Free A Taste of Seduction by Bronwen Evans

head snapped back in surprise. “Why on earth not?”
    “He has recently lost his father, he’s come to a strange town and new house, and he is unsettled. I will not move him again.” Evangeline was amazed that she came up with such an excuse so quickly; however, it was very close to the truth.
    Hadley seemed to think on her words before saying, “I have already organized for Runners to guard your house. You must promise me not to leave the house without their protection.”
    She cocked her head to one side and looked at him. “Thank you. Plus, I may be able to help you.” In a whisper she added, “Marisa mentioned Arend’s fixation on Lady Victoria. It may not be unwarranted. I think there might be pertinent information on Victoria in my husband’s journals.”
    Hadley sat forward in his chair. “I beg your pardon?”
    “My husband was a vindictive man. He was also good friends with Victoria’s husband, and I know the sudden marriage to her upset him. He didn’t trust her. He began digging into her past, and the journals may contain the knowledge you seek.”
    “You could bring the journals here.”
    She shook her head. There were things in the journals she did not wish Hadley to see: things about her son, and things about how her husband had treated her. She would not share that with him. Ever.
    “They are heavy volumes and contain personal material. I really should be the one to go through them. I may even find the evidence I need to prove to you that your assumptions about me are wrong. That I did not marry for a title and money.” She was sure Dougal had confessed all in his journals.
    She saw the resignation in Hadley’s lovely eyes. All he cared about were the journals, not that he’d maligned her all these years.
    “It would be faster if both of us went through the journals,” he insisted.
    She barely hid her anger. “So now that I have something you want, you’re prepared to spend time in my presence.” He had the grace to drop his gaze from hers. “Until I see this letter, you will not be looking at those journals.”
    “I could fetch the letter now.”
    “No. I’m tired and I’m hurt. You can jolly well wait until it suits me. If you’d be so kind as to fetch my carriage, I intend to go home.”
    Hadley had the good sense not to argue with her. He must have realized it would not take much more for her to lose her temper completely. He walked over to the door and opened it to call for Mrs. Butler.
    Mrs. Butler entered and helped Evangeline move behind the screen so she could dress.
    “May I call on you tomorrow with the letter?”
    It was a little unsettling to realize Hadley had stayed while she changed. Gosh, he was like Sealey’s puppy with a bone. Part of her wanted to make him wait, but since he
was
in danger, and now she and Sealey might be in danger too, time was not a luxury they could afford.
    She came out from behind the screen, tiredness weighing heavily on her sore shoulder. Arguing took too much energy. “Shall we say three in the afternoon? And bring the forged letter.”
    —
    He wanted to say no, but he needed those journals. He wished he’d never told her that he still had the proof of her betrayal. He was lying to himself. The doubt that crept into his head from the doctor’s observation was eating at him. He had to know, firstly, if her tale was true, and secondly, who had hurt her.
    Plus, he was at least honorable enough to realize that after being shot she deserved consideration.
    More annoying was the fact that briefly seeing her in nothing but her sheer shift had his body humming—and not from tiredness. His mind couldn’t seem to remember why she was the enemy. Memories of long ago, memories that had taken a long time to forget, flooded back—vividly.
    He stood and walked to the door. “My men will see you safely home, and I shall call upon you at three.”
    As he pulled the door closed behind him, he thought he heard her say, “Then the truth will be