She said a silent thank you to the newcomer for having taken some of the attention off of her for one night, at least. Though it wasn’t as though he’d set out to help her. On the contrary, she couldn’t imagine any man would actually wish to have words like beast and murderer whispered along with his name.
A pang of sympathy gave her pause as she reached the windowsill. It seemed almost churlish for a hostess to leave her own dinner party when newcomers were there and most likely in need of a welcoming smile and a polite word.
It wasn’t as though her father would extend that kindness. Her father had been horrified to discover that the earldom had been inherited by an “uncouth boor” like Darius Haven, the new Earl of Darling.
What is this country coming to if a military brute like him can become an earl?
From the way her father had spoken of the man, she’d half expected a fur-covered beast with claws to enter their dining room this evening, but that was not the case.
Darling was not beastly in appearance, just...broad. Broad shoulders, broad chest...even broad features, with a square jaw and a flat nose that looked as though it had been broken more than once in this lifetime. His sandy-colored hair was shorn neatly, and his clothes were clearly fitted by the best tailor. His eyes were the only feature that made her think perhaps there was some credit to those rumors about his cruel nature. Not that he was unkind to her, but his eyes did seem rather cold. They held flecks of ice in their startlingly blue depths.
The moment those icy eyes had connected with hers… That was the unsettling moment as she’d greeted him and his pretty blonde sister. The sister had responded cordially, while Darling’s responses were more like grunts than words.
But aside from his lack of elocution, he was hardly the terrifying creature he’d been made out to be. True, those whispers of “murderer” and “monster” were unsettling, but if her mother had taught her anything it was that even the most scandal-ridden guests deserved a young lady’s hospitality.
Charity begins at home, her mother would say.
She sighed heavily as she realized that if her mother were watching her from heaven, she would have been disappointed in the way she’d left Darling and his sister to fend for themselves.
Evelyn smothered a nervous laugh as she risked another peek over the edge of the window. No, there were many things her mother would not have approved of this evening. Leaving a new earl and his sister to fend for themselves among the snide gossips of the ton was hardly her worst fault.
She bit her lip. Her mother would have been horrified to find she’d run away.
She shook off the thought. But her mother was no longer here, she’d died years ago, and her mother wouldn’t have wanted to marry a cruel manipulative monster like Stallworth either so...needs must, and all that.
Besides… She braced herself against the edge of the window as she sat on the sill. She’d already made up her mind. She’d spent days racking her brain for any other option and had decided that this was the best course forward. There was no use dithering over the decision now.
It was a good plan, she told herself as she braced herself against the cold night air.
Well, it was a plan.
In truth, it was the only plan she could think of now that her wedding was looming mere weeks away.
She straightened the edges of her cloak and pulled up her hood, as she flashed Cora one last brave smile and lifted a leg to straddle the windowsill.
She might not have much left to her, but she had her pride and a lifetime of decorum and good breeding ingrained in her. As such she managed to keep her ankles covered as Cora assisted her out the window and onto the ledge.
“Don’t forget to shut the window, Cora, so my father does not know how I slipped away.”
She nodded. “Good luck to you, Miss Evelyn.”
Evelyn smiled. “And you, Cora.”
She kept her spine straight and her chin lifted high as she navigated the awkward and unfamiliar task of lowering herself over the edge.
After all. She might not have much left to her name...but she was still every inch the lady.
One-Click EARL OF DARLING
Author’s Note
Gretna Green has been a topic that has fascinated me for years. It was a place where many young lovers during the Regency era ran to for an opportunity to wed. But why?
In England, the rules for marriage were pretty strict in that anyone under the age of 21 (per the Lord Hardwicke's Marriage Act of 1754) would have to have parental consent to marry. However, in Scotland, a couple could declare themselves married in front of witnesses, without any consent, and be wed.
Gretna Green happened to be the first village in Scotland on an old coach route from England into Scotland, thus making it the prime location to have a clandestine wedding. After all, why bother continue going on when any village was just as good as another?
The residents of Gretna Green caught on to all the young couples rushing to their quaint village for a hasty union and the local blacksmith set up a side business marrying those overeager souls. After all, anyone could wed those couples and why not a blacksmith? They became known as ‘anvil priests’ as they would strike the anvil to declare the marriage final.
Acknowledgments
Thank you to my amazing beta readers who helped make this story so much more with their wonderful suggestions: Tracy Emro and Tina Ullrich. You ladies are so amazing and make my books just shine!
Thank you to Janet Kazmirski for the final read-through you always do for me and for catching all the little last minute tweaks.
Thank you to John Somar and my wonderful minions for all the support they give me.
Thank you to Erica Monroe who saves my life time after time for doing an amazing job with edits and is always there for whatever I need. I swear, you add more years back onto my life with all the help and laughter you bring me.
And a huge thank you so much to my readers for always being so fantastically supportive and eager for my next book.
About the Author
Madeline Martin is a USA TODAY Bestselling author of Scottish set historical romance novels filled with twists and turns, adventure, steamy romance, empowered heroines and the men who are strong enough to love them.
She lives a glitter-filled life in Jacksonville, Florida with her two daughters (known collectively as the minions) and a man so wonderful he's been dubbed Mr. Awesome. She loves Disney, Nutella, cat videos and goats dressed up in pajamas. She also loves to travel and attributes her love of history to having spent most of her childhood as an Army brat in Germany.
Find out more about Madeline at her website:
Also by Madeline Martin
Borderland Ladies
Ena’s Surrender (Prequel)
Marin’s Promise
Anice’s Bargain
Ella’s Desire
Catriona’s Secret
Leila’s Legacy
Borderland Rebels
Faye’s Sacrifice
Kinsey’s Defiance
Clara’s Vow
Drake’s Honor