The ride had been long and mostly silent. Rain pattered steadily against the carriage roof, a constant low drum that filled the quiet spaces between words. Inside, the air felt thick and warm from the enclosed space.
Noel sat near the window, one elbow resting on the sill, chin in his hand as he watched the blurred grey world pass by. The carriage lamps outside threw weak golden light across his face every few moments.
He stared at the huge mansion as the carriage finally slowed and stopped in front of the main entrance. The building rose tall and grand as always.
Noel remembered the last time he had been here.
He had knelt in front of Evelina and ended the engagement. He had done it to survive... to break the plot that would have killed him. Now he was back, not for her, but for one of her brothers.
Her brother?
