valiant attempt at observing the niceties. She only required a few seconds to notice, however, that the man only had eyes for Noelle. She remembered that look all too well on another gentleman’s face.
Eve stared down at her needle and thread.
She had even written to his mother, for goodness sake, asking after his health. His mother’s response had left her feeling humiliated. The duchess had written back expressing her most sincere condolences upon the news of Eve’s mother’s death. She’d added that they had enjoyed meeting her entire family and…
Nothing more.
His mother had not specified who, exactly, she’d been speaking for, but Eve could only assume herself and her husband and their son. Eve remembered how she’d prepared herself for the possibility that something had happened to Nicholas. Why else would he stay away? Why else would he not even respond?
A familiar sickening sensation returned whenever she recalled how low the letter had made her feel. She’d chosen to disregard the rumors she’d heard about him when they’d first met, to ignore his roguish reputation.
She’d stubbornly believed that he’d loved her. His betrayal was almost worse than if he had sickened and died.
Whereby she immediately rebuked herself. She did not mean it! She was glad he was alive. The world would not be the same place if something had happened to him.
“Lady Eve would be delighted to show you some of her drawings. She is also a most excellent musician.”
What on earth was Noelle up to? Eve flicked her gaze around the room, wondering what she had missed.
“I haven’t played in ages.” She grimaced.
The baron remained focused on Noelle despite her sister’s ungainly attempts to turn his attention in Eve’s direction. Although the conversation grew somewhat livelier, Eve couldn’t stop thinking about Nicholas and his odd comments earlier. She mindlessly served tea and then sipped at her own cup.
She had been tempted to sit down for tea with him instead of return to her aunt’s house right away. “If it makes you feel any better, I’ll send a missive of your whereabouts around to your mother.”
What if he hadn’t been making a joke? It hadn’t even been close to funny.
Of course, he had not! Did that mean he’d not received her letters? It was the only explanation for him saying something so mean.
Eve set her cup and saucer on the table and rose in as dignified a manner as possible. She couldn’t sit here a moment longer without knowing the truth. Even if it was the height of rudeness to excuse herself while their guest remained.
“If you’ll be so kind as to accept my regrets,” Eve muttered. Lord Blitzencreek seemed almost as relieved as she was to not be forced into conversation with her. “It’s been a tiring day and I have some letters to write.”
She didn’t wait to hear any protests but edged around the room until she could slip out the door.
Mr. Clark, thank goodness, was nowhere to be seen so she didn’t have to make any explanations. She seized the damp coat she’d worn earlier from where it hung drying on the coat tree and only grimaced slightly at the cold and wet.
An almost desperate sense of urgency pushed her to hasten outside and across the square for the third time that day. Absent the protection of her boots, the cold wet snow soaked all the way through her slippers. She was quite single-minded, however, and didn’t pause until she’d marched through the entrance of the Crowing Cock. Only when the heavy door closed behind her did her inappropriate behavior collide with her conscience. Not even a full day in the same town as the Marquess of Merriweather and already she was risking her reputation.
A door slammed from somewhere above and she jumped. She peeked into the taproom and although embers glowed in the hearth, the chairs around the long table were unoccupied. The empty dish in which she’d carefully baked the pie earlier sat abandoned, as did a few picked-over platters and half-empty tankards of ale.
What if he and the man he’d been with earlier had already left Maybridge Falls despite the inclement weather? What if she never saw him again?
Infinitely more cautious now but unwilling to abandon her quest, Eve climbed the stairs and located the room he’d indicated; number three.
She knocked twice. When the floorboards on the other side creaked ominously, she straightened her shoulders
“Eve?” He didn’t hold the door wide but simply stared at her, his hair and clothing rumpled. His thundery gaze