“Lovely day for a walk, don’t you think?”
Eva nodded and mumbled a reply and then found the path that ringed the park. Plenty of people were here. Some had dogs; others, children, and all were enjoying the sun and the simple act of being outside.
“Hello, daughter.”
All the old uncertainties resurfaced as a hand touched Eva’s back and she struggled to remain a duchess and not the scared girl she had been.
“What do you want, Father?” Eva stopped walking and turned to face the man who had sired her.#p#分页标题#e#
He was big - not as big as Daniel, but still, he could and had hurt her without too much effort. Large and broad-shouldered, he and his two elder sons shared the same unfortunate pale skin which tended to turn pink in the sun. His hair was now grey, freckles dotted his face, and as usual, his brown eyes held a belligerent expression.
“Adjust your tone, Daughter.” Eva didn’t flinch as his fingers pinched her arm.
“What do you want, Father?” she repeated, fighting to stay calm.
“Lord Huxley and I have had a bad run on the tables lately and need a bit of blunt to turn things around.”
“You would dare to ask me for money after the life you subjected me to!” She couldn’t breathe. Her chest felt tight and she struggled to force air into her lungs.
“Think you’re better than me now, Duchess?” He spat the words at her. “You’re still the worthless girl you always were and no clothes or title can change that! You should be thanking me for giving you the life you now live.”
“I know I’m better than both you and Lord Huxley.” Eva kept her voice low.
“If you don’t give me money, I’ll go to Scotland and make your brother’s life hell.”
“No! Leave Reggie alone.” The sense of despair that she could not fight him returned. How had he found Reggie so soon?
“Then you better do as I ask, girl, because if you thought Scotland was far enough to hide him, you were wrong. You’re the only one now who can keep Reggie safe.”
“Do you care nothing for your son?” Eva rasped.
“You’re both as weak as your mother was. Should never have married that woman. My first wife was much stronger. Shame she died of that rotted tooth.”
Eva didn’t speak, just stared into his hated face. Why had she believed she would ever be free of him?
“And don’t think about asking your husband, either. I can have him hurt just as easy as your brother.”
“You can’t touch the Duke of Stratton, Father. He is both stronger and smarter than you.” Eva felt better just saying the words. Daniel would help her if she went to him, help rid her of her family once and for all.
“If you don’t pay up, girl, then Lord Huxley will challenge the duke to a duel and we both know the outcome now, don’t we.”
Eva felt a physical pain at the thought of anyone hurting Daniel.
“Lord Huxley has never been defeated, Eva, and he loves to fight. He told me to tell you he hates the duke enough to want to see him dead if you don’t do as I say.”
Eva knew she was trapped. She could not allow Daniel to fight Lord Huxley, but knew if the man challenged him, he would not back down. She would have to pay her father or see her husband dead or maimed.
“I want the first payment tomorrow. One of your brothers will be in this park at two. Be here or I will be on my way to Scotland before your brother has settled into his new life.”
He was gone before she could say anything further and numb Eva began to walk home. She had no money of her own – well, not enough to appease her father, anyway. She would have to give him the ring her husband had given her when first they married. It was big and ugly and surely Daniel would not miss it or ask for it back. So much had changed between them lately and she had even begun to believe that they could share a life together. Have children and a family. Eva struggled to hold back the tears as she approached the townhouse. Damn her father for forcing her into the one thing she had always vowed she would never do to her husband, no matter the provocation. She was about to betray him and now everything between them was about to change.#p#分页标题#e#
“Will you play for me, Eva?” Daniel looked across the table to his wife. She had been quiet this evening, her face pale and drawn. He’d asked her what was wrong and she had used missing Reggie as an excuse. She was lying. He knew it by the way her eyes dropped when she answered and he wondered what had taken place between him spending a few hours in his office and now.
“I have not had a lot of practice on the new piano, Daniel. Indeed, I will sound almost rusty when compared with some.”