“I don’t want to go with him, and why did you tell him I was good at archery?” Evie hissed.
“Because you crow loudly when we play at home about how easy it is to beat me.” Prue followed Lord Corbyn. Evie stood there for two seconds, then hissed out a breath and did the same.
“I do not crow,” she said when they’d stepped through the trees. Evie looked at the people gathered and felt her stomach plunge to her toes. She’d known these men were often seen together but hoped that was not the case today.
Lord Jamieson and Lord Hamilton. The man was appearing far too frequently in her life as far as Evie was concerned. Her opinion of him may be changing, slightly, after his protection of Mr. Renee and clear dislike of the revolting Lord Cavendish, but still, she had no wish to encounter him too often. Besides, shedoubted he could ever change his wild ways, and she and Prue should not associate with such a man.
“Look who was lurking in the trees,” Lord Corbyn said much to Evie’s embarrassment. “Miss Spencer and Miss Prudence Spencer.”
Lord Hamilton’s head turned so fast it was amazing it didn’t do permanent damage. He impaled her with a look of absolute displeasure. Evie almost smiled. Instead, she looked around for any women present. There were none. Their reputation would be ruined if anyone saw them, which was a good reason to leave.
“We will leave you gentlemen to your archery,” Evie said.
“Damned grass everywhere!”
These words came from behind Evie and Prue. They turned in time to see Lord Hamilton’s three aunts making their way through the trees. Three footmen were with them, carrying chairs. Another a picnic basket large enough to hold a body.
“Well now!” Lady Petunia said, seeing Evie and Prue. “Isn’t this grand? How wonderful that you ladies are joining us! We shall have a picnic while these fools see who can best the other. We are here to referee, you see. They are extremely competitive and have been since they were boys.”
“We were just leaving,” Evie said.
“Lovely,” Prue said at the same time. “I do enjoy a picnic.”
“What are you doing? I have no wish to be here,” Evie hissed in her sister’s ear.
“You told me this very morning you are bored with society, so this could be fun and alleviate that,” Prue said watching the elderly ladies make their way to where the footmen were placing chairs.
“I do not class being here fun in any way. Especially if he is here.”
Prue looked around Evie at Lord Hamilton.
“Stop it.”
Her sister had that mischievous look in her eyes that usually meant trouble for Evie.
“Come along, ladies,” Lady Petunia called to them.
“There really is no need to leave,” Lord Corbyn said. “You could keep my friend’s aunts company, and stop them heckling us.”
“We have no wish to intrude on something that is clearly an intimate gathering,” Evie said stiffly.
“Let Miss Spencer leave, if that is her wish,” a deep voice said that she instantly knew was Lord Hamilton.
“We shall stay, but only for a few minutes,” Evie said far too quickly.
Lord Corbyn smirked at her words. “He has that effect on most people. Now, go and sit with the aunts, who are wonderful ladies. It will be entertaining, I promise you,” he said before walking away.
“This is fun,” Prue said moving toward the three women.
“No, it’s not.”
“Stop being so stuffy.”
“We are in the company of one of society’s most… most—”
“Rakish rakes?” Prue supplied.
Without telling Prue what had happened between them, she couldn’t explain why she felt as she did around that man. As Renee, she was grateful to him—when he wasn’t insulting her that was as Evangeline Spencer. She thought him a horrid man…who saved you from being trampled by a horse.
