At this point, any aid was better than nothing. “Very well. I accept.”
“Good.” Andrew opened a door in the wall. “Cicely is waiting.”
A half hour later he was armed with a short list of activities Eugénie enjoyed that he could partake in as well. Including her teaching, which took place at the Moravian church on Sundays. Still, unless he wanted to end up reading poetry to her, he’d have to work quickly. There were woefully few things to do on this island.
Cicely narrowed her eyes. “You must promise me something.”
Suddenly he felt like a small child getting caught doing something he shouldn’t. “Anything.”
“You may not—” She paused for a moment as warmth rose in her cheeks. “You will not attempt to seduce Eugénie. If it turns out she does not want you, then she must be free to carry on with her life.”
“My love—” Andrew began.
Cicely held up her hand. “I will have his word.”
“I will not do anything she doesn’t want me to.” There, that didn’t tie his hands as much. Though not marrying Eugénie was not an option Will would freely consider.
“That’s the problem.” Cicely frowned. “She has no resistance to you.”
“Will.” Andrew’s tone expressed a wealth of warning.
Keeping his hands totally off his betrothed was not what Will had in mind. “You have my word.”
She smiled with relief. “Thank you. Believe it or not, I think this will gain you her regard faster than anything else.”
It damn well better. He hoped Cicely was right.
The next morning Will knocked on the door of Wivenly House, with a new fan he’d purchased for her wrapped in paper and tied with a ribbon.
Bates opened the door and bowed. “This way, my lord.” He led him to a small couch located to the side of the large main room. “I shall inform Miss Eugénie you have arrived.”
A maid brought Will a pot of tea and cakes. This was much better treatment than he’d expected, but he’d yet to discover how Eugénie would respond to him.
“The green muslin walking gown.” Cicely nodded emphatically.
Eugénie sighed. Her friend had come over shortly after breakfast and begun taking gowns out of her wardrobe. “Does it really matter what I wear?”
They were only going shopping.
“Of course it does.” Cicely placed her hands on her hips. “It will put you in a better temper.”
“There is nothing wrong with my mood.”
She grabbed Eugénie’s shoulders and turned her so that she faced the mirror. “Indeed?”
The woman gazing back at Eugénie looked tired and worn. “Oh my. I suppose I do look a bit blue-deviled.”
“Yes, you do.”
Eugénie pulled a face. “You needn’t agree with me so quickly.
“Marisole, can you do something different with my hair?”
“Of course, miss.” Marisole glanced quickly at Cicely. “And I think the green is a good choice.”
Something was going on, and Eugénie was being kept in the dark. “What are the two of you up to?”
Cicely opened her cornflower-blue eyes wide. “Why, nothing at all. We only want you to look your best. That way you will feel more the thing.”
