Page 77 of The Iron Earl

“He can put down his quill.” Lachlan took a step toward his grandfather, his voice a harsh granite rock. “A divorce won’t be necessary, as I have no intention of ending this marriage—no intention of abandoning my wife.”

“What do ye intend to do with her then, Lach?”

“Quite simply, grandfather, I intend to keep her.”

“Ye don’t know what yer doing, boy.” His cane crashed onto the ottoman again. “What about yer brother?”

“On the contrary, I know exactly what I’m doing. And I beg you to respect that.” Lachlan spun, exiting his grandfather’s room in six long strides.

The old buzzard was never going to understand.

And Lachlan couldn’t explain.

{ Chapter 17 }

Just before the bend in the stone corridor, Evalyn’s steps slowed as she heard approaching footsteps echoing against the stone. During the last week since the trial she’d tumbled into more than one person around the crooked bends in these halls and knew enough now to slow her gait.

At least she could find her way to and from the dining hall now. And she’d only gotten lost once when leaving the south side conservatory two days ago.

Progress.

She’d managed to map out a good portion of the castle in her mind and no longer needed to wait for Lachlan or a passing servant to escort her about.

The approaching footsteps didn’t slow so Evalyn stopped and waited, avoiding the oncoming collision.

A woman in a crisp garnet day dress rounded the corner and drew up, her hand on her chest when she saw Evalyn. Slightly taller than Evalyn, the woman had the most gorgeous dark hair draped over her left shoulder, its glossiness sparkling in the light from the window at the end of the hall.

“You.” The woman sputtered. “You. I have been waiting to see you.”

Evalyn blinked hard, not only at the woman’s beauty—at her flawless porcelain skin and her dark lashes setting off intelligent brown eyes—but at the thought of being stalked by this exquisite creature. “Me?”

“You are Lachlan’s wife, no?” Her hand fell away from her chest.

“Yes.” Evalyn’s stomach tensed. “Forgive me, have we met?”

“Nae.” The woman shook her head, her lips pulling back in a tense line. “Nae, I don’t think introducing me to you was on the top of Lachlan’s list.”

The woman’s words stopped and awkward silence filled the air as the woman studied her.

Evalyn cleared her throat. “Then I am at the disadvantage, as I do not know who you are.”

“I am Lady Karta.” Her head tilted to the side. “Lachlan’s betrothed.”

“His—”

“Well, no longer his betrothed, as you have seen fit to fulfill the job.”

“You are the one?” Evalyn had to draw up her dropped jaw. “Then I do owe you an apology. I did not set out to marry Lachlan. I did not intend to interfere with his promise to your family.”

The woman nodded, her canny brown eyes still taking measure of Evalyn from head to toe. “You are aware he married you as revenge against your stepfather?”

Evalyn’s head snapped backward. What did this woman know of it? She offered a slight nod. “I do know.”

Karta’s pretty brown eyes widened for a long second, then narrowed at Evalyn. “You do? I would have thought Lachlan would keep that information to himself. Heaven knows he was never one to speak the slightest word to me.”

Evalyn set an apologetic smile on her face. “He has not discussed the matter with me, but I can only imagine he has made recompense to your family for the broken betrothal?”

Karta flipped her hand in the air. “He has, or so my father mentioned. It’s why we are here at Vinehill.”

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