Page 76 of The Haunted Duke

Though still annoyed by the moment they interrupted, Evander gave them a look of gratitude.

“We are doing very well. And your concern is noted,” he replied earnestly.

“How does your grandmother fare, Damien? I confess I have thought of Patricia often since the wedding. Is she well?”

“Ornery as ever, and in perfect health, as she has apparently been the entire time she had us all convinced otherwise. I visited her a few days ago, and she scolded me for a full hour before feeding me an obscene quantity of cake. I have never seen a woman so thoroughly delighted with herself.”

“And Jeremy?” Evander asked, more carefully. “Have you had any word?”

“He is in Italy, apparently thriving. He did not say much of substance, only that he is happy, and that he trusts we will forgive him for everything that happened.” He shook his head, though there was no real anger in it. “I confess I do not fully understand what happened between the three of you, but I have decided I do not much care to, so long as he is well and you and Helena are settled. Whatever occurred, it seems to have worked out rather better for everyone than the original arrangement ever would have.”

They chatted casually as they made their way to the foyer. Damien filled Evander in on Caroline’s condition, and Adrian preached his usual praises about his children. As they arrived at the door and the butler opened it, though, they all paused as they saw a messenger ready to knock. A choking grip settled around Evander’s throat as he was handed a familiar-looking missive, and he could not stop the shaking in his hands as he accepted it.

“What is that?” Adrian demanded.

“You there! Stop!” Damien called after the messenger.

It was too late. The young man had already taken off, running quite briskly down the walk and toward the street.

“It is nothing,” Evander forced out, putting the letter behind his back.

“It is not nothing,” Adrian insisted, closing the door with a loud thud. “You look as if you have seen a ghost!”

“I am fine,” Evander bit out, taking a step back from his friends. “You both worry far too much.”

“Show us the letter and prove to us that it is of a boring nature, and we will cease our worrying,” Damien said, stepping to the side as he rose to the balls of his feet and spread his hands.

“Do not—” Evander began to snarl, but then his brother and best friend both struck at the same moment and wrestled him to the ground.

Evander fought, trying to keep his footing, but as he became pinned, Damien snatched the crumpled letter from his hand and tore it open.

“Stop!” Evander roared, pushing his brother off him. He got to his feet with quickness and reached for the letter, but Damien quickly sidestepped him as he kept his widening gaze on the paper.

“No!” Adrian snarled, stepping between Damien and Evander. “No more secrets, brother.”

Evander stared down Adrian, but he did not budge.

“What does it say, Damien?” Adrian demanded.

Damien’s face was a mask of rage as he lifted his gaze from the letter.

“How long has this been going on, Evander?” he asked warily.

Guilt tunneled through him.

“I do not know what you mean,” he gritted out, feigning ignorance.

“Stop this at once!” Damien shouted, shoving the letter to Adrian so he could read it. “You are not doing this again! You are not shutting us out! Now tell us, how long have you been receiving these threats?”

“God above,” Adrian rasped, reading down the contents of the letter. “Burning ropes? A debt of screams? Vengeance due?”

Evander winced, the words threatening to whirl him back into the place he had long ago escaped.

“I know this is not the first threat you received,” Damien said, taking another step toward him. “You knew precisely what it was the moment it arrived. You tried to hide it from us. So I ask again, one last time, how long have you been receiving these?”

Evander’s defiance withered. Helena’s love had broken him down. Had reminded him of what it felt like to yearn for and enjoy another’s presence. She had pulled him out of the lonely shadows, and he had learned to love living in her light.

“Shortly after I moved back to London,” he confessed.