“And then there is the matter of housing them, repairing them, safeguarding them... To whom would you even entrust them?” asked Evangeline. “The Turks who allowed Elgin to take them?”
“Sound arguments, Lady Courtenay,” said Lord Edward. “The Greeks are agitating against the Ottomans. I wouldn’t be surprised if they have a revolution of their own, now the French appear spent.”
“If one always waits for peace, naught will ever be done,” growled the artist.
“True.” Richard raised his glass. “Having seen a few revolutions at close distance, though, I would not knowingly send anything so valuable into the teeth of one.”
“Well.” Evangeline gave the visibly frustrated artist a sympathetic look. “Perhaps we shall keep them safe in England for a few years, and return them at a more propitious time.”
He sighed. “I canna argue with that, except to say that the longer they bide here, the harder it will be for the government to let them go. Now they’ve voted funds to pay Elgin, there’s manywho will come to think of the Parthenon sculptures as British property, bought and paid for.”
“Goodness, is there anything in this world Britain doesn’t allege some claim over? Surely this time it’s remarkable only in that the government has actually paid,” said Fanny lightly, and a ripple of laughter went round the room.
“You must console yourself that Elgin did not sell them to the Prince Regent,” said Lord Edward to Wayles-Faire. “Then they would be not state property but the monarch’s private possessions.”
Wayles-Faire shuddered. “You’ll put me off my dinner with that talk, sir. I beg you, say no more of the Regent taking possession.”
Everyone laughed again, and the conversation moved on. Evangeline stole a glance at Richard as the plates were removed. Could he really mean her? That she was what drew him to England? That spoke of a deep, enduring attraction. How could he even know that, so soon?
The fact that she apparently felt something equally strong for him had not escaped her. She, who had engaged in flirts and affairs for years, had taken Richard to bed within hours of meeting him, then fallen right back into bed with him practically the moment they met again years later. Who was she to look askance at him?
When the evening ended and the guests were making their farewells, she lingered, contriving to be the last to leave. Richard seemed bent on aiding this, and Fanny eventually picked up on it and occupied herself with complimenting Mrs. Murray on the excellence of the dinner. Mr. Rieger seemed to know he wasn’t wanted, and Evangeline was finally rewarded with a quiet moment in the drawing room with Richard.
“What a remarkable evening,” she said lightly. “I cannot thank you enough for inviting me.”
His blue eyes sparkled. “I believe you could.”
She imagined it, and blushed. “Perhaps I might try... Would you care for tea, the day after next?”
“For the chance to drink it with you,” he replied, “I would drink tea every day.”
Her heart gave an unsteady, unexpected lurch. Was this really happening to her? It was too good to be true, too sudden to last.Enjoy it while you can,she reminded herself, letting him kiss her hand and escort her and Fanny to their waiting carriage.
“My dear,” said Fanny when they were on the road rumbling back to Wyndham House, “has he improved upon you?”
That was hardly possible, Evangeline thought. “It was a very pleasant evening,” she said primly.
“Pleasant!” Fanny laughed. “He was charm itself. His sister is delightful. His friends were entertaining. He keeps a very good table and did not stint on excellent wine. He even declined the chance to pilfer valuable antiquities on his travels. And never once did his attention and interest waver from you. I shall begin to doubt your sanity if you deny any of this.”
She sighed, although it was warm and happy. “I can’t deny a word. I couldn’t imagine a better evening.”
“On the marriage mart, he would be the catch of the season. Perhaps of the decade. I hope this evening has eased your conscience about seeing him, because I would consider it unconscionable if you reject such a fellow.”
No, she wasn’t about to reject him. She told herself he would tire of her sooner or later, and she was prepared for that. But in the meantime...
“Yes, Fanny,” she said with a small smile, hoping her friend couldn’t see it in the dark carriage. “I am finally prepared to take your advice and carry on an absolutely torrid affair with him.”
Chapter 15
Richard hewed as carefully as possible to the agreement they had made, determined not to press his luck too far.
“Are you not to visit your lady?” asked Gerhard at breakfast, a fortnight after the dinner party.
Richard turned a page of the newspaper he was browsing. “It is barely eight in the morning, Gerhard. Many people are still abed at this hour.”
His friend grumbled. “That has not stopped you from walking to her at dawn, other days.”
He turned another page and reached for his coffee cup. He had indeed gone walking soon after dawn the other morning and found himself eventually at Evangeline’s. He would have been content to gaze at her windows from afar, but she was out riding, as it happened, and crossed his path. They’d ended up back at her house for breakfast in the garden, and conversation, and then a walk, and then... He’d gone home in time for dinner, to Gerhard’s immense amusement. “Ring for more coffee, since you are unoccupied at the moment.”
