Sebastian’s gut seized. There were several Hillary men—all brothers—but only one could claim to know Eve.
Ellis met his eye; a knowing glance passed between them. The earl clapped Sir Jonathan on the shoulder. “Sir, have you spoken with Lord Hollister about your expedition to Egypt? He is quite fond of hounds. I’m certain he will be enthralled with the history of Anubis.”
The gentleman brightened. “I haven’t had the honor.”
Ellis pointed to Lord Hollister and nudged Sir Jonathan in the man’s direction.
Sebastian nodded his thanks. His old friend had deftly handled Sir Jonathan. The fewer people who knew Eve might be with Benjamin Hillary, the better.
Ellis fell in step with him as he stalked for the terrace. “They couldn’t have gone far,” he muttered. “We will find them.”
A low growl rumbled in Sebastian’s chest. “When did that coward return?”
“Two days ago. He was listed on the ship’s manifest in the newssheet.”
Damn! Sebastian would have to begin reading the paper again. “I’m going to kill him.”
Benjamin Hillary, the man who had abandoned Eve at the altar, was worse than dead. Sebastian was going to rip him limb from limb.
“Anthony, wait.” Gabrielle hurried after them with Helena close behind.
Sebastian halted midstride and turned to the women. “You will only draw attention if you follow us,” he whispered fiercely.
Gabrielle raised a haughty brow. “As if two grown men dashing off like hounds after a fox is inconspicuous.”
Sebastian’s sarcastic retort died away when Helena threaded her arm with his. “She has a point, my lord, but escorting ladies to the terrace shouldn’t raise any alarms.”
Her touch calmed the storm brewing inside him. He didn’t wait to see if Ellis took his wife in hand. Instead, he forced himself to smile pleasantly at the lady on his arm and pretended he wasn’t going mad with worry.
Once they cleared the ballroom and found the terrace abandoned, Helena dropped his arm and gave him a gentle shove. “Check the garden.”
Surely Eve wasn’t that dim-witted. Hillary had already proven he had no honor. She couldn’t expect him to do the right thing if they were discovered together.
Sebastian raced down the steps into the dark garden. A sliver moon peeked between heavy clouds, shedding little light on the garden path.
Ellis caught up to him at a fork in the path. “I’ll search the west side and you take the east.”
Sebastian nodded sharply. He veered to the east, going deeper into the garden. Fireflies were random beacons in the darkness. He could see nothing but the outlines of bushes. The spiced scent of myrtle was thick on the humid air. A rustle sounded to his left. He froze.
“Go away, Ben. I mean it.” Eve’s exasperated command from the bushes set Sebastian’s blood on fire. With red shrouding his vision and muscles tensed for a fight, he stormed toward the large shrub.
“I’m not leaving until you come back inside, Evie.”
“Just leave me be.”
A stick snapped under Sebastian’s boot.
“What was that?” Eve whispered harshly.
Hillary shushed her. What the hell was the bastard thinking, taking her into the gardens?
Sebastian barreled around the bush, sighted a taller shadow, and slammed the man to the ground. The impact shuddered through him, but he felt no pain. He scrambled to get his feet under him before Hillary could recover from surprise, grabbed the man’s cravat, and drove his fist into his face. Eve’s scream was like a mosquito buzzing in Sebastian’s ears.
He had two years of pent-up fury for the man who had broken his sister’s heart and ruined her. Hillary fought back and got a solid connection with Sebastian’s cheekbone, but the hit only fueled his rage.
“Sebastian, stop!”
He landed another facer and slammed his opponent in the ribs before someone grabbed him and jerked him off Hillary. He struggled to break free of the arms trapping his.
“Not here, Thorne,” Ellis growled in his ear. “Ladies are present. Your sister.”
Eve. Sebastian stopped fighting. His chest jerked with each breath. Hillary attempted to push up from the ground.