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A number of thoughts passed through Evelina’s head at once.
Firstly, her mystery man was a duke.
Secondly, she knew now why she had found Gerard familiar yesterday when she’d met him on the street with Jerome. While the two brothers looked different in complexion, their bone structure was nearly identical.
Thirdly…Matilda was likely waiting.
Evelina still could not bring herself to take a step back. “I am Evelina Talbot, eldest daughter of the Duke of Alderleaf.”
The Duke of Elvington…Thomas…swallowed. He reached out a hand. Gently, so gently, he caressed her cheek.
Evelina took another step forward.
Thomas’ eyes widened, and the tips of his ears grew red. He dropped his hand and offered an arm to her in its place. “Will you walk with me?”
Evelina knew the right thing to do would be to point out that there was no chaperone present, but the words stuck on her tongue.
There was no helping it. Whatever magnetism had captured them was unable to escape. Evelina nodded and laced her arm through Thomas’.
As he led her toward a small stone bench at the edge of the cleared area, Evelina’s heart felt as though it would leap from her chest at that small bit of contact alone. She could easily feel the strength of him through his jacket, and the memory of falling into his arms burned with as much passion as the fireworks that had been erupting overhead.
When Thomas gestured for Evelina to sit, it nearly killed her to release his arm. She was grateful when he joined her on the bench.
Yet now that he had, neither of them seemed quite able to look the other in the eye.
Evelina at last worked up the courage to say what she’d been meaning to, though the best she seemed able to do was address Thomas’ shoes.
“I’ve been—”
“I was hoping—”
They’d both spoken at once. Thomas laughed nervously, and it eased the tension enough that Evelina was at last able to meet his eyes once more.
“Go on,” she urged quietly.
Thomas swallowed. Evelina found her gaze drawn to the movement of his throat, but she dared not linger there. “I will confess, I am quite glad to have remembered to ask your name this time. Upon seeing you again, it would not have been out of character for me to be so consumed a second time, and forget all over again.”
Evelina couldn’t help but laugh. “A relatable sentiment indeed. On my end, I must say, I do believe thanks are in order.”
“And why is that?”
“Because I have spent the greater part of this past week consumed by the hope that we might meet again, it has made dress shopping with my mother and sister a far more enjoyable experience.”
“You don’t enjoy dress shopping?” Thomas sounded slightly less nervous now, if no less invested. “That surprises me. You demonstrated such strong knowledge of the textile trade when we last spoke.”
“The trade is interesting. Trying on dresses, less so.”
“You are no ordinary woman, Lady Evelina.”
“I’m not so different from most. Standing still for hours on end while a seamstress avoids drawing blood with her pins is a tiring experience for even the greatest of ladies, whether they admit to it or not.”
Now Thomas was the one to laugh. He leaned back on the bench and looked up at the sky. Evelina found herself enamored by the little creases that lined his eyes when he smiled—they seemed the mark of a person to whom joy came easily.
It was all she could do not to reach up and trace those creases with her thumb. She wanted to memorize Thomas, to take in every detail, every nuance, and lock it away in the jeweled privacy of her own mind.
“Has the pressure lessened these past few days?” Evelina said shakily, moving their conversation forward before she could do something foolish. “You mentioned at our last meeting that you had taken on some new responsibilities.”
The laugh lines on Thomas’ face disappeared at the question, and Evelina nearly regretted asking. “Yes and no. The pressure is still there. I haven’t been the Duke of Elvington for very long, you see, and I am still adjusting to the responsibilities. This time last year, I was across the sea. Working, of course, but also directing the order of my days entirely at my own leisure. Now…well, it’s been challenging, returning to London’s high society after so much time away.” His eyes met hers. With a passion that she was unaccustomed to, he added, “I am deeply, deeply grateful for your company, Lady Evelina.”
