“I do not see your bride, brother. Please, do gesture in her direction.”
Luke expelled an annoyed sigh. “I have time, Evelyn. You do not. You are two and twenty.”
“I might be mistaken, but I would think thatyourmarriage would be of greater importance, considering you are the heir,” she pointed out, surprised by her own defiance. “Whether I marry or not is of no real importance; it is just of value to you and Matthew and Father because it gets me out of the way, and you can be a family of men, as you have always wished to be.”
He stared at her as if she were a stranger, a faint flush of color coming onto his cheeks as anger radiated out of him. It must have been a shock to him, to hear his sister speak so bluntly, but she was tired of pretending she was invisible, tired of making herself so small that everyone believed they could just step on her.
Fortunately, any chiding she might have received was silenced by the arrival of Selina.
“I have been looking for you everywhere!” she crowed, sliding her arm through Evelyn’s. “I might have known you would beout here, enjoying the remarkable views. Oh, it does make me long to be at the manor instead of in the city.”
Luke bowed politely, his entire demeanor shifting from disgruntled brother and guardian to courteous gentleman. It was not merely because of Selina’s particular beauty either; he would have behaved that way no matter who had interrupted, for Evelyn’s brothers had no problem being civil to everyone but her.
“I was just taking in some fresh air,” Evelyn said, and took a sip of her lemonade, just the right amount of sweet and sour.
“There is a dance floor in the courtyard,” Selina said excitedly, tugging on Evelyn’s arm. “Come, I must show you. It is the most beautiful thing I have ever seen.”
Grateful for the reprieve, Evelyn allowed herself to be dragged away from her brother, though she had no doubt that he would follow at a polite distance. After all, he had been given his orders by their father, and he was nothing if not dutiful.
“You see, Selina, this is another reason why you must set your ambitions higher than Sir Anthony,” Evelyn said as they walked across emerald lawns and snuck through walled gardens that were bursting with color and fragrance, the blooms out in force. “He will not be able to give you a residence like this. I do not even think he has a townhouse.”
Selina groaned and cast her friend a withering look. “He is a man of business, Evie. When his next fleet of ships comes in andall the cargo is sold, he will be as rich as any gentleman here. Richer, no doubt. Besides, I do not care for material things when I shall have the kind of love that every woman dreams of.”
It sounded like foolishness to Evelyn, but she did not want to be left alone at the garden party if she annoyed her friend too much. So she held her tongue, even though Sir Anthony’s promises and reassurances were undoubtedly deceit, more tricks to keep Selina’s heart on his hook.
“Well,myfather is seeking a husband for me,” Evelyn said, barely able to force the words out of her throat. As if by speaking them aloud, it would make it too real.
Selina stopped abruptly and whirled around, staring wide-eyed at Evelyn. “An arranged match?”
Evelyn nodded.
“But… that is… No! He cannot do that,” Selina said, shaking her head. “I realize it has been some time since your debut, but you are not at all on the shelf yet. Why would he do such a thing? Oh, Evie, that is awful!”
Evelyn shrugged. “I should have expected it. Everyone is impatient to see me married and… I am not very good at attracting attention by myself.”
“Nonsense. I am always catching gentlemen looking in your direction,” Selina insisted. “I daresay it is because you aresobeautiful that they lose their nerve before they can come and speak to you.”
Evelyn laughed. “I think you are mistaking me for you.”
“Not at all!” Selina began to pull on Evelyn’s arm again. “I shall show you. We shall have you dancing with someone within the hour; I promise. And though that someone may not end up being your husband, it will certainly show the more anxious gentlemen who are here today that they ought to gather some courage and ask you to dance too.”
It was a lovely fantasy, but it was not the truth. Somehow, it was like the gentlemen of thetoncould sense how small and insignificant she was and, as such, their eyes skimmed over her. That was before she had even become friends with Selina.
Evelyn did not think she was unfortunate looking, and had often wondered if she might be considered pretty, but she was just one among many; she did not stand out. That was the difficulty, for she did not knowhowto stand out, when her entire life had been spent trying to blend in and go unnoticed, so she would not be scolded for one thing or another.
Lively music was playing by the time they reached the sizable courtyard that had been transformed into a temporary dance floor. A small crowd had gathered to watch the couples who were brave enough to dance in such an unusual place, and Evelyn and Selina joined the spectators, making room for themselves on the periphery.
“Now, let us see who might be taking a peek at you,” Selina said, searching the courtyard with brow-furrowing determination.
“There will be more people inside,” Evelyn argued.
And even then, you will be unsuccessful.
In truth, she just wanted to distract her friend, for the disappointment of not being able to catch anyone’s attention would be too much. A crushed hope that she could not afford.
At that moment, a familiar face began to weave through the guests, headed straight in the direction of the two women. The only gentleman that Evelynreallydid not want to see.
What is he doing here?It was not one of the arranged outings, though she supposed it should not have been so strange that the most eligible bachelor in England would be attending a popular garden party.
