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Evie scrunched up her nose.

It was more likely that Daniel allowed her to receive callers at Ashton Hall, not out of the goodness of his heart, but because he wanted to keep an eye on who was calling on her.

Which brought to mind another question—why were her gentlemen callers so drastically reduced? Had it been at Blackthorn Estate, the parlor would have been bustling with activity already.

If someone said that Daniel had nothing to do with the scarcity of her visitors, Evie would not have believed it.

“Perhaps they are simply afraid of him.” She shrugged. “Who could blame them? He can most certainly be quite vexing.”

“Vexingmight not actually be the term I would use.” Phoebe smiled demurely. “His Grace is rather…forbidding.”

Evie snorted at that.Forbiddingwas putting it lightly—the man was a walking thundercloud. How he ever became friends with her brother was a total mystery to her.

How Colin could ever think that it was a good idea to entrust her tohimwas even more unfathomable. Love must have seriously altered her brother so much for him to have considered such a thing.

“Well, you have been fortunate to not spend a significant amount of time in his presence,” Evie reasoned. “But it is nothing that I cannot handle, in any case.”

“You truly are extremely brave.” Her friend shot her a hesitant smile. “Alice was exactly the same.”

Evie could not help but laugh a little at the mention of her resolute sister-in-law, who was also Phoebe’s older sister. In her case, however, she simply had to deal with Colin’s stubbornness.

Daniel was a whole different category.

“As long as you say that nothing is amiss, I shall believe you.” Phoebe set her cup down and delicately wiped her mouth with a napkin. “Well, I shall not take up all of your time, dearest. Besides, you know how Mama gets absolutely worried every time I go out…”

With one daughter making one of the most successful matches last Season, it was perfectly understandable for the Marchioness of Brandon to be so fretful.

Evie laughed and accompanied her friend to the door. “And I shall not keep you overlong, lest Lady Brandon should find some fault in our friendship. Will you be attending the opera next week?”

Phoebe nodded. “Mama insists that I should not miss it.”

“Of course.”

“By the way…” Her friend looked at her hesitantly. “Scarlett and I are going to the park tomorrow to promenade. You should come with us, Evie. It is so much better with you.”

Evie nodded and smiled. “All right. I shall be there tomorrow.”

The two young ladies exchanged a few more pleasantries before Phoebe finally boarded her carriage, with her maid trailing after her.

Evie was still smiling when she closed the door. However, when she turned around, she could not help but let out a short scream.

Standing just a short distance from her was none other than Daniel himself. He crossed his arms over his chest and glowered at her.

“Going somewhere?”

Evie lifted her chin in defiance. “That is none of your business.”

“On the contrary, sweetheart, it is very much my business?—”

“I know, I know!” Evie threw her hands up in frustration. “My foolish brother left me in your care.”

He snorted. “Seeing as you are well aware of it, I shall ask you again—where are you going?”

“Nowhere.” She glared at him. “With you breathing down my neck at every opportunity, how am I supposed to go anywhere? I will have no future, no prospects—nothing.”

“Good.”

Evie felt like exploding. The man was not only insufferable, but he was also determined to ruin her life!