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I nodded, ignoring him for the most part. Lord, I hated formality.
“Ah, look at these colors, Amelia…” Miss Radcliffe cooed, pulling her companion over to a glass cabinet of ribbons. While they shopped, I browsed in polite boredom.
The door opened with a jangle, and another young woman entered. We all paused and looked up to see who the newcomer was. In a store so small, it was impossible to ignore each other.
She was pretty, perhaps around twenty years of age, with long blonde hair that fell to her waist in plaits. I thought I recognized something about her, and when she looked up at me, I knew why.
When I was sixteen, I had returned to Rosehill from Eton for the first time. I was no longer innocent, of course… by that age, I had already seen quite a bit. But this girl – Evangeline, was that her name? I couldn’t remember – had been the first girl I had ever courted in the village.
My first and only, I believed. I had hardly ever returned home since then.
“My Lord.” She said, her eyes full of surprise.
She bowed, and then looked up at me with anticipation. The girl clearly rememberedme, that was obvious.
Amelia and Miss Radcliffe were only a few paces away, watching the interaction. The shopkeeper, it seemed, had disappeared into a backroom.
“Good afternoon.” I said, my tone a bit colder than I intended.
She didn’t seem to notice my ambivalence.
“It’s been so long, my Lord…” The woman cooed, looking up at me suggestively. “I’ve missed you.”
I stared at her. Normally, this sort of interaction would have been right up my alley. I was an excellent flirt when I wanted to be, and this girl was certainly interested in flirting.
But, for some reason, her forwardness was only making me uncomfortable.
It was strange… I was hyper aware of Amelia’s presence only a few paces away. I knew that she was watching us, hearing everything the girl was saying to me. She already knew that I was, well, a rake… but for some reason, I didn’t like the idea of her seeing me this way.
Why? I had never cared what women thought about me before, unless it had to do with my skills in bed… and I had certainly neverregrettedmy misbehavior.
But now, all I knew was that I wanted nothing to do with girl, no matter how beautiful and eager she might have been.
“I’m sorry, I’m not sure that we’re acquainted.” I finally said, my voice distant.
The girl’s face fell slightly.
“I’m Evangeline Cowper. We…” She stammered, her former confidence wavering.
My expression didn’t change.
“I’m sorry, my Lord. My mistake.” She said, bowing her head. She looked away from me, embarrassed, and then caught sight of Amelia and Miss Radcliffe.
“Oh, Miss Allen?”
She knew her?
Of courseshe knew her. This was a small village, and Amelia was from here.
I sighed.
“Good afternoon, Miss Cowper. How good to see you after so long.” Amelia said, giving her a small nod, but her voice sounded ingenuine.
There was an extended moment of silence, only broken by Miss Radcliffe.
“Well, I suppose we should be going. I can’t find what I was looking for, after all.”
I grimaced at Miss Cowper, stepping towards the door. The girl moved further into the shop, refusing to look at me. Once Amelia and Miss Radcliffe were ready, I exited the shop, thankful for the fresh air.
