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How was she supposed to compete againstthat?

“Well, all the more reason you should at least try!” Scarlett persisted. “You will never know the outcome unless you do.”

“I do not know, Scar.” Evie bit her bottom lip. “Abject humiliation is not something I particularly look forward to.”

“You can start tonight during the fireworks display!” the redhead continued excitedly. “You will be there, will you not?”

Fireworks.

Evie shuddered to think of the multicolored flowers shooting into the sky.

Crackling flames… the sound of wood popping from the extreme heat… her eyes watering from the smoke and heat and imminent death…

“Evie?”

She blinked her eyes and found herself sitting back in the parlor of Ashton Hall. Sunlight filtered through the gauzy curtains, and the soft fragrance of tea wafted up to her nose.

There was no fire. No smoke. Only Phoebe and Scarlett looking at her in concern.

“Apologies,” she muttered, shaking her head. “I was lost in thought for a moment. What was it again?”

Her friends did not seem too convinced, but they knew better than to press her for more details.

Phoebe smiled gently at her. “I was saying that even if you have no desire to seduce your betrothed at Vauxhall tonight, you should at least come, if only so that you might meet Mr. Turner.”

“Mr. Turner?” Evie repeated.

Her best friend nodded. “Mr. Bernard Turner himself.”

Evie smiled weakly. “I believe you are making a rather convincing case, dear Phoebe.”

“You will not come for your betrothed, but you would jump at the chance to meet your favorite painter.” Scarlett shook her head. “If the Duke of Ash heard this, would he not be hopping about in rage?”

“I would not attempt anything foolish if I were you,” Phoebe warned. “His Grace does not seem to be one who takes jokes lightly.”

Evie nearly choked on a scone.

You have absolutely no idea just how right you are…

As her two friends argued about how she could best capture her betrothed’s interest and, eventually, his heart, she could not help but ponder over the most recent information she had received.

Perhaps it would not be so bad, after all.Besides, it has been so long, and the fireworks are way up overhead…

She had initially thought to skip the fireworks display at Vauxhall because she particularlydespisedanything that had to do with fire, but now she had been given a very good reason to make an appearance.

Two, actually.

CHAPTER 15

Daniel was not one for fireworks—although the wholetonusually came out in all their finery every chance they got to watch gunpowder light up the sky in grandiose displays.

Of course, there was nothing greater than an aristocrat’s ego, and every dandy came out of the woodwork to parade about the grounds in all their regalia, never mind that it had rained the night before and the mud was likely to stain their polished boots. Their excited chatter filled the air like a flock of self-absorbed magpies, stifling the atmosphere with their entitlement.

Daniel would have shut himself in his study or the tower had he not heard that Evie would be out to enjoy the display with her friends.

On the surface, it was simply a night of revelry for the members of thebeau monde. A chance for everyone to mingle a little bit more freely. Such opportunities were necessary to keep the marriage mart turning.

Daniel, however, was far more aware of the darker side of these things. Of what transpired in the shadows.