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Chapter Nine
The excited chaos of the ball was all the more jarring when Evelina returned. The moments she’d spent alone in the garden with Thomas had been a glorious reprieve, consuming in their focus and solitude. Her heart pounded in her chest as she made her way back through the crowd to the area where she and Matilda had parted ways.
No one saw, she told herself.Thomas promised no one saw.
Still, Evelina could not shake the feeling that all eyes were on her.
Matilda, blessedly, was not causing a scene. She stood beside the wall holding two flutes of champagne. If Evelina hadn’t known her for so long, she never would have guessed she was nervous.
“My apologies for disappearing,” Evelina said, approaching her side. She hoped Matilda would simply assume she had gone to relieve herself.
“Here is your champagne.” Matilda passed Evelina the glass, but would not meet her eyes.
They stood awkwardly with one another for a long moment.
During that time, Evelina took the opportunity to scan the crowd for Mother and Diana. When her eyes passed over them, she was overcome with a mixture of relief and excitement. Relief because it seemed neither Mother nor Diana had caught onto her absence, for if they had, they would surely have a much more distressed look about them.
Excitement because Mother was engaged in an animated conversation with Diana’s handsome, auburn-haired dance partner and what looked to be his mother, given their close resemblance.
“It seems as though Diana is having a successful night,” Evelina noted at last, hoping to alleviate some of the tension between herself and Matilda.
“Indeed.” Matilda side-eyed Evelina. “I wonder as to the sort of night you are having yourself, My Lady.”
Evelina’s heart skipped a beat. “I’m sure I don’t know what you mean.”
“I mean nothing at all.” A note of pleading worked its way into Matilda’s voice. “Though if I were to mean something…the two of us would do well to work together. In a number of scenarios, I do believe it would ease the nerves of both parties.”
Evelina looked over at Matilda, and truly studied her. Her typical calm, collected demeanor was indeed in place to the casual eye.
But a thin sheen of perspiration lined Matilda’s brow, and her cheeks appeared flushed, likely from the stress inflicted by Evelina’s second disappearance within the span of a week.
If Evelina had not just engaged in the sort of impropriety Matilda’s companionship was specifically meant to prevent, she might have scolded her lady’s maid for making such bold assumptions, implied or otherwise.
As it stood…
“I shall keep that in mind,” Evelina said stiffly. Then, after a moment’s consideration, she softly added, “Thank you, Matilda.”
The orchestra picked that moment to begin their next number—the beginning notes of a waltz filled the air. Evelina’s heart leapt into her throat in anticipation. Had Thomas managed to covertly return to the ballroom yet?
As she scanned the crowd, however, her heart plummeted just as quickly. Jerome was making his way toward her.
Surely, he doesn’t mean to ask me for a third dance? People will begin to talk. If I accept, it will appear as though we intend to wed…
“Good evening,” came a rich, feminine voice to her left.
Evelina turned, relief coursing through her at the excuse to pretend she hadn’t noticed Jerome. A stately woman of middle age stood before her…and beside Thomas.
“Good evening to you, as well,” said Evelina. She was quite impressed with herself for managing to keep her eyes on the woman alone. Her every instinct and desire insisted that she fix her gaze on Thomas and never look away again.
“I am Lady Maria Russell, the Dowager Duchess of Elvington,” said the woman. “May I present my eldest son, Lord Thomas Russell, Duke of Elvington.”
Thomas smiled and gave Evelina a stately bow. “My Lady.”
Evelina’s voice sounded airy to her own ears. “It is an honor to make your acquaintances. I am Lady Evelina Talbot, eldest daughter of Leonard Talbot, the Duke of Alderleaf.”
Thomas’ eyes sparkled with their shared secret as he offered his arm. “May I request the honor of this dance, Lady Evelina?”
An unexpected wave of shyness came over Evelina. It was a ridiculous feeling, given the honesty they had shared mere minutes before in the garden. Yet here, in front of all these people, Evelina felt as though her every word was being picked apart, judged.
