Page 39 of Loving a Beast of a Marquess
“I have some news,” he said after a moment, taking the seat Lady Pevton had vacated, “but this must remain between the two of us.”
His mother frowned, but merely said, “Go on.”
Zachary had promised Evangeline that he would keep her secret, but his mother would not tell anyone, and he needed someone to talk to. Someone whose advice he could lean on. His mother was not the first person he would choose to turn to, but she was older than he, and age brought with it experience, which played a role in wisdom. And truth be told, he could not bear this burden alone.
“I found out yesterday, quite by accident, that the Duke is dead,” he said. “I do not know the manner of his death, but I understand it to be unfortunate, and one reason they have not revealed the truth.”
Of everything his mother had expected him to say, clearly this was not it. She gaped at him, eyes wide and brows caught together. “The Duke is… dead? Why, that makes you—”
“I know what that makes me.” He sighed. “Something I have no wish to be.”
“How could they have concealed it from you?”
“Likely because they have no wish for me to be the next Duke—as little wish as I have, in fact.”
“What will you do about it?”
“For now, nothing. I promised Evangeline I would take no immediate action even if I am now her guardian. They want to marry before the truth of the situation comes out.” He paused, struggling to find his composure. “Nothing can change for now, Mama. I gave my word.”
She eyed him, her lips tight with disapproval. “You ought not to have done. What a foolish thing to promise her, and a girl who has done you nothing but harm since you arrived.”
“She has been challenging,” he admitted, “but you’re wrong about her.”
“I cannot bring myself to like her.”
“I beg you would.” There was no reason his mother should, and no reason they would be connected in the future, but the thought that Evangeline should ever be held in dislike when she had looked at him with such candor, such gentleness, and such lack of judgment even though his body was so unpleasant to look at. She might have disliked him once, but he was certain she did not dislike him now. “And you must tell no one of this.”
“If you wish it, I shall tell no one,” she said, taking his hand, “but are you certain you know what you are doing?”
“I know nothing,” he said bitterly, “but what can I do except continue as I have been doing? The only thing I know is that we cannot stay here.”
She frowned and removed her hand from his. “I beg to differ. Why should we leave such a comfortable house, especially if you are now its owner?”
“The paperwork has not been done, the will not read; there are stages that come before I take possession of the Duke’s estate, Mother.”
“You may remove yourself if you wish, but I have no intention of leaving. After so long being on my own, having friends around me is a pleasure, Zachary. And I beg you would rethink your stance on the matter. Why should we leave when we have been so welcomed? Andespeciallyin light of this most recent news?”
The true reason Zachary wished to leave was to avoid Evangeline, but as he could not tell his motherthattruth, he capitulated and resolved merely to escape the house as often as he could so he would not have to meet her.
* * *
Evangeline was certain Zachary was avoiding her.
The news of her father’s death had not spread, so he’d kept his word, at least, but although she had resolved privately that she would not allow her feelings to get more caught up with the Marquess, the fact that he so infrequently seemed to be around irritated her. She was entertained by the Earl of Riffy, who came over every single day and sat with her and Emily or walked with them in the garden, and who danced with her at every ball.
But she said nothing more to Zachary than a brief greeting in passing when he was intent, it seemed, on being anywhere she wasn’t.
How irritating.
She didn’t expect marriage from him, but she did expect basic courtesy. Perhaps some more reassurance from him that he had no intention of telling a soul about her father or taking over his role as their guardian. Even if that role as guardian was just to turn her over into the care of her aunt.
Frankly, he was being downright rude, and she didn’t care for it. When she woke early and discovered him walking the misty garden alone, she wasted no time, therefore, in dressing and rushing out to meet him. When she reached him, however, she faltered. His expression was particularly forbidding, and when he finally turned and saw her there, his brows descended even further over his eyes.
“Zachary,” she said, gathering her composure and folding her arms, “you’ve been avoiding me.”
“What of it?” So, hehad, and he made no effort to hide it.
The shame that she had been fighting since their first encounter crept back over her, weakening her knees and sending a flush up her neck to her cheeks. Her breath caught, and she swallowed.
