Page 58 of The Duke and the Hellion Bride

“Capture or trap?” Diana said before she could stop herself.

Lord Herrod beamed. “I told you when we first met that I always get what I want, did I not?” He stepped in closer to Evelyn, holding her as if worried she might flee. “In this instance, once I heard of your engagement, my attention turned to your cousin, and I could not be gladder for it.” He looked at Evelyn, seeming not to notice how uncomfortable she was. “Fate works in mysterious ways, but I find where my life is concerned, it always works out for the best. Wouldn’t you agree, Evelyn?”

“Y -- yes,” she said softly.

Something was clearly wrong. Of that, Diana had no doubt. Even if she did not know Evelyn the way she did, to look at her, one would think that Lord Herrod was blackmailing her into being with him. Diana did not believe for a second that this was a mutual arrangement, which made her wonder how it had happened. Further to that point, why Evelyn of all people had agreed.

Her cousin wasn’t one for marriage or love. She was closer to a spinster than anything, a fact which Diana had never begrudged her as she was happy and that was all which mattered. All that was to say, it only made this that much more concerning.

“So, tell me,” Diana started pleasantly, still trying to catch her cousin’s eye. “How did this little union come about? I would love to hear the tale.”

“I bet you would,” Lord Herrod chuckled. “Let me just say that Cupid was waiting in the wings. Love at first sight, for how it felt. Isn’t that right, Evelyn?”

“Yes,” Evelyn said softly. She then glanced at Diana quickly, an obvious cry for help.

Diana knew that she should have kept her thoughts to herself. That this was not her business. And that if it was, this was not the time. But she loved her cousin, she would do anything for her. Also, hating Lord Herrod as she did, meant that she cared little for how the man might react.

“Evelyn, is everything --”

“Diana!” Diana’s mother appeared as if from thin air. “There you are, dear.” She stepped into Diana and gave her a quick kiss on the cheek. “I have been looking all over for you.”

“Hello, Mother...”

“Ah, Lord Herrod.” Her mother turned and purred, offering a hand for the earl to kiss, which he did thusly. “And Evelyn. Oh, what a pairing the two of you make. I was just saying now, agreed by all, that the two of you together...” She exhaled and smiled. “A match made in heaven.”

“I could not agree more,” Lord Herrod said.

Ah, now I understand...

Her mother was to blame for this pairing. Of course she was. Having lost Diana to Magnus, she must have scrambled and pulled some strings to convince Lord Herrod to take a look at Evelyn instead. Or maybe Lord Herrod was easier to convince than that? Evelyn was a beauty, so there was no reason he would not be.

The confusion still lay in Evelyn, and why she was going along with this in the first place. How had her mother convinced her? Or forced her, more like.

“And your first ball together,” her mother continued to gush over the two. “The first of many.”

“I do hope so.”

“Evelyn, why the long face? Perhaps a dance – yes,” she said and then stepped forward as if she meant to direct them to the dance floor. “Lord Herrod, Evelyn is quite the dancer, you know?”

“Is she now?”

“She is. Evelyn? Tell him?” Her mother widened her eyes at Evelyn.

“I...” Evelyn forced a smile. “I am, Lord Herrod. And if you wish it, we may dance.”

“I shall take you up on that,” Lord Herrod said. “But first, I must visit the washroom. Lady Langham, if you might keep an eye on Evelyn for me...” He winked at her playfully. “I do not want anyone else trying to steal her.”

“Oh, stop it,” Diana’s mother cackled.

“I shall be back in a moment,” Lord Herrod said. “And then, that dance.” He smiled at Evelyn, and she forced a smaller one back. This seemed to please him, allowing Lord Herrod to let her go finally and then vanish in the crowd.

The moment they were alone, Diana’s mother turned on Evelyn.

“What is the matter with you, girl?” she hissed. “The least you can do is not act as if you are at a funeral!”

Evelyn winced. “Sorry. I did not mean... I am just tired.”

“Pish-posh, tired. I know this might not be how you envisioned your life turning out, but it is the best you could hope for. And after all I have done...” Her mother shook her head. “I expect you to be on you best behavior, Evelyn. Is that understood?”

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