Page 68 of The Duke's Accidental Wallflower
“Yes, Your Grace,” Hargrove replied with a slight bow, though his unease lingered.
Evan rubbed a hand over his face, the strain of the past few weeks weighing on him. Every ball, every soiree, every encounter seemed to pull him closer to the precipice of something he wasn’t sure he could face. Staying in London only heightened the risk of running into Minerva, of seeing her and being reminded of everything he couldn’t have.
He turned back to Hargrove, his voice softening just a fraction. “Have the trunks loaded and the carriage prepared by tomorrow morning.”
“Yes, Your Grace,” the butler replied, though his pen hovered over the notebook as though he wanted to ask another question. After a moment’s hesitation, he added, “And the invitations for tonight’s ball? Shall I decline those as well?”
Evan hesitated, his mind catching on the evening’s event. He had intended to attend out of obligation, to distract himself with the noise and trivialities of theton. But now, the thought of enduring another evening in Minerva’s orbit left him cold.
“Yes,” he said finally, his voice resolute. “Decline them.”
Hargrove bowed again and retreated, leaving Evan standing alone amidst the chaos of his household’s preparations. He should have felt relief at the decision—at the thought of leaving London behind and the weight it carried—but instead, a hollowness settled in his chest.
He walked toward the drawing room, seeking solace in the quiet space. The polished mahogany furniture gleamed in the afternoon sunlight, the room’s opulence a stark contrast to the turmoil within him. As he poured himself a glass of brandy, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed through the hall.
The door opened, and Hargrove appeared, his usually composed expression tinged with surprise. “Your Grace, you have a caller.”
Evan frowned, setting down the glass. “A caller? I left instructions that I was not to be disturbed.”
“Yes, Your Grace,” Hargrove said, his tone careful. “But Lady Minerva Bellington has arrived.”
Evan’s heart stilled for a moment, a flicker of irrational hope sparking within him. Minerva. Was it possible she had come to see him? That she had sought him out?
He moved toward the door, his steps quicker than usual, only to find himself slowing as he reached the threshold. With one steadying breath, he entered the room, his gaze scanning for the familiar sharpness of Minerva’s features.
But it wasn’t Minerva who awaited him. Instead, her younger sister, Chastity, stood near the center of the room, her hands clasped tightly in front of her. She looked both nervous and determined, her blue eyes meeting his with a mix of uncertainty and resolve.
“I am sorry for the unannounced visit, Your Grace,” Chastity began, her voice soft but resolute. “I know this isn’t proper, but I felt there was no time to waste.” She hesitated, her gaze searching his, and she seemed to steel herself before continuing. “I have come to intervene on my sister’s behalf.”
Evan’s confusion deepened, but he forced himself to listen, even as dread coiled in his gut. “Intervene?” he echoed, his voice tight.
Chastity nodded, her expression grave. “Yes. You see, Lord Gillies is planning to propose to Minerva. He has already spoken with my father and intends to make his proposal during their walk at Hyde Park.” Her lips pressed into a thin line, and she clasped her hands together, her knuckles turning white. “I know Minerva well enough to say that she will likely accept his proposal.”
Evan’s chest constricted, the air feeling thick and heavy around him. “She... she would accept?” he asked, his voice hoarse.
Chastity sighed, her sadness evident. “Yes, because she believes it is the correct choice. She thinks she has no other options. After everything that has happened, she’s too hurt and wounded to see clearly. She’s convinced herself that marrying Lord Gillies will bring her stability, even if it means sacrificing her own happiness.”
Evan’s jaw clenched, and his hands curled into fists at his sides. The thought of Minerva marrying another man, especially one as calculating as Lord Gillies, made his blood boil. But before he could say anything, Chastity continued.
“Lord Gillies’s intentions are not pure,” she said, her voice gaining strength. “My fiancé overheard him bragging at White’s. He was boasting about how he had finally bested you. This proposal isn’t just about Minerva—it is about revenge. He sees her as a way to humiliate you, to win some twisted competition he’s imagined between the two of you.”
Evan’s anger flared, his teeth gritting at the revelation. “So he’s using her,” he muttered, his voice low and dangerous. “He’s making a game of it.”
Chastity nodded, her eyes wide with a mix of fear and determination. “Exactly. And I cannot stand by and watch Minerva make a decision that will trap her in a loveless, manipulative marriage. Even if she cannot see it now, Lord Gillies will never make her happy. She deserves better than to be a pawn in his game of vengeance.”
Evan’s mind raced, the guilt and anger warring within him. He took a shaky breath, trying to grasp the situation fully. “But why?” he demanded, his voice rough with confusion. “Why does Lord Gillies want revenge on me? What did I ever do to make him so determined to best me?”
Chastity’s brows drew together in a frown. “I am not entirely certain of all the details,” she admitted, her tone apologetic. “But from what I have gathered, it seems to stem from old grievances—perhaps moments where you unknowingly outshone or slighted him. He feels overshadowed, and he’s made it his mission to undermine you. He sees Minerva as his way to win, to prove that he has power over you.”
Evan’s hands tightened into fists, his knuckles turning white. The idea that Minerva was being used as a pawn in Lord Gillies’s bitter game made his blood boil. “This is madness,” he growled. “To drag her into his petty vendetta...”
Chastity’s gaze softened, her eyes pleading. “That’s why I am here,” she said. “Minerva deserves so much more than to be used in a game of one-upmanship. And you... you have the power to change this. You can make her see that she has a choice, that she doesn’t have to settle for a life dictated by someone else’s spite.”
Evan’s pulse thundered in his ears, the weight of his past and his fears pressing down on him like a suffocating shroud. But Chastity’s words cut through the fog, planting a seed of hope and determination. He had been running from his feelings, from his own unworthiness, but maybe—just maybe—it was time to face them head-on.
Chastity’s voice softened further, becoming almost pleading. “Please,” she whispered. “Minerva thinks she’s doing what’s best, but she’s blinded by her pain. Don’t let Lord Gillies win. Don’t let him steal her future for his own petty victory. If you care for her at all, you have to do something.”
Evan swallowed hard, the guilt twisting deeper inside him. “I thought I was protecting her,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper. “By staying away.”
