Page 5 of Evie and Louis: The Story so Far

Dear Grace,

Of course I didn’t fall in love with him, you great ninny. Yes, he is very beautiful indeed, but he is my friend, and he was so very poorly. I only kept him company and read to him a little when he was well enough to leave his bed and come to the parlour. He was so worried about Agatha I had to do something to take his mind off her or he would have fretted himself to death. Anyway, never mind that, have you persuaded your papa to let you come out early or is he still insisting you wait until you are eighteen? I should so like to have your company.

―Excerpt of a letter from Miss Evie Knight, (daughter of Lady Helena and Mr Gabriel Knight) to Miss Grace Weston, (daughter of Baron Solo Rothborn and Lady Jemima Rothborn).

Dear Evie,

Are you quite certain the comte is well again? I have been so terribly worried. Do you know when he is coming back to town?

―Excerpt of a letter from Miss Arabella Hunt, (Daughter of Nathanial and Alice Hunt) to Miss Evie Knight, (daughter of Lady Helena and Mr Gabriel Knight)

Monsieur le Comte,

I am glad to hear you have recovered and that Miss Aggie is in good spirits and has returned to school. There was really no need to send such a lavish bouquet in thanks for reading to you and keeping you company during your convalescence. I assure you it was no hardship, but I must admit I enjoyed the look on our butler’s face when he realised that glorious arrangement of hothouse blooms was for me and not Florence. I’ve never received flowers before, so it was a shock to everyone. I shall pretend to everyone who calls that I have an admirer and they will be wild with curiosity. Perhaps I will invent a handsome Italian Count with wicked intentions? For Frenchmen are ten a penny these days, you know.

―Excerpt of a letter from Miss Evie Knight, (Daughter of Lady Helena and Mr Gabriel Knight) to Louis César de Montluc, Comte de Villen.

Miss Evie,

I shall take my flowers back again, you ungrateful creature.

―Excerpt of a letter from Louis César de Montluc, Comte de Villen to Miss Evie Knight, (Daughter of Lady Helena and Mr Gabriel Knight)

Dear Louis,

I am so sorry I missed you when you called. I would have stayed if I’d known you were coming. Anything is better than being poked and pinned by Madame Blanchet, but Mama insists I must have some new gowns. I don’t see why, as I’ve barely worn the last ones, and no one notices what I wear.

Anyway, I read the note you left and really, how can you be so muddle headed as to think this dreadful scandal in any way your fault? I adore Arabella and she is the sweetest, kindest girl in the world, so I cannot understand what possessed her to do such a shocking thing. Well, indeed, I do know as Florence told me. She took a dare from a hat and… well never mind what prompted her. Arabella’s actions were her own and, much as my heart bleeds for her, you have nothing to reproach yourself for.

―Excerpt of a letter from Miss Evie Knight (daughter of Lady Helena and Mr Gabriel Knight) to Louis César de Montluc, Comte de Villen.

Chapter 3

Dare to Cause a Scandal

12th June 1839, Half Moon Street, London.

“Oh, but they were delicious,” Florence Knight said, licking the last remnants of cream from her fingers. “I regret nothing.”

“Easy for you to say. You won’t have to get your gowns let out again,” her younger sister, Evie, said with a sigh as she regarded her empty plate. “And Madame Blanchet always looks so disappointed in me.”

Though her sister Florence could rival Vivien for looks, Evie was plain and plump, and people tended to overlook her. This was a mistake, for Evie was clever, funny, and accomplished, and far more than one might think at first glance. Still, the girl seemed content to let her older sister shine and did not show the least sign of resentment.

“Oh, come on Arabella,” Greer Cadogan said. The girl was practically bouncing with excitement, but then Greer seemed to be constantly in motion, unable to sit still for long.

“Very well,” Arabella said, reaching for the hat.

It was rather a battered old thing now. A man’s top hat, the edges of the brim worn. It had belonged to their mothers, or The Peculiar Ladies as they called themselves. It had begun as a book club on the face of it, though it seemed from the stories that very few books had ever been discussed. It had become a group of friends who were stronger together than apart, who supported each other come what may, all of them bound by this hat, and the dares that had changed their lives. Arabella wanted that change, too. She was in love, hopelessly in love, with a beautiful man who either did not know she existed or did not wish to acknowledge the fact. Something must be done. Something drastic. She must either make him notice her, or put him behind her once and for all, and she felt certain the hat would help her do it.

“Is everyone ready?” she asked, finding her heart was beating extremely fast.

There was silence around the room, the tension palpable, but everyone nodded.

“Here, let me hold it, at least,” Cat said, taking the hat from her.

Arabella let the girl take it and drew in a slow breath.

“What if we can’t read the dares?” Vivien asked. “Some of them are very old and faded.”