“I was hoping you could tell me.”
“How the dickens would I know?”
“I don’t know. I thought it was maybe some particulartontradition.”
“Dirt?”Susan poked a tentative finger inside. “Are you bamming me?”
“Never mind. I’ll consider it a new mystery to solve.” Evangeline hesitated. “You were right about me being a bossy know-all. I shouldn’t have been like that, and I apologize. Still friends?”
“Pah, of course. All women have their moments of being bossy know-alls. Take my mother, for example. Or don’t…I shouldn’t wish her on anybody. Speaking of which, where will you be off to next?”
“I don’t know yet.”
“What are your choices?”
Evangeline felt her face flush. “My choices,” she said slowly, “seem to be Blackberry Manor…or somewhere else.”
Susan tapped her chin. “Well, Blackberry Manor sounds intriguing. Does this mean Lioncroft asked you to marry him?”
“No. But he did give me a pot of dirt.”
“I see.” Susan shoved her spectacles up the bridge of her nose with the back of a hand. “Ill-advised attempts at gift giving aside, what’s to stop you from staying? Is it that a lack of a proposal rather implies he’s hoping you’ll stay on as his mistress?”
“No,” Evangeline answered slowly. “It’s not that. In fact, he somewhat…he almost proposed.”
“Almost?”
“He implied if he were assured of not hanging, hewouldask for my hand.”
“Oh, Evangeline!” Susan clapped her hands together excitedly. “That’s wonderful! Isn’t it? Why don’t you look happy? Is it the pot of dirt? Men are imbeciles. You must be very specific about what constitutes a proper gift. Tell him no more dirt. Tell him you require jewelry for an engagement gift. Tell him pearls, or perhaps—”
“I don’t know if I can marry him,” Evangeline confessed. No matter how much she might wish.
Susan gaped at her. “Why on earth not? You’ve been taken with him from the first. And even Edmund harped on Lioncroft’s constant mooncalfing, remember? You yourself said Lioncroft would only marry if he wished to. He must love you. Wasn’t that what you wanted? A love match?”
Evangeline swallowed. Thatwas part of what she wanted. Love… and a life free of fear.
“He didn’t even kill Heatherbrook,” Susan continued blithely. “So you needn’t worry he’s resumed any violent tendencies. Well, he did bruise Heatherbrook up a bit, and he thrashed Edmund once or twice, and he planted on your stepfather a few well-deserved facers…but absolutely no killing. That’s good, isn’t it?”
“I wouldn’t saynokilling. It turns out,” Evangeline confessed softly, “he’s responsible for his parents’ deaths after all.”
Susan’s brows lifted uncertainly. “Er…That’s exceptionally old news, Evangeline. He killed them over something trivial, if I recall correctly. I don’t remember what…Pugilism, maybe? Or his marks at university?”
“Carriage racing,” Evangeline stammered. “And he didn’t do it on purpose. It was a horrible accident. Well, not an accident-accident, which I think is why my stomach won’t lie still, but he didn’t mean to hurt anyone.”
Susan blinked. “I’ll be honest. I heard what you just said, yet I have no idea if you’re defending him or denouncing him. Which is it?”
“I don’t know,” Evangeline groaned. “What would you do?”
“Clearly, I’d meant to marry him regardless. I would’ve felt my decision even more validated had I known the tragedy was an accident. While I understand it’s easier to believe in a past you know than a future you don’t, the trouble with the past is it’s unchangeable. Much as he might like to, Lioncroft can no more reverse his parents’ deaths than I can go back in time to prevent myself from spreading malicious gossip. It happened. Either you love someone enough to forgive them their past mistakes, or you don’t.”
Evangeline dropped her head in her hands. Heaven help her. Weren’t those the exact words she’d used to coax Gavin into forgiving himself for the careless things he’d done as a young man?
“You’re right.” She glanced up at Susan. “I’m a ninny-hammer.”
“Well, yes. It’s part of your charm. I can come to the wedding, though, right? Oh, let me help plan it! Lioncroft has enough money to make it the Society event of the Season. Oh, and since you haven’t a mother to do so, I can be the one to tell you all about the wedding act.”
“The wedding act?”
