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“Not at the moment, thank you. I believe I will take a short nap. I will be attending the ball this evening, so if you could be here later to help me prepare, I would appreciate it.”
“Of course, my lady.” Mary curtsied politely and left.
No sooner had Ally fallen asleep than another knock came on the door. “Drat!” she said. Who on earth could that be now? “Come in,” she called.
Mary entered again. “I’m so sorry to disturb you, my lady, but Lord Evan has requested that you ready yourself for dinner.”
Requested, had he? “You may tell Lord Evan that I will be skipping dinner this evening and napping until it is time to get ready for the evening’s festivities.”
“I’m sorry, my lady. Lord Evan is master of the manor when neither his father nor brother is present. I cannot tell him anything of the sort.”
Ally sat up and let out a heavy sigh. “That’s absolutely fine. I shall tell him myself. If you would, please select a gown for me and help me dress.”
“Yes, my lady.”
A while later, Ally walked down the hallway to Evan’s suite and knocked loudly. He ca
me to the door, looking as dashing as ever in his dinner clothes.
“Good evening, Alexandra.”
“I have come to tell you that I shall not be attending dinner this evening,” Alexandra said calmly.
“To the contrary”—Evan adjusted his cravat—“you will be attending dinner, and you will be ready to go within an hour and a half.”
Ally’s dander rose. “I have been traveling all day, as have you. I am still full from my repast after the trip. There is no reason for me to go to dinner with you.”
“There is every reason for you to go.”
“And what may I ask might that be?”
“Because I have said that it will be so.” He gave her a smirk.
Oh, he had a lot of nerve, this one. So determined to be controlling.
“You have no authority over me.” Her cheeks warmed. How she wished that were so. But her mother and stepfather had left Evan to look after her and Sophie. And Evan, being an honorable man, took his post seriously.
“Very well, then. You do not have to go to dinner. However, if you do not accompany me, I will place you under house arrest for the remainder of the evening, including the ball later. And don’t think you can pay any of these servants off. They have been in the Brighton employ for decades, and they are not so easily swayed. Besides, I have instructed Woods that you are not to be trusted.”
The nerve! She clenched her hands, grabbing fistfuls of her satin gown. “Does it make you feel like more than a second son to exercise such control over another human being?”
“Alexandra, none of this gives me any pleasure. If I had it my way, I would still be in Wiltshire at the estate, passing a pleasant and relaxing evening reading a good book in my bedchamber after having dealt with my business issues, which I’ve had to neglect due to your insolence. I have no use for the season or its balls. And I have no use for dining with the Earl of St. Clair and his wife this evening. However, his daughter is betrothed to my brother, and it would be bad form not to accept their invitation. As you are now the daughter of my father’s new countess, it would also be bad form for you not to attend when you are in town.”
“Well goodness, we would never want to have bad form, would we?”
“May I remind you that none of this is of my doing? It is because you ran off to London that I was forced to follow.”
“No one forced you to follow me. I would be perfectly happy being here alone.”
“Yes, yes, of course. Visiting with your friend Lady Hortense, if she indeed exists.”
“Who in the hell is Lady Hortense?” The man was obviously losing his mind.
“Whatever the name is you gave to your fictitious friend. I am not such a complete dolt that I didn’t see through that.”
“Oh.” Ally laughed nervously. “You are speaking of Miss Prudence Spofford. Of course, I plan to see her tomorrow.”
“Prudence, Hortense, whoever. I don’t for a moment believe that this person exists. However, if you insist upon keeping up the charade, fine. I would love to make Miss Spofford’s acquaintance tomorrow.”
