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Chapter Forty-One
Evelina had spent the majority of her day confined to her bedroom, too dazed by the gravity of her situation to be much help at all in the engagement ball’s preparations.
“That’s no matter,” Mother had said, when she’d visited Evelina earlier that morning. She sat on the end of the bed and patted Evelina’s leg beneath her covers. “You just rest up and prepare yourself. I know how an event like this, with all the excitement, can take it out of a person. Leave the preparations to myself and Diana.”
Evelina had managed a thin smile, and did not argue back. In truth, she had little opinion as to how the house or gardens looked for the ball, nor the guest list, nor the food.
She just wanted to get the brunt of the evening over with, so that the decision was public, and therefore out of her hands.
Evelina could not help but believe that would be the first step toward fully accepting this new future.
At least…she hoped it would be.
If only things could have been different with Thomas, Evelina thought, wishing she could reverse time, or for some other miraculous intervention.
Such concerns continued to plague her throughout the morning and then well into the afternoon. She ghosted about her room, still in her night clothes, having sent Matilda off to help Diana with the household preparations, while Mother went to town with her lady’s maid to see about some last-minute agenda items that mostly went over Evelina’s head.
She tried to read for a bit, but her brain kept wandering. She tried to sleep again, but that was no use either. At long last, Evelina resolved to get up and call upon someone to help her dress, so that she might seek refuge somewhere beyond her room and attempt to truly get her thoughts together.
It was because of this course of action that Evelina happened to be halfway undressed when someone knocked quickly on her bedroom door. “My Lady? It’s me.”
“Come in, Matilda.”
Matilda did so. To Evelina’s surprise, she looked rather flustered. “I’ve been sent by your Sister to collect you. There’s…something in the gardens that requires your attention.”
After a quick change of clothes and trip beyond the gardens into the extended property of the estate left Evelina feeling winded and more than a little confused.
“What is it that Diana wishes me to look at?” Evelina asked, following after Matilda as they made their way toward what she assumed were supply sheds near the stables. “And why is it all the way out here?”
“Ah…perhaps you might ask her yourself,” said Matilda.
Evelina was about to protest when Diana stepped forward from where she’d been hidden from view by a tall stack of firewood. “Evelina. There is something you must see to.”
“So I’ve been told,” said Evelina, stopping once they reached her sister. “It would be most helpful, of course, if one of you might elaborate.”
Diana and Matilda exchanged a tense glance that left Evelina feeling more than a little nervous. “He’s…in the shed. Where they keep the saddles and bridles and all that. I’ve sent the other servants away from the area so that you might have a few minutes of privacy.”
On some level, Evelina knew what was happening the moment Diana said ‘he.’ Yet…surely not? Surely, such a situation was too scandalous to truly consider? It was the night of her engagement ball, after all.
“Diana…” Evelina began, at a complete loss. “How is this even possible? You know the risks posed by such a meeting…and you know how I feel about how the Duke and how we left things.”
“Hear him out,” Diana insisted. Then, with a bit more mirth, added, “I doubt I will be able to get him to leave if you do not.”
Evelina, still too stunned to truly put up a protest, simply nodded her head. She felt so lightheaded, she half expected her skull to roll right off her neck.
Diana and Matilda stepped aside, and Evelina entered the shed.
The first thing she noticed was the dim lighting, followed by the thick, earthy smell of horse treats and worn leather. A bit of yellow light bled through a single small, clouded window, high on the wall. The shed was larger on the inside than she had expected, even with…
Well.Him.
“Lady Evelina,” said Thomas, in that beautiful, rich voice of his. She had not expected to hear it again for some great length of time, if ever. He stood with his back pressed to the far wall, as though he feared spooking her if he came any closer. “Thank you for coming.”
“Thomas,” Evelina said. “What are you doing here? Did Diana truly just let you in?”
There was maybe a good six feet between them. So, why did Evelina feel as though they were right next to each other, practically pressed against one another, as they had been the first night Thomas had visited her in the gardens?Especiallywith everything that had gone wrong between them?
Thomas fidgeted and averted his eyes. “Ah…I may have had to beg, just a little, to convince her to let me speak with you.” Then, more seriously, he added, “I give my word, my presence here today was not meant to embarrass you or be in any way inappropriate. I cannot apologize enough for intruding on you like this.”
