He looked at Lord Shirley, who looked mildly fascinated by the visitor. The older man did not make any motion to speak, so Evan directed his attention to the lady of the house, who seemed to be taking charge. “Did you not hear me? I am here for Miss Shirley’s hand in marriage.”
They stare at him for a moment, as if expecting him to continue. He was used to people looking at him like this. But why would he continue? His statement was straightforward enough.
Lady Shirley recovered herself first. “Of course,” she said. She grinned, looking delighted. “I always knew her beauty would not go to waste. I knew from the beginning that our dear Amelia would be a duchess. Did I not, Lord Shirley?”
“Yes, dear,” her husband said, sounding bored.
“Let me go get her,” she exclaimed, practically bouncing in place. She spun toward a young lady, who was standing nearby, tugging at her sleeve. “Quick, come here, Amelia, dear!”
Amelia stumbled forward, flustered. She was not the right Miss Shirley, though.
“Your Grace,” Amelia said, curtsying. She smiled prettily, but it did not reach her eyes, which looked pained. She blinked rapidly, as if she was fighting back tears.
“No,” he said quickly. “Not her.”
Lady Shirley froze. “Not Amelia?”
“No.”Why did I not ask for the lady’s name?He had heard someone say ‘Miss Shirley’ when the crowd had joined them on the riverbank, but that was it. He should have known there would be more than one Miss Shirley.
“One moment, please,” Lady Shirley said, her voice tense. She spun on her heel and dashed across the room to another young lady, who was standing near the far wall.
Lord Shirley moved to sit in one of the armchairs near the window. “Would you care to sit, Your Grace?” he asked.
“No, thank you,” he said.
Miss Shirley looked at him, at a loss for words. “Shall I ring for some tea?” she asked, for lack of anything better to say.
“I will not be staying long enough to drink it.”
“Oh,” she said. She looked away, blinking rapidly.
“Why are you crying?” He could not help but ask. Was it because he was not choosing her to be his duchess? She certainly did not look very excited at the prospect when her mother dragged him into the room.
“Forgive me, Your Grace. We just received some tragic news.” She looked away.
Strange. Lord and Lady Shirley are certainly not acting like they received tragic news. Lady Shirley is positively elated right now.
Before she could elaborate, Lady Shirley came hurrying into the room, dragging the new lady by the arm. She was slightly out of breath. “This is Bethany, Your Grace,” she said. “She is a little young for marriage, but she will make a fine duchess. Only Amelia is prettier than she.”
Amelia cringed at her mother’s casual insult, but if Bethany noticed it, she did not care. She lifted her chin in defiance as she gave a cold curtsy in Evan’s direction. Her eyes were rimmed in red, as if she had been crying, only to wipe her tears away hastily before her mother dragged her.
She was also not the lady Evan had in mind.Perhaps I misheard the name.
“Are there any other Miss Shirleys living here?” he asked.
The mother blinked up at him. “I do not understand, Your Grace. We also have twin girls, but they are only sixteen. They are not out in society yet?—”
“Stop talking, my lady.” He needed silence to think. This visit was already proving to be more frustrating than he thought it was going to be.
The lady’s mouth snapped shut. Anger entered her eyes, but Evan could not bring himself to care.
Maybe I misheard the name.“Perhaps I am at the wrong house. I should leave.”
Before he could make a move to the door, Amelia spoke up. “Perhaps you are asking for Marina, Your Grace?” Her eyes looked hopeful.
Bethany’s face lit up. “Yes! I believe you met her at the garden party.”
“Bethany!” Her mother said sharply.
