Marriage to a Mister (A Daughters of Regency #1) by DeAnne Cherry Page B
Authors: DeAnne Cherry
Ads: Link
needing to escape. To think about the news his brother gave him, not trifling matters of his home or the state of his clothes. "Mother, as much as I love you," Evan said, punctuating his sentence with a kiss to her cheek. "I believe I can take care myself. I've been doing so for the past twenty or more years."
"Yes, and you look like it too," she chided. "At least let one of the servants take your coat to be pressed for this evening. I've no hope left in me that you actually had planned to change for tonight's ball?"
His patience waning, he tried to control his voice. "You know I have already declined the Brockhurst's invitation."
"Oh, but you must be there, Evan, the entire family will be there" she said, darting a look towards his brother, "Edward, you have some news of your own, do you not?" she asked nervously.
Evan watched his brother shift his stance and clear his throat. "Yes, Mother, she has accepted."
Madeleine closed her eyes and released a shuddering breath. "Evan, I really must insist on your attendance. I was hoping to have a moment to speak with you, but we're to announce your brother's engagement tonight."
Evan returned her look, hurt evident. "I don't understand ... how any of this was decided without my knowledge."
Madeline reached for his hand. "Darling, you're never here —"
He pulled away from her, not letting her reach him. "I'll come to the ball, and do my duty to wish them joy, but I will excuse myself from the house party, if you don't mind?"
"Of course not," she whispered.
Her saw her hand fall back to her side as he made his way up the stairs leaving them behind. He could hear his mother apologizing to Nathan for his rude behavior, her voice shaking. He knew he had been awful to his mother, but he couldn't bring himself to care, not right then. He needed a moment to think.
He had not seen Lady Fleur in years, but yet he felt like Edward had no right to offer for her. No right to be her husband, and he wondered why he should feel so betrayed and shocked to hear confirmations of what he always knew would come to pass.
The duke had always preferred Edward, him being the heir presumptive and he, being the spare. But no, he knew that was not the truth and it was not fair of him. The duke had treated him with great fondness, until the terrible day he left. If only he had gone to the duke, instead of acting out like a spoiled child.
He also knew he must own to it, that he caused the rift between himself and the families. He'd run angry and scared, and when his temper and his resentment finally calmed into embarrassment and shame, he knew not how to return to them all. He still did not.
He remembered how he and Fleur would sit in the dark corner of the drawing room at night, chaperoned by their families but far enough away to talk about books they had read or the last goings-on in town. It was the only time he was ever interested in such subjects, when he was with her.
Now she was to be his sister, and he could not think of anything more heart-wrenching in that moment than she being Edward's wife. And now because of his foolish actions seven years ago, his brother, the man he looked up to more than anyone in the world, would bear the brunt of his ire without provocation. He despaired it would ruin them all, if he could not check himself, but he was not persuaded he would be able to hold the façade of a good brother.
Evan opened the door to the rooms he was always assigned when he visited his parents' home and took off his coat. He threw it on the back of a chair, the force flinging a silver object from his pocket that spun across the room before coming to rest on the floor.
Evan stood and stared, the reminder of its existence offensive and agonizing. Deciding to ignore it, he made his way to the attached bedroom and lay down upon the bed, trying to shift his melancholy. It wasn't long before he was asleep, a small frown marring his otherwise peaceful face.
BALL GOWNS & GOLD
"Yes, and you look like it too," she chided. "At least let one of the servants take your coat to be pressed for this evening. I've no hope left in me that you actually had planned to change for tonight's ball?"
His patience waning, he tried to control his voice. "You know I have already declined the Brockhurst's invitation."
"Oh, but you must be there, Evan, the entire family will be there" she said, darting a look towards his brother, "Edward, you have some news of your own, do you not?" she asked nervously.
Evan watched his brother shift his stance and clear his throat. "Yes, Mother, she has accepted."
Madeleine closed her eyes and released a shuddering breath. "Evan, I really must insist on your attendance. I was hoping to have a moment to speak with you, but we're to announce your brother's engagement tonight."
Evan returned her look, hurt evident. "I don't understand ... how any of this was decided without my knowledge."
Madeline reached for his hand. "Darling, you're never here —"
He pulled away from her, not letting her reach him. "I'll come to the ball, and do my duty to wish them joy, but I will excuse myself from the house party, if you don't mind?"
"Of course not," she whispered.
Her saw her hand fall back to her side as he made his way up the stairs leaving them behind. He could hear his mother apologizing to Nathan for his rude behavior, her voice shaking. He knew he had been awful to his mother, but he couldn't bring himself to care, not right then. He needed a moment to think.
He had not seen Lady Fleur in years, but yet he felt like Edward had no right to offer for her. No right to be her husband, and he wondered why he should feel so betrayed and shocked to hear confirmations of what he always knew would come to pass.
The duke had always preferred Edward, him being the heir presumptive and he, being the spare. But no, he knew that was not the truth and it was not fair of him. The duke had treated him with great fondness, until the terrible day he left. If only he had gone to the duke, instead of acting out like a spoiled child.
He also knew he must own to it, that he caused the rift between himself and the families. He'd run angry and scared, and when his temper and his resentment finally calmed into embarrassment and shame, he knew not how to return to them all. He still did not.
He remembered how he and Fleur would sit in the dark corner of the drawing room at night, chaperoned by their families but far enough away to talk about books they had read or the last goings-on in town. It was the only time he was ever interested in such subjects, when he was with her.
Now she was to be his sister, and he could not think of anything more heart-wrenching in that moment than she being Edward's wife. And now because of his foolish actions seven years ago, his brother, the man he looked up to more than anyone in the world, would bear the brunt of his ire without provocation. He despaired it would ruin them all, if he could not check himself, but he was not persuaded he would be able to hold the façade of a good brother.
Evan opened the door to the rooms he was always assigned when he visited his parents' home and took off his coat. He threw it on the back of a chair, the force flinging a silver object from his pocket that spun across the room before coming to rest on the floor.
Evan stood and stared, the reminder of its existence offensive and agonizing. Deciding to ignore it, he made his way to the attached bedroom and lay down upon the bed, trying to shift his melancholy. It wasn't long before he was asleep, a small frown marring his otherwise peaceful face.
BALL GOWNS & GOLD
Similar Books
