“Berta!” Lady Falburton shouted. “Lock Lady Emily in her room.”

A maid shuffled quickly past them and up the stairs. Everton took the chance to throw an elbow at Lord Silverstone and twist out of Lord Falburton’s grasp. The butler still stood on the bottom step, blocking his way. He was at least a foot shorter than Lord Bryant and two decades older, but his face showed no fear—only a mouth set hard with determination.

“I may have let you disturb my Lord and Ladyship, but you won’t be disturbing Lady Emily.”

The fierce loyalty in the man’s eyes stilled Everton. He was the first person in the household to show real concern for Lady Emily’s welfare. It took all the bluster out of him.

Everton was the scoundrel here.

How easily he could forget.

Mrs. Cuthbert apologized and pulled on his arm. “Lord Bryant hasn’t been himself lately. You will have to forgive him.”

Lord Falburton rubbed his wrist and glared at Everton. “He isn’t to set foot in this household again.”

“Of course,” Mrs. Cuthbert said. “Of course.”

Everton allowed himself to be pulled to the door. All of his limbs had lost their strength. Under her breath, Mrs. Cuthbert was cursing him, which he rightly deserved. He had been too distracted helping Diana. He had not been available to Lady Emily when he should have been. Barging into her bedroom to try to alleviate his guilt at his failure would help no one, least of all her.

The butler managed to open the door for them but gave no bow as they left. With a sudden rush of returned energy, Everton turned and put his foot in the door. The butler held firm against the door and did not open it to him. His face was as stoic as before. No matter. Everton wasn’t trying to regain entrance. He only wanted to ask one question.

“How is Lady Emily faring through this?”

The butler’s eyes scrunched together, and the pressure against his foot relaxed enough that had he wanted to, Everton could have pushed his way back into the house. But he had been ridiculous enough for one evening.

“Is she well?”

The butler looked behind himself before leaning forward. “Lady Emily is as she always is.”

Everton closed his eyes slowly, then opened them again. “Resigned?” he asked.

The butler nodded his head once.

Everton cursed but removed his foot, and the door shut with a soft clink that defied all the noise that had just been held therein.

“What in heaven’s name did you hope to accomplish by barging up to a lady’s bedroom?” Mrs. Cuthbert hissed under her breath.

Everton scuffed his foot like a misbehaving schoolboy. “I wasn’t thinking.”

“That was quite obvious.” Mrs. Cuthbert pulled him away from the door. He was tired of being pulled around and ripped his arm away from her as they descended the stairs.

“What was I supposed to do?”

Mrs. Cuthbert knew he couldn’t sit idly by while a woman as timid as Lady Emily was taken advantage of.