“You showed no interest in complying with my stratagem. What use had I of you?”
“What use? I would have been happy to peel potatoes in the larder until you returned to Stanton House. I came to you for safety. For shelter. For—”
“For a handout, you mean. No doubt you took one look at Lioncroft and decided his pockets were deeper than mine. And you’re right—they are. But you shan’t have him. Despite his many flaws, he was born a member of our class, not yours. You have no class at all, just like your mother. Blood will tell, I always say. She was a tatterdemalion like no other. Looked every inch the gypsy.”
“Leave my mother out of this. She was a better woman than you’ll ever be.”
“Is that right?” Lady Stanton’s brittle laugh was like shattered glass. “Then why, in the years I knew her, did she spend the majority of her evenings locked on the wrong side of the attic door? Because she was a witch like you, that’s why. Her husband would never have married so far beneath him had he not been convinced of her talents being an asset at the gaming table.”
“What?” Evangeline stared at Lady Stanton’s reflection. “The Gift doesn’t even work like that.”
“As he learned, Miss Pemberton. I advise you now to drop whatever designs you think you have on Lioncroft. He deserves better than the likes of you, just as your stepfather did. Mr. Pemberton deserved a woman, not a witch. Your mother was the worst wife he could’ve wed. He never did live down the humiliation of having to keep her locked up at home.” She turned to her lady’s maid. “I think the pearls should be threaded through today, not the strands of gold. You’ll have to start over.”
Evangeline’s fists tightened until her nails drew blood from her palms. “What about my mother? Wouldn’t it be more truthful to sayhewas the worst possible husband forher?”
“Piffle. She brought it on herself by overreaching her station. Just like you. Whether you realize it or not, Miss Pemberton, you bring about your own consequences with the actions you choose. I offered you an arrangement. You did not follow through. End of arrangement.”
“You asked for the impossible.” Evangeline crossed her arms over her chest, clutching herself tightly so as to prevent her from launching into Lady Stanton and clawing out those cold, colorless eyes.
“No, not those pearls. The others. Yes, those.” Lady Stanton’s gaze met Evangeline’s through the glass. “I asked you for a simple compromise.”
“Even Susan said she isn’t ready.”
“That’s irrelevant. You’ll recall I also asked you whether Lioncroft would hang for his crimes.”
Evangeline took a breath. “He didn’t kill Lord Heatherbrook.”Probably.
Lady Stanton arched a thin brow. “Did you see that in a vision?”
“No.”
“Then you don’t know that, do you? That was another agreement unfulfilled. We are running short on time, but Susan will wed Lioncroft with or without your help.”
“You don’t even know if he’s a coldhearted killer,” Evangeline pointed out.
Lady Stanton lifted a dainty shoulder. “You just said he wasn’t.”
“You don’t believe me!”
“Miss Pemberton, do try to view the world as an adult. Susan has ruined her chances with respectable gentlemen, and I refuse to allow her to grow into an old maid, like you’ll undoubtedly become. Lioncroft is the rich, attractive, intelligent son of a respected viscount. He’ll have to do. Another strand of pearls, girl. I’m to be the mother of a bride.”
“You are not,” Evangeline snapped. “He doesn’t want her.”
Lady Stanton’s smile could freeze lava. “That hardly matters.”
Evangeline threw out her hands. “Of course it matters. He’s in charge of himself, and he’s quite determined to remain a bachelor.”
“I’m even more determined that he shall wed my daughter.” Lady Stanton frowned. “Look, you’ve dirt on Susan’s gown. I have neverseensuch a ragamuffin—”
“You don’t understand.” Evangeline resisted the urge to peer at her reflection. “He knows about your stratagem and is unimpressed. Mr. Lioncroft refuses to marry Susan, with or without a compromise.”
“And how would you know this if you weren’t sneaking around with him unattended, you little strumpet? If you had a reputation to ruin, you would’ve done so long ago. Don’t look at me like that—it’s true. You are a nobody, and shall remain so until you die. I know it; you know it; Lioncroft knows it. Why else would he be sniffing around you, but to rut without fear of the parson’s trap? I’m sure he entertains himself with the maids whenever he pleases, so why should you be any different? You are nothing.”
“I am nothing?” Evangeline advanced forward until she loomed behind Lady Stanton and the perimeter of the vanity’s looking glass was filled with her dirtstained gown. “I am Evangeline. I am a woman. I am a daughter. I am a person. I’ve spent my entire life helping other nothings like me improve their lives. You’ve never helped anyone but yourself.”
“And my daughter. She and I are my primary concerns, and we should be yours as well. Those of your class should seek to enhance the lives of their betters, not selfishly dwell on your own lot. If you had a thoughtful bone in your body, you would cease being so impertinent and start helping me match Lioncroft with Susan. I command you to do so.”
A choking laugh escaped Evangeline’s throat. “You command me? In penning a letter to my stepfather, you’ve long since compromised whatever leverage you might’ve once had. I owe you nothing.”
