And at her throat… his necklace. She still had not been able to bring herself to take it off, for it really was exquisite, and it reallydidsuit her very well.
“Never you mind who it is,” Margery said firmly. “He shall have to wait until you’re ready.”
It did little to relax Evelyn, her eyes wide as she stared at her reflection, watching as the housekeeper fashioned her hair into neat curls, pinned tightly into place.
Fifteen minutes later, however, footsteps thudded on the stairs, echoing across the landing in the direction of Evelyn’s bedchamber. She held her breath as the footsteps drew closer, until her eyes bulged with the effort, though she still jolted when the knock came at the door.
“Evelyn?” It was Luke, sounding rather strange.
“I am still getting ready,” Evelyn called back.
“You should probably hurry, or at least pause if you are decent,” he said. “There is a… visitor for you.”
Evelyn frowned at Margery, who shrugged. “Who is it?”
“A gentleman,” Luke replied.
“The baron?”
“No, not him,” Luke said, hesitating a moment before adding, “It is the Duke of Ravenvale.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
She seems surprised to see me,Hugo mused.
Although that might have been an understatement, for Evelyn was standing in the doorway of the drawing room as if she had just seen a ghost. Hugo was beginning to wonder if they would have to conduct their conversation with her hovering on the threshold, not daring to set foot inside the room.
The view was not something he had any intention of complaining about. She looked exquisite in that unusually colored gown that she had worn to the opera, and he had not missed the pleasing sight of his necklace around her throat, the lower of the two thin chains draping over her collarbone.
Her necklace,he reminded himself. He had just been the one to buy it.
Her hair was half done, curled and pinned on one side, but smooth and hastily held in place with a hair slide on the otherside. Absently, he wondered what her hair looked like when it was down, unfettered by adornments and styles, just falling naturally. Would it be wavy or straight? How long was it? Would it be soft and silky if he were to run his hands through it?
“Apologies for the intrusion,” he said, since she was not going to be the one to speak first. “I understand that you have an engagement this evening, so I shall not trouble you for long.”
The word ‘engagement’ stuck in his throat like a fishbone, especially as he had been informed that it was her betrothed that she would be dining with this evening. Josiah Bartlett had been most brusque and impatient at the idea that anything might delay the occasion, but Hugo had been insistent upon speaking to Evelyn before he departed.
“What are you doing here?” Evelyn finally said, edging into the room. “Is something the matter with Octavia? I meant to visit her but… I have not yet found the time.”
Her hesitation invited assumptions as to the true reason that she had not visited his sister: either her father had not permitted her to leave the townhouse, or she had not wished to cross paths with Hugo.
“There is nothing the matter with my sister,” he replied.
Evelyn frowned. “Then, why are you here?”
“I came to call upon you because… I have finally reached an agreement with Miss Parsons,” he said with as bright a smile as he could muster, despite seeing her in that gown, knowing it was for the admiration of someone else.
For a short while, she seemed frozen, unblinking. “You are… to be wed?”
“What? No.” He could have smacked himself for the mistake. “What I mean is, we have come to an agreement about the last of our outings. It is to take place tomorrow at the botanical gardens. I thought you should know of it, since you will undoubtedly be in attendance.”
Evelyn’s features began to thaw, and she moved further into the room until she reached the opposite settee. Gingerly, she perched on the edge, her hands clasped in her lap, her posture stiff as if she were not at all comfortable.
“Selina did not mention it, but I have not seen her either,” she said.
“I was passing,” he insisted.
Her throat bobbed. “Yes, well, thank you for telling me. However, I imagine that my dear friend would prefer to have the last outing with you on her own.” She cleared her throat. “I have a lot to contend with, so I am not sure that I will have the time to accompany Selina. Her chaperone will suffice.”
