Adrian sat and played his hand as best as he could but his mind was no where in the game. He sipped his brandy and listened to the men around the table speak and laugh. Tossing witty banter amongst themselves.  He however was so lost in his own thoughts he barely heard the few around him fold and leave the table. By then he looked up at them and lazily smiled with an excuse that he too would do the same.

He stood up and withdrew from them as they chuckled at his expense for being a spoiled sport for leaving so soon.

"But it is nearly midnight St.James, " one shouted out.

"Yes, for more reason my good men, regrettably I must leave," he chuckled.

With his last goodbye he turned and exited the gaming hall into the ballroom where couples still danced. His eager eyes scanned the area for the familiar auburn hair and beautiful dress of Eva that stood out. His eyes caught the double doors as they opened and Alicia left. From across the room he followed her. It was time that he had talked with her he remembered.

He crossed the large expance of the dance floor towards the double doors that led out towards the garden. He turned to scan the floor again to make sure he didn't miss sight of Eva. His eyes narrowed.
Where could she be?

With one last glance he slowly turned in time to bump into Arlington and his sister Caroline. Immediately they fell into a conversation.
"Adrian you devil, you just missed Lady Alicia," he slapped him on the back and pulling him into a hearty hand shake.

"And Evangeline where is she?" He looked around.
Adrian turned to follow his gaze as puzzled as he was.
"I am wondering where my little ward has run off to myself," he grinned looking around as well.

"Well we will let you go find her, how about a game and drinks tomorrow at Whitmore's," he pointed out.

"Yes I will be there we can catch up," he nodded.

Finally, he was alone and out in the garden. He continued looking around and spotted Alicia turning from a bush and reentering the dance on the opposite end. Walking in that path, curiosity took the best of him. He inched closer and frowned, puzzled at what she could have been doing here.

He looked around and caught site of the couple to the far end. Naturally, he was intrigued by the tender scene of the couple in a sweet embrace. He was caught riveted to the spot of the sight before him.
Evangeline and Jonathan.

He had clenched his fists, conscious of an almost overwhelming urge to close his hands around the pup's neck.

They were both so caught up in their mutual bliss that neither of them was aware of his presence . Acknowledging this, the pain Adrian felt was so great that he could have screamed . But he did not. He did nothing. Gritting his teeth, he managed with a truly heroic effort to turn on his heel and leave the two of them.

He stopped in front of the double doors hesitating to return to the dance floor.

He needed somewhere to go. but, he had to wait for Evangeline.
Then his eyes caught Caroline.

With determination he cleared the space between them. He smiled as she pulled him close with a beautiful smile of her own.
"Dance with me brother," she pleaded.

He chuckled and lifted her hands to his lips placing a kiss on each one.

"I am afraid I'm not up to it, Caroline,"
Her smile faded and her stare grew concerned.
"Are you well Adrian," she stepped closer and touched his cheek.

With a grin that never touched his eyes. He caressed her hand and lowered his head.

"I'm going to need you to bring Eva home, I will be here for a while and a little late arriving home." he said.

Seeing that look of weariness in his eyes before she could finish answering she followed his gaze and saw where Evangeline was entering the French doors holding Jonathan Brascombes hand.

She turned to look at her brother and understood his decision. Lowering her head she nodded. Without a second glance he left.

Sadly she turned and watched Eva follow Jonathan onto the dance floor. Something was wrong and she felt helpless to say the least. It was clear that her brother was upset. And from the looks of Eva she was saddened too.
~•~•~•~•~•~•

He had passed the hours until dawn drinking and gaming recklessly. As he drank, his anger away at Evangeline, and himself for letting her reduce him to such a state that grew to nearly ungovernable heights.

~•~•~•~•~•~

When Adrian arrived at Whitmore's  later the next day, he saw that the place was crowded. Good, he thought, ready for some much needed distraction from his recurring thoughts of Evangeline. Requesting a drink from a passing server, he glanced about, immediately spotting Brandon and Arlington seated at one of the card tables. As soon as they noticed him, they waved him over.

"Good God man you look terrible," Brandon regarded Adrian's dishelved state.

He slouched into a chair beside them as they exchanged worried glances.

If they only knew it was due to woes of the heart.
His blood shot eyes barely held the half lazy smile of his lips.
They sat back and began to play. He felt so miserable but the light talk and conversation set his mood at ease but not enough to stop thinking about Eva.
His jaw clenched in aggravation.  The sight of her in Jonathan's arms was his nightmare.

He was so lost in his thoughts, Brandons voice snapped him out of his reverie to look up and see that another person had approached them.
Jonathan
The calm collected glare shot furiously to his face. He swallowed hard as he looked down at Adrian who at this point looked like a caged lion.
All eyes looked from Adrian to Jonathan ready to catch him if he pounced on the poor boy before them. The air amongst them was tense as they silently stared at one another.
Dread was etched on Jonathan's face as he looked around the table to the three men. Two looked at him with pity and one on the brink of murdering him.

"To what do I owe the honor of your presence Brascombe," Adrian's voice held a tone that worried them.

"M..m..mlord I would like to speak to you in a private. If I may," he stammered.

The beads of sweat evident above his brow began to pearl up and glide to the side of his temple.

Immediately Brandon and Arlington spoke up and insisted that..that was not such a good idea.

"Why don't we retire to a more private room," Arlington stood up with his drink.

Relief etched on their faces as Adrian complied and followed them to the second floor to one of the private gaming rooms.

With a glass in hand, Adrian plopped unceremoniously in one of the lounge chairs and waited for Jonathan to speak.

Jonathan swallowed nervously.

"Mlord...I've come to speak to you about Evangeline," he said in a shakey breath. He watched carefully as Adrian lowered his glass and looked up at him.

"Something is gravely wrong," he paused and that seemed to get Adrian's full attention.
"......she wants to elope,"

At that moment all hell broke loose and Adrian lunged for Jonathan. It took Brendan and Arlington both to pull him away and  haul him back to his chair. Poor Jonathan fell to the floor and scooted away.

"You bloody bastard what the hell have you done?" He shouted with so much rage he still struggled against Brendan and Arlington to break loose.

"I did nothing I can assure you," he pleaded shaking his head holding up his hands in a pleading gesture.

Seething with rage his eyes murderously burned into Jonathan's frightful gaze.

"Calm yourself and let him speak," Brendan hissed.

Shrugging away from them, he turned his back on them and walked far to other side of the wall, pacing and scowling furiously.

Arlington stood him up and pointed to a nearby seat so he could continue.

"She told me of how she came to be in Mlord St. James's care. And of Reynaud Locksley," he spoke.

Adrian turned to look at him.

"It seems he has found her and he threatened her," Jonathans voice shook.

Adrian angrily cursed slamming his glass his to the wall with a curse and began to pace. Raking his hands through his hair he stopped to look at Jonathan.

"Why did she ask you to elope with her? Why not come to me?" He clenched his jaw awaiting an answer.

Jonathan nervously looked at him.

"She fears he would harm those she holds dear to her if she said a word. By leaving she would be safe, and so would everyone else,"

"Adrian why have you not told us about this. Reynaud is a bastard of the lowliest kind," Arlington shook his head.

Adrian seemed beyond words, beyond thinking. He breathed heavily, shoulders rigid as he towered over Jonathan who seemed very anguished and terrified.

“I’ll take care of Locksley,” Adrian finally managed. “And what of Eva,” Brendan  cut in, unsure of Adrian’s temper at this point.

“Tell her nothing,” Adrian instructed Jonathan.
"When were you suppose to meet her," Adrian looked at him.

"Tonight we were to leave after the Radcliffe ball at midnight," he spoke.

His anger had been barely controlled a moment ago; now rage rose in him with unreasonable speed. She’d purposely endangered herself to escape her shameless fathers gambling debt.

"Jonathan, I'm curious why not go through with the elopement?," Arlington questioned eyeing speculatively the two astonished eyes that shot up to look at him.

Searching for the words to explain he looked at Arlington then to Adrian.
"Danger of this caliber simply will not die down, he will stop at nothing to search and have Evangeline. Besides I found out this morning I have been accepted to a prestigious medical school in Europe. I could not just leave her without helping her anyway I can," He nervously wiped his sweaty palms on his breeches.

Silence fell between them. Then finally Adrian spoke. Not wanting to hear Jonathan's response, he asked any way.

"Do you love her?" He whispered. His back turned to them.

"I care for her m'lord, and no doubt if I were to court her longer it would have surely blossomed to that. She is worthy of it and much more." He spoke with strained a emotions.

" Unfortunately, I can not give her that," he answered with a self confidence now that made Arlington and Brendan exchange knowing smirks.

With that he turned to leave.

Arlington and Brendan stood for a moment and watched Adrian.
"What are you planning on doing?" Arlington asked.

Adrian was too furious to think of anything, he was hell bent on beating Locksley into a bloody pulp. Which wasn’t his first option, granted. It seemed easier to pay him off than go to jail for killing him.

They bolted out of the gentleman's club after Adrian and went in search of the snake.
~•~•~•~•~•~•~

It wasn't too long before they found him in a seedy brothel in the company of a woman.
Busting through the door they startled the woman sitting on his lap and walked forward.
The three of them faced him as he sat back casually frumpled and in a disarray of just getting ready to bed the woman. The glaring look Adrian gave her was just enough to scare her, to pick up her robe and run.

"Sinclair?, Arlington?, St. James?" He looked at them with a cool glare. Standing he walked to a small table and poured himself a drink.

"I would invite you fine gents for a drink , but I have a feeling this is not a friendly visit," he snickered.

"You're damn right its not," Adrian furiously spoke.

"Then state your business and be gone, I have more pressing matters to attend to," he turned to them.

"You have a debt on your books that needs to be paid by an Oliver Chenoweth, I'm here to pay it," Adrian stepped forward.

The glass paused at Locksleys lips, before he lowered it to look at Adrian.

"I see you know of my arrangement with Chenoweth." Locksley grinned maliciously.

"I do," Adrian spat in disgust.

"Then you need to understand that this is a mutual arrangement between me and a man indebted to me. The details are set. None of it should concern you."

"No. That's wher your wrong. The debt involves my ward who is bound by law to me so it concerns me," Adrian stepped closer.

"I prefer the girl," Locksley shook his head defiantly.

Rage in Adrian sprung free as he lunged for Locksley as the two went to blows. Adrian enraged, slammed his fist into Raynaud's face sending him reeling back against the wall. He pressed his elbow against his neck closing off his air and choking him.

"You will not touch her. If you go near her I will kill you," Adrian yelled furiously.

Quickly Arlington picked Locksley off the floor as Adrian let him go and dragged him to the nearby table and threw him down in the chair.

“Retrieve paper and sign a release of Chenoweth’s debt. This will cover it in full.”
Abruptly releasing Locksley, Brendan stepped forward and pulled out ten thousand pounds in a leather holder and tossed it on the table before him.

He reluctantly did as he was told. Until Arlington threatened to get a constable involved in the matter.

It didn’t take much longer to conclude their business with Locksley and take their leave. The three rode home in relative silence.

Adrian was still furious by the time they pulled up to the manor.  Hopping out of the carriage, they agreed to meet later. Not sure what Adrian was going to do, Brendan stepped closer to him. He could see the anger, hurt and agony rioting in his eyes and reeking havoc with his emotions.

"Please do not do anything rash Adrian, calm yourself before you approach her," he warned in a pleading tone.

"Don't worry yourself, Brendan I won't strangle her. I will bloody take her over my knee and give her the thrashing she deserves." He cynically hissed.

At this point, Arlington stepped closer aware of the heated confrontation ready to rise.
"Calm yourself there Adrian," he spoke in an easy tone.

Clenching and unclenching his fist he turned his back on them. Raking his fingers through his hair. Then he faced them. He looked like a mad man unhinged.

"Find... Chenoweth's solicitor. I want to know how much damage that idiot father of my ward has done. I feel Locksley won't be satisfied until he has her," he watched as they agreed.

They left, and he entered the manor by storm. Penniford was no where in sight and neither was Eva. He retired to his study and locked himself in. Relieved he did not see her. At this moment he was so angry he did not know if he would be able to confront her so soon.

He leaned his head against the mantle trying to control his rage. She was willing to run off with Jonathan.
Why would she do it?
Unless she loved him.
He shook his head refusing to believe that. Tightly he shut his eyes not wanting to believe it.

He would have preferred a dagger through the heart than this.
Was this her revenge, for what he did? Was she still trying to punish him? Squeezing his eyes tightly shut, he tried to push down further his rage at the thought of  her doing this.

The very thought of another man marrying her, sleeping beside her at night, kissing her and taking her to his bed and giving her children was enough for him to scream.

His rage slowly calmed. He swallowed hard thinking of plotting his next move. He was her legal guardian and the fact that she resided under his roof made everything fall into place perfectly.

~•~•~•~•~•~•

That evening when they all readied for the ball, she sat quietly and listened to Caroline speak. Her nerves were on the brink of fraying with what she must do. She looked up at her reflection as Rosie finished her last ringlet letting it fall to her back.

She sat rigid listening to their praises of her beauty. All of which she felt so wretched because of her decietfulness and how she would hurt them with what she was about to do. But she prayed that they would understand. Mostly Adrian.

Her heart felt so heavy she wasn't strong enough to go through with this. The gleeful voice of Caroline broke her from her reverie as she heard her asking Adrian if she wasn't lovely.

Frozen in place her heart thudded heavily in her chest. She slowly looked up to the mirror and their eyes met in its reflection.

A spark seemed to leap between them, as it always did, their mutual attraction was so intense it could be touched.

He was an Adonis as he stood in the door way.  Devilishly gorgeous that he took her breath away. Heat crept up her cheeks at the sinful thoughts he created in her head. She looked away.

He walked forward with two cups of tea one for Caroline and one for her. Which she nervously took from him.

"I figured a little something warm would do both of you good, its a bit cool out," his tone was gentle and touched her deeply. Her conscience felt horrible at this point.

"Why thank you brother, your always thoughtful," Caroline crooned gingerly taking a sip.

He smiled at her. And smiled even more when Eva thanked him and took a sip as well.
He left so they could continue to get ready.

When it was time for them to leave, Caroline had already advanced and went accompanied with Arlington. And as usual she would go with Adrian.
She felt her resolve slipping at this point. Her eyes burned with unshed tears looking down into the cup of tea she was finishing.
Breathing in heavily working up what little courage she had, she stood and gave her room one last look.

~•~•~•~•~•~•~
When she slowly descended the stairs. She saw Adrian at the bottom waiting for her.
Those eyes leisurely passed over her and made her shiver.
When she finally made it to the last step that put her eye to eye to him she stopped. He stepped closer and faced her as if waiting for her to say something. And she wanted to.

She looked down then looked into his eyes, a wave of dizzeness passed over her. Slowly swallowing she smiled as he frowned and lifted his palm to caress her cheek.
"You look handsome," she spoke softly.

"And you look Beautiful," he looked at her with so much ardor that she felt more heat creep to her cheeks.
She began to sway. Feeling faint.

"Adrian," she said.

Her look turned agonizing and her eyes sheened over with tears.

Regret....

Regret was evident more than ever in her eyes. And before she could say anymore darkness claimed her and she slid into his arms.

~•~•~•~•~•~
He thought it would be best to punish her, then he thought against it. Then he thought of it again angrily. She deserved it.
He was upset with his emotional misgivings when it came to her. He wanted to strangle her, then shake her until her head fell off... But then when she appeared, God he wanted take her into his arms and kiss her senseless.
When he saw her his mouth went dry.
She stirred his blood walking slowly down towards him.
Then finally they were face to face. If she only knew what she did to him.

She wore the most beautiful gown in cream and gold. It accentuated her petite form and fullness of her breasts.  Her hair as always abundant with  lustrous curls that bounced with her every move. Her lips were as red, plump and delicious looking as