Page 50 of The Haunted Duke

Jeremy began to worriedly nibble on his bottom lip as he stepped back, his face falling into a mask of deep thought. Evander had no doubt that he was asking Jeremy to give up much of the protection that would come with his marriage to Helena, so even though he wanted to shake the man and demand an answer, he forced himself to stay still as Jeremy considered his future.

A few moments later, Jeremy finally turned back to his valet, who was still seated on the bed, and walked over to him. Evander watched as Jeremy reached out and, very lovingly, ran his hand through the young man’s ash-blonde hair; he observed how the young man leaned into Jeremy’s touch. There was no denying that the two loved each other deeply.

“Perhaps all of us can be happy. But I will need your help,” Jeremy said at last, turning to Evander with a serious look as he held his lover. “You understand there are still secrets to be kept for the safety of all.”

Evander’s heart fluttered with hope.

“Of course,” he said readily. “Whatever you need. I do not wish for anyone to be hurt in the situation. I only want my chance to love Helena.”

Jeremy looked back down at his valet, a soft smile touching his lips.

“I understand that very well,” he murmured.

“We all deserve our chance at a happy ending,” he said more clearly as he looked toward Evander. “Very well. I will not be marrying Helena. But you are not going to bring the party down by sharing such news with everyone just yet. We have a plan to sort out, you and I.”

So relieved that his knees began to tremble, Evander could not help but smile as he expelled his held breath.

“Let us sort it then,” he replied.

Chapter 17

“You look lovely as ever, sweetheart.”

Helena fought the urge to widen her smile and turn as Evander whispered his words of praise into her ear, but knowing their guests were watching, she kept her expression as light and polite as possible as she kept her eyes on the evening’s ball that was now in full swing. Last night, she had been in such a state of anxiety over what had happened between them. Not only that, but over everything she had confessed. It fascinated her that so much change could come from a mere twenty-four hours.

“Your mood seems much improved, Your Grace,” she murmured to him teasingly as she watched the guests continue laughing and dancing.

From her side, Evander let out a throaty chuckle that made her insides quiver with arousal.

“How could it not?” he asked, his deep voice seeping into her mind and fueling her fantasies. “The woman of my dreams returns my affections, and Jeremy and I have come to an accord.”

This time, Helena could not contain her bigger smile.

After some time and several nips from the whiskey bottle Evander had left behind, Helena had found enough courage to return to her mother’s side at last night’s party. Even so, she was too distracted by the absence of not just Evander, but also Jeremy, to try to be in the moment. It had been a vast relief when Patricia finally allowed her to retire for the evening, and she was even more relieved when she found Jeremy and Evander in her quarters.

She had been shocked at first to hear Jeremy’s confession about his lover, but it was something she quickly got over once he explained that he would be stepping out of the way for the sake of her and Evander. Though they did not share the details of their new plan, they did tell her to go along with the parties, which she found much easier to do now that she no longer felt guilty about falling in love with one man while agreeing to marry another.

“And you do not care to share with me the specifics of such an accord?” she asked presently, raising an inquiring brow as she dared a look at him.

Desire slammed into her the moment she met Evander’s piercing blue gaze, and for a moment, she forgot to breathe as Evander leaned toward her ear and softly rasped, “In time, my love. For now, you should continue to enjoy the party,” before letting his bottom lip caress against her lobe.

Heat flushed into her cheeks as Evander pulled back with a smirk, and before she could find her wits again, Jeremy appeared between them, wrapping an arm around them both.

“Greetings, you lovely creatures,” he greeted cheerily as he gave them both a squeeze. “Amazing party, by the way. You two did so well together in my absence.”

Helena suppressed a giggle behind her hand as Evander rolled his eyes; both of them understood the subtle jab Jeremy had thrown at them.

“Helena, dearest, you have played doting hostess long enough. The hour is growing late, and you have yet to grace the dance floor. Do come and dance with your almost-faux husband,” Jeremy urged, letting go of Evander’s shoulder so he could bow politely before Helena.

“Would you hush!” Helena whispered, her eyes darting nervously around them. “You still have not told me everything, but I am sure it would not bode well for someone to discover our secret before you put your plan into play. Letty is looking at us!”

“Oh, when is she not?” Jeremy’s grin widened as he looked at Evander. “She is so adorable when she worries, is she not?”

Evander chortled and gave them a gentle push.

“Go, have a lovely dance,” he encouraged them.

The entire evening felt so surreal to Helena as Jeremy led her through the crowd of guests and onto the dance floor. Evander’s hard façade had completely crumpled to let his affection for her shine through, making it impossible for her to deny the feelings she had been holding for him. She was no longer going to be part of a marriage of convenience. Evander was going to handle their problem with Lord Ingram, or so he had promised. It all felt too good to be true.