“Oh, will this be the proposal, Mother?” Kitty asked, kneeing up with her jaw slackening. “I never thought Evelyn would be the first of us all to get married.”
“That’s it.” Hester took the scandal sheet from Bridget and rolled it up in her hands, before tapping Kitty around the arm in reprimand.
“Ow, what was that for?”
“You honestly do not know?”
Any other time, Evelyn would have appreciated Hester’s actions to defend her, but she felt too wounded to acknowledge it presently.
Mr. Windham cannot come. He cannot propose now. Would he seriously expect me to say yes? Why would he bother proposing to me at all?
The truth hit Evelyn like a brick. She was the daughter of a baron after all, a baron who had left a substantial sum in her name as a dowry. The only reason why Mr. Windham may still want to marry her after being seen with another woman had to be because of that dowry.
“If you would excuse me.” Evelyn moved to her feet, her hands feeling rather shaky.
“Is something wrong, child?” Mavis asked, looking up from the bread she was picking at.
“I just need to stretch my legs. I shall be back soon.” Evelyn was not asked to stay again.
She walked away with her diary clutched to her chest. She put as much distance between herself and her family as possible as she considered her options. She may not wish to marry Mr. Windham anymore, but it struck her that she had few options left. No other man had ever shown an interest in her.
Apart from the masked man at the ball…
Angered that she thought so much of him, indulging in a fancy that could never be satisfied, she strode deeper into the park and across a bridge, onto the other side of the river. Here, the leaves fell faster than before. Great russet and bronze leaves floated down, caught in the wind, some getting in her face and masking her path for a few seconds at a time. She swiped them away, trying to think of a route out of the awful mess she had found herself in.
Could I really marry a man that would not love me? He’d be unfaithful! Constantly!
Unable to see clearly because of those leaves, she walked straight into someone.
“Oh, my apologies.” She backed up, hurrying to curtsy, for all she caught sight of was the ridiculously fine green suit. It was well made, the cravat perfectly in place.
“It is no matter.” The voice was deep.
Evelyn looked up to see a face so handsome that she rather forgot her previous thoughts. He had a long face with an aquiline nose and a heavy jaw. Clean-shaven, with dark blond hair loose around his jaw, he was a sight to behold. As he looked at her, a slow smile appeared on his lips.
There was something familiar about him, but she reasoned she must have seen him at a ball.
“Forgive me.” She curtsied once more and tried to step around him. He moved in the way, blocking her path.
“Ishould apologize,” he said hurriedly. “Ma’am, is everything well? You seem…” His eyes darted over her. The thought he could read the inner turmoil she was feeling on her face made matters worse. “Something is wrong,” he said firmly before she could say anymore. He took a step toward her. “What is it, ma’am?”
“Your Grace! Your Grace!” a lady squealed behind him. He looked up to the sky, as if pleading for help, then his eyes found Evelyn’s again.
“Ever wished to disappear into the ground?”
“More often than you think,” she whispered.
Those lips smiled briefly, before they flattened out as a group of ladies, like a gaggle of geese surrounded them.
“Your Grace.” One lady curtsied. “I told you it was him. The Duke of Ravensworth.”
As the ladies all gushed and curtsied, Evelyn backed up, staring in horror at the handsome face as she realized who she had walked straight into.
It is the man they all gossip about. Oh… no wonder he is a rake.
With a face so handsome, she imagined a smile from him was enough to make a woman leap to his bed.
She curtsied once more, intent on escaping him, and walked around him and the ladies together. He angled his head, as if intending to follow her, but was blocked off. Evelyn glanced back in his direction once, comparing him to the masked gentleman she had met the other night at the ball.
