Page 26 of Evie and Louis: The Story so Far

“I ought never to have told you a damned thing in the first place,” he said darkly. “I am not a good friend to you, Evie.”

Evie reached out and took his hand. “Don’t say that. You are the best friend, Louis. My best friend. Please… don’t stop being my friend. I could not bear it.”

Louis didn’t look at her, but squeezed her fingers before he withdrew his hand. “Non. I won’t stop, though I ought.” He returned to his work and then straightened, standing back to look at her. “Lovely.”

Evie smiled, knowing he was being kind, but confident that it must look a good deal better than the horror she had given him. “Thank you so much. I don’t know how you did it, but I won’t feel such a fright now stood beside all the beauties.”

“Merde, stop speaking of yourself so, Evie!” he said, his voice hard and his eyes flashing with irritation. “You are forever doing that. It is they who should compare themselves to you, and don’t you forget it.”

Evie looked at him in surprise, taken aback by the vehemence of his anger. “Yes, Louis,” she said meekly, uncertain once again of his mood and deciding it was best simply to agree with him. “Would you undo me, please?” she asked, turning her back on him.

She waited, but he didn’t move. Evie glanced over her shoulder at him. “Well, I can’t do it by myself, so unless you want me to sleep in it—”

“Dieu ait pitié,” he grumbled, but began deftly undoing the dress.

Evie held her breath until the bodice sagged and then scurried behind the bookshelves again. She had just unlaced the corset and put it aside when he spoke.

“You can manage now, I think. I had better go.”

“Oh, no, wait!” Forgetting herself entirely, she went to stop him and then realised she wore only her shift as Louis swore violently and turned his back on her. “Putain! Evie, for the love of God!”

Evie gave a little shriek and disappeared again. “Sorry, I forgot!” she said, mortified as she stripped off the shift and dressed again in her nightclothes.

“I think you forget a great deal, Evie,” he said, and he sounded really cross now. “You forget just who and what I am. I’m not another damned debutante, you do realise that? I’m a man, and an unmarried one. I think sometimes you want us to be caught so you’ll be ruined!”

“I do not!” she retorted, for really, that was dreadfully unfair. “I would never do that to you, Louis. You know I wouldn’t. I know you don’t wish to be married, and it would spoil everything and make us both wretched.”

“Yes,” he said, his voice tight. “It would. So have a care.”

“Yes, Louis.” She peeked around the bookshelves at him. He still had his back to her, his shoulders set. “I’m sorry if I embarrassed you,” she added contritely, though as an inexperienced virgin she could not help but find his outrage somewhat entertaining in the circumstances.

Louis snorted and let out a breath. “Oui, I know. Now give me the wretched gown. I’ll have it sent to you once it is finished, but you must take the shift and corset now.”

Evie nodded and gathered up her things, hugging the box to her chest. She gave him an awkward smile, unsure if he was still angry with her. “Thank you for everything, and I am sorry for being such a trial to you.”

He smiled then, and she thought he looked tired, though his expression was warm, the first proper smile she’d had from him all evening, she realised. “You are not a trial, ma puce, but a joy, and I am unworthy of your friendship. Forgive me for being so cross and unkind.”

“You’re never unkind, Louis,” she said honestly.

“Ah, but I am,” he said, and though she did not understand his words, some sixth sense told her she had better not question him. Instead, she bade him goodnight, and hurried back to her room.

Chapter 15

The Mistletoe Dare

14th December 1840, Beverwyck, London.

“Good heavens, Evie!” Georgie said, staring at her friend in wonder.

“Oh, dear. It’s too much, isn’t it?” Evie fretted, covering her cleavage with her gloved hands. “I knew I ought not to have listened to… to my sister.” She flushed and bit her lip.

Georgie shook her head vigorously. “No! No, that’s not what I meant at all. I mean… you look beautiful. Splendid. My word, that gown. Wherever did you get it?”

Evie mumbled something Georgie didn’t hear, but took her arm, hurrying down the corridor to the stairs. “You’re sure? I don’t want to make a spectacle of myself.”

“I’m quite sure. You’ve never looked better. Truly.”

Evie returned a pleased smile. “Thank you, Georgie. I think I needed to hear that tonight. You look stunning too, you know, but then you always do.”