy with an indecent curtsey. Now she is holding her hand out for a kiss.”
Unable to help herself, Evie turned in time to see the familiar wolfish smile appear across Jeremy’s lips as he took Lady Wesley’s bejeweled hand and press quite a lingering kiss right on top. The woman leaned forward as he straightened and whispered something into his ear. Something that turned his smile wicked and made him whisper something in return. Evidently, she liked what she heard and nodded several times, then she gazed up at him with open, raw hunger and pressed even closer to his side.
Evie couldn’t stand to look another second and wheeled back around.
Megan shook her head. “I should go right over there and do something.”
“No, don’t.” Evie touched her friend’s arm. “I love how much you care about me, Megan, but if you truly care, please just leave him alone.”
After several seconds, Megan turned back to her with drawn brows and sadness in her gaze. “I had wished for you a husband like my Nicholas, Evie. Truly, I did.”
Swallowing back the sudden hot press of tears clogging her throat, Evie gave her friend a long hug. “I know you did.” She pulled away and gave a bright smile. “Perhaps, one day, Jeremy will be happy with me.” And as she said those words, an idea sprang to her mind. Perhaps it was the champagne bubbles muddling up her thoughts, but once the idea had taken root, she could think of little else.
Evie brought her glass up to her lips as she watched Jeremy lead Lady Wesley to the dance floor. Then she spied Ghost speaking to several people near the refreshment table. She turned to Megan. “Do not worry so much about me, my friend.” Setting her glass aside, she squared her shoulders. “I will let nothing make me unhappy. Now, if you will excuse me, I see my next dance partner.”
A smile sprang across Megan’s lips. “You, dearest Evie, are a brave girl. By all means,” she threw her arm out, “have some fun this evening.”
Evie took a deep breath and walked to Ghost. She did not glance in Jeremy’s direction. When everyone quit speaking, Ghost turned to her, his brows shooting up to his hair. “Lady Fielding,” he said and gave a bow, his smile growing as he straightened, “I’d like to congratulate you on your marriage.”
“Lord Bentwood,” she purred, dipping into a low curtsey, “I am delighted to see you here.” When she straightened, she could read the flash of surprise as he tried to discern her flirtatious behavior. She allowed her lips to curl up at the corners as she placed a hand on his arm, rubbing gently in a circle. “Please, do not let me intrude on your conversation.”
Ghost shook his head, a smile springing to his lips. Once again, he was allowing his facial hair to grow out and Evie thought him most handsome with the shadow along his jaw. “You can never be an intrusion, my lady. Perhaps, you would like to dance?”
Her smile widened, for he finally asked the very thing she wanted, and she nodded. “I would be delighted.”
She placed her arm in his and they swirled into the waltz. Lord Bentwood danced quite well, although not as well as Jeremy. Then she chided herself for thinking such a thing and resisted looking anywhere other than kind brown eyes that crinkled slightly at the corners when he smiled.
He leaned forward and spoke quietly into her ear, looking for all the world as though he were flirting outrageously. “Belle has told us what has happened and that Montague is not Viper. In addition to the army Jeremy has hired, we have people watching out for you as well. You will be protected, Falcon.”
Evie widened her smile as though Ghost just said something sinfully suggestive. The fact that he still called her Falcon told her everything she needed to know. Not only had everyone been informed she and Jeremy weren’t really married, she was still a Guardian. Turning her head, she whispered, “How are Blade and Dragon?”
“Doing very well.” He pulled her a bit closer. “Thanks to you. We have them safely hidden away where Viper’s men can’t find them. They can’t stop speaking about you.”
Evie wanted to ask a dozen more questions, but the song ended. She glanced around and did not see Jeremy anywhere. Lady Wesley was missing as well. A pox on them both, she thought sourly, and lifted a fresh glass of champagne from the offered tray.
When Jeremy did manage to resurface an hour later through the doors leading out to the garden, Evie gave the man a good frown and turned back to her friends. Megan’s grunt of outrage had her spinning back around, just in time to see Lady Wesley entering through the very same doors. Even knowing she shouldn’t feel so miserable about what they were likely doing out there in the garden, alone, she couldn’t help it. The deep wound of betrayal burst open and bled crimson.
Evie wanted to stagger off into an empty room, throw her head back, and release anguished, bitter tears. She knew full well she had no right to feel the way she did. Jeremy had spoken honestly with her, even informed her he would not change his behavior this evening, but the hurt was there, nonetheless.
This was exactly what she feared would happen. Since Jeremy had sneaked back into her heart, he had the ability to hurt—no destroy—her. If only he wouldn’t flaunt the women right before her eyes in such a way.
If only he had eyes for her alone. There had to be some way to make him yearn for her. Some way to make him think of her at all times. Some way he…
Evie nearly choked on her drink. Yet, the more she thought about it, the better the idea sounded to her. If she didn’t have to worry about Jeremy parading his lovers through the house, she could concentrate on her mission of discovering Viper’s identity. And if Jeremy could feel the tiniest bit of regret when she left for France, even better.
She smiled slow as she watched the women flock around Jeremy, liking her idea very much.