Page 40 of Evie and Louis: The Story so Far

Mr Godwin nodded, perking up now Louis was taking part in the conversation. “I know! The kind of gal that makes one feel better, even if you didn’t realise you were blue devilled. Do you know what I mean?”

“Yes,” Louis said with a sigh. “I know just what you mean.” He shot Mr Godwin a sideways glance, wondering if he too had designs on Evie.

“Reckon Cyril is after courting her. Don’t you?”

“Certainly. Aren’t you?” Louis asked, though he wondered why he would punish himself with the discovery of another man after his Evie.

“Me?” the fellow said, wide-eyed. “Oh, no. I mean, she’s splendid, don’t get me wrong, but she don’t look at me that way. I know I’m no oil painting, but a fellow likes to be wanted all the same, don’t he? No, I shall find a lady one day who looks at me like I’ve hung the moon, or I’ll stay a bachelor, I reckon. No point in settling for less, to my mind.”

Louis brightened and felt a rush of fellow feeling towards the loquacious young man. “None at all,” he agreed. “I think you are very wise.”

“Crikey,” said Mr Godwin, his mouth quirking with amusement. “I’d be careful saying things like that out loud. People will think you’re queer in your attic.”

Louis laughed and then turned his gaze back to the crowd, seeking out Evie once more. “Do you think Mr Hadley-Smythe in with a chance?” he asked, telling himself he was a fool but unable to stop all the same.

“Perhaps. Though she could do better if you ask me,” Godwin said frankly.

Louis decided he liked Barnaby Godwin.

“Monsieur Godwin, would you care to seek some refreshment? I appear to be out of champagne.”

To Louis’ amusement, Mr Godwin looked at him rather like he’d just been invited to drink ambrosia on Mount Olympus. “Oh, I say. That’s dashed decent of you. I should like that, only do call me Barnaby. I mean, if you’d like to, that is?”

“Certainly, Barnaby, and I am Louis César,” Louis added, feeling magnanimous. Barnaby looked like he might burst with pride and just stood there gaping, with his mouth opening and closing. Louis patted the fellow on the back and guided him toward the refreshments room, praying he’d find a waiter en route to save him the bother. He needed a drink.

“Where is he?” Evie whispered to Viv as the two of them strolled arm-in-arm around the enormous ballroom.

“Over there, to the right of the Russian minister and Baroness Brunow.”

Evie craned her neck to no avail until an elderly lady in a revolting puce gown moved and revealed Mr August Lane-Fox speaking to the Earl of Vane. “Oh, yes, I see him now. Yes, he is handsome, I agree. They both are, actually,” she added, observing the two men together.

“Vane is too much an enigma. One never knows what he’s thinking. I find Mr Lane-Fox more appealing. He is refreshingly honest, for one. Perhaps a touch too honest for my vanity. I find him very handsome indeed, though perhaps not when compared to Monsieur le Comte,” Viv said, tilting her head to regard the two men critically.

“No one is as handsome as Louis,” Evie said with a laugh. “He’s an anomaly. We cannot hold mere mortals up for comparison. It’s unfair.”

“Ashburton could perhaps match him, though I admit they are very different. He is light and ice to the comte’s dark fire. My, can you imagine the two of them side by side? Half the women in the room would faint,” Viv said with a snort of amusement.

Evie chuckled. “I’d arrange it for you, but Ashburton cried off at the last moment. I suspect Montagu is not pleased.”

“Poor Pip,” Viv said, smirking. “He’ll have hell to pay if he’s displeased his father.”

“I know. Even though I doubt Montagu will so much as raise his voice. He never shouts, you know. Thomas says his quiet admonition is far worse and that he’d rather be pilloried than disappoint his father, but that’s only because they admire him so.”

Viv nodded, though it was clear she was no longer listening, her rapt gaze focused on the man across the ballroom.

“So, he said he admires you, but you are too much for him,” Evie said, summing up the conversation Viv had relayed to her.

“Yes,” Viv said with a sigh.

“Well, if he likes and admires you, that’s half the battle won. You must only convince him you can be quiet and docile—”

Viv pulled such a face that Evie burst out laughing. She had a point, though. No one would believe that in a million years.

“Or—” she said, her voice trembling with amusement. “Convince him he doesn’t want a wife like that at all.”

“That is my only option, I know,” Viv said thoughtfully. “How, though? Oh, drat it, here comes Lord Barclay to claim his dance. I’ll see you after.”

Evie nodded and watched her go, and was about to return to the refreshments room for a drink when she was startled to discover Mr Lane-Fox and Lord Vane in front of her.