Page 76 of The Phantom Duke
“There is the Earl of Rochester,” she commented, “with a woman who is certainly not Lady Rochester. The man is shameless.”
“And are we open to gossip, Evelina?” Maria asked.
“Usually no, but when one is thrust into the midst of it, ignoring it becomes difficult.”
“Please try. I want to be ready when this gentleman arrives. We are here early for that reason.”
Evelina took a seat, looking at Maria with a raised eyebrow. “I feel as though I am taking part in some cloak-and-dagger enterprise. Very well, I will be serious. So, you wrote to thisgentleman who first wrote to you claiming to be the duke’s brother.”
Maria nodded, taking the two letters she had received from the man claiming to be Ezekiel Alaric and laying them on the table.
“I wrote to him saying that I believe Damien would benefit from a brother, from knowing he is not the only member of his line, but that he should be approached with caution as he is suspicious of strangers.”
“So, you offered to be an intermediary,” Evelina said.
Maria nodded. “If Ezekiel had written to Damien out of the blue, he would have received short shrift. I dread the thought of Damien burning this particular bridge before either of them gets to even set foot on it. Losing the chance to get to know his brother.”
Evelina put out a hand, and Maria handed her the second letter.
“He is very earnest in his gratitude and receptive to your plan. But says little else apart from this place and time.”
“Yes,” Maria said. “Nothing at all. I had hoped to be able to broach the subject with Damien, but there has been no right time in the last few days.”
“Is he still avoiding you?” Evelina asked, putting the letter down and pouring tea for them both.
“No. We had breakfast together yesterday, and he asked me to arrange a visit for Gilbert. I did so that day, and though Damien made himself scarce, he did not object or block it. Which is progress.”
“How you clutch at straws!” Evelina suddenly laughed. “Your husband shares one breakfast with you and consents to your adoptive child visiting, while he hides away. And that is progress?”
She sounded disbelieving. Maria sipped her tea glumly, hearing how it sounded when she spoke it aloud. But… she could not speak to her friends about curses.
“I know! I know!” she said. “But you do not understand Damien, or Winterleigh. You really don’t.”
“I do not. I would like to shake the man, I really would,” Evelina said, hotly. “His behavior is childish to say the least.”
Maria laughed at the idea of Evelina shaking Damien by his lapels. Damien was a mountain compared to Evelina. She wondered how he would react to being scolded for his behavior.
He would eject her from his house and forbid her from ever returning. Would I be next?
That diluted her amusement. She stared into the tea, wondering if it would ever come to a choice between Damien and Evelina. Damien would not make her choose. She realized that she wouldrather dismiss the notion than contemplate what her choice would be.
Of course, I would choose my closest and oldest friend. Of course, I would choose the Corset Chronicles Club. Of course I would…
But the idea of Damien turning his back on her, shrugging his shoulders helplessly and informing her that if he was not her foremost priority, then they didn’t have a marriage, was unbearable. Maria was falling ever deeper under his spell, her heart wrapped around his like ivy climbing the trunk of a thrusting beech.
“Come to think of it. If it comes to it, I would like you to say that you took matters into your own hands. That you wrote to his brother and invited him here,” Evelina said seriously.
Maria smiled, reaching across the table to squeeze her friend’s hand in gratitude.
“I would not let you face his ire alone, but thank you for the offer,” Maria said.
Evelina waved it aside. “It is no skin off my nose to deal with some of his bluster. What could he do to me?”
There was a respectful tap at the door, which opened to admit a member of the serving staff.
“Master Ezekiel Alaric,” he announced, stepping aside.
Maria found herself looking at a tall, slender man with curling fair hair and bright blue eyes. His cheeks were high and his jaw strong, lips slightly pouting. He was beautiful, rather than handsome, with a hint of femininity about him. His beauty seemed too perfect.
