OVERSIGHT

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CHAPTER 23

Alexander felt like a storm cloud, dark and heavy, the instant he walked away from Colin. But Colin wasn't the reason for his annoyance. It was Evelina's rejection that kept playing in his mind, making him feel angry and bitter. Even when he had threatened to expose her visit to the red light district, she had refused to comply with his demands. He knew that this probably contributed to her ultimately rejecting him, but he couldn't help but feel determined to still pursue her, to chase after her love until he earned it. However, maybe not tonight.

The range of emotions flooding him now were overwhelming, and it would be foolish to go back to the ball and put himself in an even more unwelcome position. He knew that Lady Devereux and the viscountess might corner him into a fruitless discussion about Priscilla, and he didn't think he could handle that right now.

He strode purposefully towards the courtyard, his calm and measured steps belying the inner turmoil raging in his mind. As he neared his coach, Otto appeared out of nowhere.

"Your Grace," the imposing man humbly bowed, but Alexander was in no mood to commend his timely arrival.

"Out of my way, Otto. I told you and the others to stay back at home, didn't I?" Alexander said, continuing to march on.

"I know, but given what happened the last time… "

"I can handle myself, Otto." Alexander stopped abruptly, his tongue darting out to wet his dry lips. He turned to face Otto directly. "Even if you must accompany me wherever I go, don't you know that it's better for you to remain well hidden? If the culprit strikes again, it's best to catch them off guard."

"But what if it's too late? They could cause you serious harm."

Alexander sighed heavily, knowing that Otto would never relent. "Fine. But you stay out of sight and only intervene if absolutely necessary."

Otto nodded in agreement, and the two of them continued on their way, Alexander hoping that the sense of control he projected was enough to keep the fears and doubts at bay.

As Alexander motioned to enter the coach, Otto understood that he was about to head back to the Castle. "Will you also follow me into the carriage?" Alexander said accusingly, and Otto backed away. "Remember what I said: unless it's absolutely necessary, be sure to hide yourselves."

"Understood," Otto replied, making himself scarce.

Alexander got into the coach, and the coachman started the horses, setting the cart rolling. He was grateful, yet pained at the same time, to finally be on his way. A knot twisted in his stomach as every bump in the gravelly road away from the Ball felt like a physical manifestation of the distance between him and Evelina.

Deep in contemplation, he was interrupted when the coach suddenly stopped. "What is Reginald's deal now, halting the coach like that?" A scowl marred his face as irritation set in. He was half-standing to demand an explanation when the door flung open, and he quickly caught sight of Evelina as she made to seat beside him.

He stylishly and quietly sat back down. Alexander's heart raced with a mixture of excitement, anger, and bitterness as he watched Evelina struggle for breath. Her presence both thrilled and terrified him, like the sharp edge of a blade that both lured him in and threatened to cut him deeply.

Twice that night, he had encountered her struggling to breathe. Who was she running from?

"Hello, Evelina," Alexander muttered as the cart started rolling. A part of him wanted to laugh at Otto and his men for slacking, he knew they had spotted Evelina making her way to him. Did they really not know that a woman could be an assassin too? Well, the one beside him clearly was one. A heartssassin.

Alexander noticed how Evelina's shoulders stiffened when he called out to her. He also sensed that she was too much of a coward to look at him after the spiteful words she had said to him.

But she did turn to look at him. "Your Grace," she muttered, barely above a whisper. Alexander scoffed.

"There's something I would like to know, Evelina. Do you go about breaking a man's ego and then come back around rubbing it in his face? Is that the reason you keep trailing me around?" he asked, folding his hands. Evelina looked confused for longer than a minute before attempting to speak.

"I wasn't following you around, Your Grace. I just...there's clearly been a misunderstanding, and I did not know that this particular carriage belonged to you."

"Ah," Alexander scoffed again, but he was mostly tempted to laugh. "A Duke's carriage will only look like a Duke's carriage. Surely the night isn't dull enough to afford you such oversight, Evelina."

Evelina's eyes widened in sudden realization, like a sudden shaft of light piercing through the darkness of her confusion. But it was quickly overshadowed by a sinking feeling in her stomach, like an anchor dragging her deeper and deeper into the depths of despair.

She was tempted to slap herself for how easily she had missed the carriage's identity.

"You should know that silence won't get you out of this," Alexander warned. "If you sought me out because you finally came to your senses about my offer of marriage, you should know that my offer will not come cheap a second time. I will--"

"You have to stop this carriage!" Evelina interrupted frantically.

Alexander sneered at her. "What's the matter with you? I don't have to do anything, and don't you dare raise your voice at me."

"My apologies, Your Grace," Evelina said calmly. "But I really do need to get out now."

Alexander pretended not to hear her and changed the subject. "Where did you tell Reginald to drop you off?"

"Erm, Reginald?" Evelina asked, confused.

"My coachman, yes," Alexander replied with a nod. "What did you tell him outside?"

"That's the problem," Evelina said.

Alexander noticed Evelina beginning to fidget and play with her fingers.

"Wait. Don't tell me you forgot to mention that part," he said, sounding perplexed.

"It's not that. I did tell him my destination, but I may not have made it clear enough. I said he could drop me off anywhere, and I would be fine with that," Evelina replied.

"Is that so?" Alexander asked with a cynical smirk. Evelina noticed the smirk immediately.

"Why is that? Is that bad? Have I done something wrong?" she asked.

"Whether you've done something wrong or not shouldn't concern me, Evelina," Alexander stated coldly. "I shouldn't care for the woman who blatantly refused my offer a while ago. Rest assured that this carriage will not stop anywhere else but Burnsbury."

As Alexander finished, Evelina felt a sense of terror grip her heart. It was like a dark cloud settling over her, a warning of trouble ahead. She was at his mercy once again, and there was nothing she could do about it.

This novel is exclusive to Web Novel, please contact me through the chapter comments if you find that all or any part of this publication is being uploaded elsewhere (on another site). Thank you.