When she lifts up her head, he is gone.
Lady Heatherbrook removed her hand from Evangeline’s arm in order to give little hugs and cheek-busses to Susan and Lady Stanton. She then turned, chin down, and trudged from the room.
Evangeline gazed after her, half-wishing Mr. Lioncroft really would plant his fist in Lord Heatherbrook’s face.
Lady Stanton harrumphed behind her painted fan. “Well, Susan spent time with Lioncroft, and that’s what’s important. But what in the world were you thinking to join the dancing, Miss Pemberton? You are not one of us. Forget yourself again and I’ll have half a mind to toss you to the streets. You’re to be encouraging an engagement with Susan, not angling for attention of your own. Not that he’d be interested in the likes of you.”
Evangeline’s jaw clenched. Lady Stanton had no idea what kind of attention Evangeline had managed to garner on her own.
“Oh, Mother,” Susan said with a sigh. “Leave her be. I told you I don’t want to get compromised until the end of the party. I’m not used to him yet. Just dancing with him was horrible enough.”
Horrible! Evangeline stared at her in disbelief. She’d never waltzed before, but she was quite certain if Mr. Lioncroft had whirled her about the floor like he whirled Susan, it would’ve been anything but horrible.
“Get some sleep, Susan,” Lady Stanton commanded, snapping her fan closed. “You want to look your best in the morning.”
And with that, she too strode from the room.
Susan and Evangeline exchanged a look, but by the time they reached the doorway, Lady Stanton was already down the hall and around the corner. Other than a few servants tidying the music room, they were alone.
Susan’s face twisted into a pout. “I suppose Mother left us unchaperoned for me to more easily be compromised. She no doubt believes Lioncroft is on his way back here at any moment, and that victory is at hand. I’d better find her fast and disabuse her of the notion. I said I wasn’t ready yet, and I meant it.”
“You think he’s coming back?”
“Suppose not. Even if he does, Lady Heatherbrook specifically requested he bring her husband with him.” Susan gave a little shudder. “I don’t intend to sit around chatting with that one, to be sure. He might start slapping me.” She squinted at Evangeline over the top of her spectacles before blurting out, “Howdidyou do it?”
Evangeline blinked at her. “Do what?”
“Draw Lioncroft to you without so much as a word. One moment he was swinging me in the most nauseating of circles, and the next I was quite alone and watching the two of you from a distance.”
“Oh,” Evangeline said, hoping the flickering candles hid the heating of her cheeks. “I don’t know. Perhaps he just noticed me there and wanted to say good evening.”
“You jest.” Susan stared at her as if she’d gone mad. “First of all, Lionkiller doesn’t deign to say ‘good anything’ because he’s far too occupied being dark and brooding and deadly. Second, he knew the very moment you snuck through the door.”
“Did he?” Evangeline fought a flattered smile. Despite her sharp tongue, he’d only pretended immunity to her presence. Or, perhaps, because of it. Her smile faded. She couldn’t blame him for ignoring her, and she still owed him that apology.
Susan nodded. “It was the only time his steps faltered the entire evening. Oh, and when he nearly spun me into a wall after you made that odd grimace and rubbed at your head. You do seem to get a lot of headaches.”
“True,” Evangeline agreed, wincing anew. “It’s a curse.”
“Rather like this party is cursed.” Susan shoved her spectacles up the bridge of her nose with the back of one hand. “I say, I’ve never seen such an ignominious disbanding of a dance set in my entire life. It’s as if not a single person present wanted to be here.”
“I certainly didn’t.” Evangeline muttered, frowning at her lacy mitts.
Guilt plagued her. She hadn’t meant to dance. Watching Susan with Mr. Lioncroft had been uncomfortable enough. When he’d come and pulled her to the floor, Evangeline hadn’t thought twice. For a brief moment, she’d even forgotten she was in mourning. How had one man filled her entire world for the space of a song?
“Oh, I knowyoudidn’t want to be there. You told Mother as much. But everyone else? Dancing at a house party is as common as breathing, Evangeline. Something isn’t right.” Susan flicked a glance into the music room then down the empty hall. “This place gives me gooseflesh. I’m heading back to our quarters.” She started to walk, then glanced over her shoulder at Evangeline. “Aren’t you coming? I have to catch up with Mother before I’m compromised.”
“I—I will in a moment,” Evangeline hedged, belatedly remembering she never did have a chance to find Ginny. Perhaps now was as good a time as any. “Go on ahead. I’ll retire soon.”
Susan frowned, shrugged, and sprinted down the hallway, leaving Evangeline to wander the dark mansion alone.
Chapter 8
Gavin burst into his candlelit office. The heavy oak door banged against the wall. A shiver rippled among a cluster of paintings, jostling several of them askew.
Blackberry Manor was his home, and this his most private domain. No one with any sense would dare encroach upon his territory without first requesting permission. And even if the oily snake seated behind Gavin’s desk had bothered to ask, Gavin would have refused.
“Get. Up.” He advanced toward the desk, biting out the words through clenched teeth. A fire sizzled behind the grate, filling the shadowed room with the stench of acrid smoke.
