Page 29

A fter she left Anthony and the heated discussion about money she was in no way finished with, Evie and Prue went to their rooms. They weren’t large, but big enough, considering they had shared a room and bed in London. Prue’s was across the hall, and their father’s next to her.

Everywhere she looked inside the Hampton manor house was grand.

From the furniture to the floorings and drapes.

Floor after floor of wonderful antiques and paintings.

It was by far the largest house she’d ever entered, and she could not wait to explore.

But first she’d just rest for a while because that bed looked comfortable.

An hour later she woke disorientated. The illness had made her weak and tired, and it would take time for her strength to return.

Rising, she washed and then changed into a new dress.

This one was a simple apricot in soft material that fell in elegant folds to the floor.

She’d never worn anything like it before.

A dress Anthony had paid for. That soured her pleasure in wearing it slightly.

She knew pride influenced her feelings, but Evie felt humiliated because the Spencers couldn’t afford their own clothes.

As there was nothing she could do about this now, she left her room in search of her family and food. She knocked on Prue’s door. When she didn’t answer, Evie tried her father’s, but there was no answer there either.

Hoping she didn’t get lost, Evie headed left and thankfully found stairs.

She saw glimpses through windows of manicured lawns and bordered gardens.

The furniture smelled of lemon polish and was expensive and elegant.

Stopping to study the contents of glass-fronted cabinets, Evie wondered if Anthony’s estate looked anything like this.

Did he have more than one? Not that she’d ever see them.

However, he interested her, so it was natural to be curious, or so she told herself.

It was nothing to do with the kiss he’d given her in his carriage. He’d been pleased to see her, she was sure of it, just as she had to see him. It was ridiculous how one man could make her heart beat faster. A man she had no rights to, Evie reminded herself.

The chandelier when she reached the bottom was bigger than any she’d seen, and she was excessively pleased it was not her job to dust it.

Evie stood, staring up, awed at the light catching on the glass for long seconds, until the sound of someone clearing their throat drew her eyes to the enormous doorway.

“Miss Spencer.”

She watched Miss Beasley approach and with her was Miss Little, who was now looking a great deal better than last time Evie saw her.

“Miss Little, I am pleased to see you have fully recovered,” Evie said noting how uncomfortable both young ladies looked.

“Oh, Miss Spencer, I can never say thank you enough for what you did for me,” Miss Little rushed to say. “What you did…” Miss Little pressed her hand to her lips. “W-was so incredibly brave.”

“I know I have no right to ask this of you, Miss Spencer,” Miss Beasley then spoke in a subdued voice. “But I would ask your forgiveness for the way I have behaved toward you this season.”

Both ladies looked ready to cry.

“Please, there is no need—”

“I would be dead were it not for you!” Miss Little ran at Evie then and hugged her tightly. She had surprisingly strong arms.

Evie, never comfortable with displays of affection from people she didn’t know, awkwardly patted her back. “It’s all right, Miss Little. Really,” she added as the girl started sobbing.

“What I did that night to you is unforgivable,” Miss Beasley said, stepping closer to Evie and the still sobbing Miss Little. “I’m so sorry, but when Lord Cavendish asked me to lure you outside for him, I knew it was my chance, you see. I enlisted my mother’s help.”

“Chance for what?” Evie asked as she gently eased Miss Little back.

“To ensure you did not marry Lord Hamilton,” Miss Beasley said in a wobbly voice. She too was close to tears. “My mother wished me to wed him.”

“I see,” Evie said, understanding exactly in that moment the pressure Miss Beasley’s mother had put on her.

“Helena!”

Looking to the door behind the two women, Evie watched Lady Beasley enter.

“Come here at once.”

“I am speaking with Miss Spencer, Mother, and apologizing for our behavior.”

“I have nothing to apologize for! You will come here now,” Lady Beasley said.

“No, I won’t, Mother. I will return shortly. Lucinda and I are thanking Miss Spencer for saving her life also.”

Lady Beasley looked ready to commit murder, but instead turned and walked back out the door.

“Please, do not fall into trouble with your mother for me. Your apologies are accepted,” Evie said.

“I realized after you saved Lucinda, Miss Spencer, that I was horrid to you, and I found I did not like the woman I had become. Especially when you willingly risked your own life to save someone who had not been nice to you.” Miss Little, who was still clutching Evie, sobbed harder.

“We all have our faults, Miss Beasley,” Evie said easing out of Miss Little’s grip again. “Mine are many, as my family will tell you, but I think it is important to be honorable and kind each day, if you can be nothing else.”

Miss Little pressed her face into the handkerchief Miss Beasley thrust at her.

“Yes, I am going to try and do that,” Miss Beasley said.

“And now I am extremely hungry. Would you point me to somewhere there is a table full of food?” Evie said.

“Thank you for your forgiveness. I’m not sure were our roles reversed I would have been as generous,” Miss Beasley added.

“Do you know, I think you would have,” Evie said. “Shall we move on from this moment?” Both girls nodded.

They informed her where the food was and that there was a croquet competition taking place on the west side of the house.

They escorted her outside, and then Miss Beasley and Miss Little went to where their mothers sat with a group of other women. Evie hoped Lady Beasley was not too hard on her daughter.

She followed a path around the outside of the house, taking in the lovely green hills in the distance and the gardens she was going to explore.

Entering another door, she found a sideboard with several platters full of tempting food.

The room was empty bar an elderly gentleman snoring loudly slumped in a chair.

Picking up a plate Evie loaded it with small sandwiches and a wedge of plum cake.

Wandering back outside she stood studying her surroundings and devoured everything.

“Hello, Miss Spencer.”

She tried not to stiffen as Mr. Calthorpe appeared. Evie nodded.

“Are you going to inspect the croquet my cousin has set up for the guests?”

“I am at present eating, sir. Perhaps after.” She crammed another mouthful of cake in so she couldn’t speak again.

“I will escort you.”

She shook her head, then fought to swallow. The cake wedged, and she coughed but got it down without spitting it all over him. Not that he didn’t deserve that.

“Are you all right?”

Evie nodded.

He did not have the mean look of his friend Cavendish. However, he had been present when Evie was lured outside and stood by with his sister to watch as she struggled to get free. His jaw only showed a faded tinge of yellow now from the punch Anthony had given it.

“I’m sorry, Miss Spencer, for my behavior. It was unforgivable.”

Evie wondered what it was about this place that people suddenly felt the need to apologize to her?

“I’m afraid I should have known better, but Lord Cavendish has been my friend for some time you see.”

“I wonder he is still your friend, sir, if he has questionable behavior.”

“We have been friends since childhood,” Mr. Calthorpe added. “It is not easy to walk away from that.”

She nodded, unsure what to say, because unlike Miss Beasley she didn’t want to forgive this man, because he’d played a hand in mistreating Anthony and his friends. That, as far as she was concerned, was something she would never forgive or forget.

“Excuse me,” Evie said taking her plate back inside.

She then selected two large sugar biscuits and hoped Mr. Calthorpe would be gone when she returned.

He’d said “my cousin” so that meant Lord Hampton and he were related.

Her mother always used to say you can’t pick your family members, but your friends you could be fussier with.

Walking outside she saw no sign of him and started down the path in the direction she hoped to find the croquet, or at least her family.

Her feet crunched on the path as she nibbled on the first biscuit.

On either side, trees rose and then met in the middle above her, creating a canopy that allowed shafts of sunlight to peek through.

She couldn’t see around the trees to where the trail led but heard someone approaching.

“Hello, you’re awake.” Anthony appeared, his face softening as he smiled at her.

The man was just too much of everything. Too large, too handsome, too appealing. She could go on but stopped herself and swallowed the mouthful of biscuit she’d just taken.

“Hello, is the croquet that way?” Evie pointed her biscuit in the direction he’d come from.

“It is. Is that for me?” He stopped before her. Not an acceptable distance away, and far too close.

“Pardon?”

“Is that biscuit for me?” He pointed to her right hand.

“I have a father and sister. You don’t think it could be for them? Or that I wish to eat it after I have finished this one?” She raised her left hand to show the half-eaten biscuit.

“Well, to save you the dilemma of to whom to give it, I shall eat it.” He then lifted her hand and took a bite while she was still holding it.

It was something a couple who were in love may do.

Or a couple who had been married for many years and actually liked each other.

It was not something two fake engaged people should do.

It made her feel weak at the knees, watching his dark head lower and those white teeth taking a bite of her biscuit.

Evie took a step back, but because he was holding her wrist she did not get far.

“Are you scared of me, Evangeline?”

In that moment, she understood all those rumors about him. He looked dangerous and wicked standing in the shadow of the trees with small pockets of light dancing around him.

“Why would I be scared of you?”

“Because your pulse is fluttering right here.” He tugged her closer and used his other finger to trace the skin over her pulse.

“Why are you touching me?” Evie was never one to talk around a subject.

“Because I can’t seem to stop myself.” His eyes were serious now.

“You should try.”

The finger moved down, and she swallowed, making a gulping sound. He then cupped her cheek.

“Anthony.” The name came out breathy and not at all like the way she usually sounded.

“Evie,” he whispered and then he was kissing her. Her wrist was released and Anthony’s arms wrapped around her, pulling her into his hard body.

For the first time in her life, Evie felt fragile. His arms crushed her to him, and his mouth took hers in a slow, sensual exploration that had her reeling. Her hands clutched the lapels of his jacket to both steady herself and hold him close.

“Open your mouth.”

She obeyed the command, and he deepened the kiss, and Evie lost the ability to think at all. Lost every thought but one. Anthony.