Evangeline looked down at her burgundy gown, instantly flushed with doubt again. “What’s wrong with it? I wore it to the opera two months ago, and you didn’t bat an eye.”
“You were not going to the opera with the purpose of driving a man wild with desire.”
“I’m not going to dinner tonight with the purpose of driving a man wild with desire!”
Her friend raised a dubious brow. “Obviously not, more’s the pity.”
She exhaled slowly. The dress was fashionable—she wastryingto follow society’s expectations—but even she knew it didn’t really suit her. She’d done away with most of the furbelows and ribbons on the skirt currently in vogue, but that did leave it very plain. The tiny bodice was not so tiny, to accommodate her generous bosom, and the sleeves that looked so dainty on others felt overly puffed and starched to her. But what else was she supposed to wear?
“If I change again, we’ll be unpardonably late,” she said irritably. “If Sir Richard is horrified by my gown, better to know now.”
“Perhaps it will inspire him to thinking of nothing but removing it,” replied Fanny. “I stand corrected—it is a stroke of genius.”
Evangeline cast her eyes upward. “I should give the man the cut direct for invitingyou, since you seem set on bedeviling me about everything.”
Fanny laughed. “Oh, don’t worry! I intend to do my best to charm him enough to be invited back, while also striking a frisson of fear in his soul.” She laid one hand on Evangeline’sarm. “If he should break your heart, my dear, you know I would be absolutely unsparing in my zeal to destroy him.”
She had to laugh at that; Fanny meant it, even though she spoke lightly. She was the very best of friends. “Even when I despise you, I adore you. Let us hope Sir Richard has invited his hardiest friends.”
After three disastrous attempts,Richard had to let Karl tie his cravat. His man clicked his tongue over the mangled linen and brought a fresh length while Richard glared impatiently at the clock on the mantel.
“Ein Moment, mein Herr,” scolded Karl, his nimble fingers flying. He stepped back and eyed it critically. “Ja. All ready.”
He took an unsteady breath, as nervous as a girl making her debut. He looked in the mirror and smoothed back a possible stray hair. “Ja. Yes, I think I will do.”
Karl smiled briefly and bowed his head. “Good luck, sir.”
Richard choked on a laugh and clapped his man on the shoulder. He would welcome all the luck he could find tonight. “Thank you.”
He reached the front hall just as his sister came downstairs. “How beautiful you look,” he told her.
Clemency smiled. She did look lovely, in a deep rose gown with her dark curls in elegant swoops of braids and ringlets. “Thank you, Richard.” She inspected him. “You look quite splendid yourself. Karl has outdone himself.”
“Indeed,” said Gerhard, stepping out of the morning room. “And Richard has outdone himself by allowing Karl a free hand.”
Normally Richard would have engaged in this banter and defended himself, but tonight he ignored it all, ducking into the morning room to have a look out the window for anyapproaching carriages. Evangeline had sent her acceptance, but until she walked through his door...
A carriage was approaching.
His footman swept open the door, and Richard went to meet his guests.
It was meant to be an intimate party, but he was still grateful that everyone else arrived first. Thomas Wayles-Faire was an artist who had roamed all over Europe in search of interesting scenes and people to paint. Hard on his heels came Lord Edward de Lacey and his wife, Francesca, whose artistic salons were a favorite of Clemency’s. And then his waiting ears caught the sound of another carriage.
He went into the hall, ignoring Gerhard’s faint smirk and his other guests, and then out the door, unable to conceal his impatience. When the footman opened the carriage door, he offered her his hand. Her face lit up as she took it, stepping down. For a moment he could only grin like a besotted boy.
“Good evening,” she said warmly. “Lady Woodville, may I present to you Sir Richard Campion? Sir Richard, my dear friend, Lady Woodville.”
“Enchantée, my lady.” He tore his gaze off Evangeline to bow over the other woman’s hand, while she eyed him knowingly through her gold-rimmed spectacles. She was older than Evangeline, with silver-gray hair fashionably styled, and her features were strong and intelligent. He bowed, liking her instinctively. “Welcome to my home. May I escort you?” He offered each an arm and then led them inside, feeling positively buoyant with satisfaction.
Chapter 14
The evening was everything Evangeline had hoped for, and virtually nothing she had feared.
Richard coming out to meet them set the tone. She heard Fanny’s indrawn breath as he strode down the step and waited, with barely concealed impatience, for the carriage to halt.
“An eager man,” Fanny murmured in approval.
Evangeline shot her another dark glare, but then Richard was opening the door and holding out his hand. Feeling as fluttery as a girl, she stepped down, hopeful the twilight hid how she must be blushing. This was ridiculous, she told herself; she was a mature, experienced woman, and she had no reason to be so thrilled by the way a man’s face lit up when he looked at her.
