Page 107 of A Bargain with the Rake (Necessary Arrangements 3)

Montbrook sketched a curt bow, his gaze running from one earl to another warily. “My lords.”

“Please, do make yourselves comfortable. I shall ring for tea,” Lady Montbrook exclaimed as if not noticing the hostile atmosphere in the room.

“It isn’t necessary,” Evie said coldly. “I wouldn’t drink anything in this house and wouldn’t advise anyone else to.”

Lady Montbrook frowned down at her. “Whatever do you mean, my dear?”

Evie slowly walked to a settee and sat down on the edge, as regally and calmly as was possible under the current circumstances. “Let us talk candidly, my dear cousin.”

Lady Montbrook raised a brow but followed Evie’s lead and sat down across from her. Winchester sat next to Evie, and Clydesdale occupied the only other available seat, leaving Lord Montbrook to stand by the hearth.

“What would you like to talk candidly about, my heart?” Lady Montbrook intoned.

“Lady Montbrook,” Evie said slowly. “I want to speak with you of your attempts to steal my dukedom.”

Lady Montbrook’s mouth fell open. “Whatever do you insinuate?”

“I do not insinuate. I speak openly. First, you tried to wed me to your son.”

“A ridiculous notion. I did introduce him as your potential suitor, but all you had to do was say no.”

“You told him there were two ways to become the duke. To either marry me or kill me.”

“I said no such thing. How can you accuse me of this?” she exclaimed in indignation.

“After I eloped, you sent three thugs after me.”

Lady Montbrook’s eyes narrowed on Evie. “What you are saying is absurd.”

“No, it isn’t. I have a letter from a blacksmith who wed us.” Evie took an envelope from her reticule. “He witnessed the entire confrontation between the thugs and my husband. He heard the bandits call you as their master by your name.” She addressed the last to Lord Montbrook.

“I had nothing to do with it!” the man exclaimed.

“Even if he did,” Lady Montbrook said through her teeth, “a statement from a Scot proves nothing.”

“Perhaps it does not,” Evie agreed. “But there is also a statement from my caretaker of the Peacehaven estate and a few villagers, who say they saw you on the estate grounds on the morning of the fire.”

“These are all lies!” Lady Montbrook spat. “We were not there on that day, not even in passing. We left your wedding house party after you did.”

Evie’s nostrils flared. Lady Montbrook was too smug, thinking she’d gotten away with these offenses. If Evie had any doubt who was behind the fire before, she didn’t have any doubt now. They’d probably just paid some poor soul to start the fire.

“And finally, I have a statement from your former cook, Mrs. Farley, who received a packet from you with the poison you sent in an attempt to poison my husband and me.”

Lady Montbrook scoffed. “A statement from a cook? She is unstable. Nobody is going to believe a word she says.”

“I do,” Evie said calmly.

“You have nothing,” Lady Montbrook said, looking intently at the letters in Evie’s hands. “None of those letters prove anything.”

“You are right; they don’t. But combined with my statement before the House of Lords, they will mean something. And even if they don’t prove you guilty, they will make you destitute for the court bills. And I shall make certain to drag your name through the mud because I do not have anything to lose anymore.”

Lady Montbrook narrowed her eyes on her. “What do you mean?”

“My husband is dying,” Evie said, her hands fisting by her sides, her nostrils flaring. “And I am not handing my dukedom to his murderers.”

A smile broke out on Lady Montbrook’s face before she could contain it.

Evie felt ire rising in her throat. She wanted to throw something at the vile woman, not have a polite discussion with her. But the years groomed to be the perfect duchess won out in her.

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