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“What is this feeling?”
“Like heat.” He stepped closer. “Like fire spreading throughout your body, desire pulsating upon the skin, and an ache in the pit of your stomach.”
“To what end?”
“The shrubbery.” He inhaled and looked as though he would eat me like a beast, and I felt my breathing become much slower. “Or if you are skilled enough to release on your own.”
“My…my…own?”
“Lady Aphrodite?”
I spun around to see Mrs. Frinton-Smith, an older woman, whose great-great-grandfather was once a famed peer, I believe, and her father the third son of a viscount, but her husband was a rich merchant who owned several shops down the lane.
“Mrs. Frinton-Smith, good morning. How are you?” I asked, watching as her blue eyes skimmed over Evander. Oh no, here began the start of a new rumor.
“I’m lovely, my dear. What brings you in today?” she asked as if she were the shopkeeper.
“Lord Everely’s sister is seeking a modification to a dress for my family’s ball tonight. My sister-in-law, who is just there, watching by the window, and I came to help when I found myself a bit heated and remained outside. My maid is just there as well,” I said to give myself as much cover as possible.
“How kind of you to wait with her, Your Grace,” Mrs. Frinton-Smith said to Evander.
He nodded to her. “It is more for my sister’s sake. I would rather be at the club with the other gentlemen.”
Her eyes widened, and I wished to hit him upon the head. Now she would think he did not wish to be in my company.
“Well, I am sure they will not keep you much longer.” She smiled at him. “Lady Aphrodite, I would like to introduce you to my niece, Miss Edwina Charmant, who came down for the season. She is most excited about your ball. Edwina!” she called into the shop, and out came Edwina, the woman from the garden!
“Hello,” was all I could muster, my mind a blank.
“Hello, my lady. You truly are a beauty. I am very excited about your ball,” she said.
“My dear niece is quite taken with our great ton,” Mrs. Frinton-Smith said. “She’s still a bit green, so I do hope you will take care of her tonight…should you not be too busy.” Her eyes shifted to Evander. She should have kept her gossiping eyes on her niece, for I was worried about our garden.
“Of course.” I nodded.
“Aphrodite, we are finished,” Silva said, coming out with Verity.
“Well, we will not hold you, as everyone must prepare.” Mrs. Frinton-Smith and her niece took their leave.
When I saw the driver of their carriage and the look that he and Edwina shared, I was sure he had been her partner in the shrubbery.
I had never known a scandalous tale before anyone else. I was not really sure what to make of this information, but I was worried for her. She was young and this match was also wholly inappropriate. More so for her than him. He would be a rogue…but she would be ruined.
“Should something be said or done?” I whispered watching them go.
“About?”
“Her,” I said forcefully before looking to him. “No matter how…pleasant the experience, she is still but a young lady. What if she is being taken advantage of and knows not the risks?”
“All young women know of the risks—”
“We do not. For love blinds us and makes even the wisest of us fools,” I snapped angrily at him.
He frowned. “And so, what shall you do? Rid the world of love?”
“Aphrodite, we should return,” Silva called out to me as she suddenly took my arm before I could reply.
“Yes, we should.” I held on tight, aflutter with emotions. “Goodbye, Your Grace—”
