“Well then,” Lady Durham said decisively. “I suppose there’s nothing else for it but to convince your Charles.”
“I put forth my best arguments, and he remained utterly unmoved.”
“Bah. Logic. What use does a man have for logic, for all they pretend otherwise? No, my dear. You are going to have to tempt him.”
Evelyn frowned. “How?”
“Seduce him.”
“A little challenging, given my lack of experience in this area,” Evelyn said wryly. “I would not know how to go about it.”
“Have you ever kissed a man?”
“Once. It was . . . unenjoyable.”
“And how old were you?” Lady Durham demanded.
“Fifteen.”
“Well then. What else could you expect?”
Evelyn thought back to when she had informed Charles of the infraction, committed by the son of a gentleman who lived nearby. Julian Trowbridge. She understood now that he had been courting her, and hadstolen a kiss during a walk through their gardens. At the time, however, she had not known his intentions, and the kiss had come as a rather unpleasant shock.
Charles had been seventeen, growing into his lanky frame and his understanding of the world. When she’d rushed to him, near in tears, he had looked grim and left almost immediately. When he’d returned, it had been with bloodied knuckles and a split lip. Even then, though she had expressed horror and dabbed at the wounds with a damp cloth, the thought that he would have fought over her had made her stomach flip.
Another year had passed before she understood what the excitement in her stomach had been.
By then, he had left for university, and it had been too late for her to do anything about it.
As for Julian—after Charles’s interference, he had never bothered her again.
“I don’t know what to expect,” she said slowly. “That’s why I’d hoped someone might show me.”
“Well, there’s no doubt that Charles is the man for the job. I have it on good authority that he is an excellent kisser.”
Evelyn stared at her. “Who told you that?”
“Never you mind.” Hilary’s eyes were bright with amusement. “It hardly matters. Whatdoesmatter is his experience. You’ll be fortunate to have such a teacher.” She tapped her closed fan against her chin as she thought, but Evelyn shook her head. “I know of several ladies that are deeply jealous of you, you know.”
“Really?”
“Why yes. Whenever you are anywhere, he will inevitably ignore his other duties to spend time with you. Take today, for instance. He abandoned his betrothed to claim a space beside you and spoke to you with far more animation than he did elsewhere. Even now—look at him, dearest. He looks bored.”
Charles, his hands clasped behind his back and a pleasant smile pasted on his face, did indeed appear bored.
“Well,” Evelyn said, attempting to quash the too-pleased feeling in her chest. At thirty-seven, she knew better than to put stock in that. “We have been friends for a long time.”
“Hmm,” was all Lady Durham said.
“But I don’t think I can seduce him.” Evelyn cleared her throat, the thought making her cheeks flush. “You see, we have never been like . . . that. And I would need guidance in knowinghowto go about it.”
“There is nothing so simple in all the world! Either find an opportunity to be unclothed in his presence, or press up against him. He is made of flesh and blood, after all.” She eyed Evelyn’s dress and the buttons that ran up the bodice. “I guarantee that after seeing you so verymodestall these years, he will be enthralled by the opportunity to see you less so.”
“He did not seem particularly enthralled when I put forward the proposal.”
“Oh, for a rake, that man is infuriatingly honourable, but a little persuasion will go a long way.” Lady Durham snapped her fingers. “Or you could gain some outside help.”
“You mean someone to persuade him for me?” Evelyn asked doubtfully.
