“Thank you for allowing me to intrude on your private time. I am grateful.” He knew those words had been spoken with reluctance. Dropping into a curtsey, she then walked back to her sister. Anthony watched as she hauled Miss Prudence Spencer to her feet.
“I’m enjoying myself,” the youngest Spencer protested.
“But we are intruding, so it is time to go,” Miss Spencer added as he and his friends approached.
“Oh, but now we are to picnic,” his Aunt Petunia said.
Anthony knew what his aunts were about. They had Miss Spencer here, and she was on the list, so this was the perfect time for Anthony to spend time with her.
“We have a… thing,” Miss Spencer said as she had earlier. Clearly, she did not excel at lying like some he knew. He watched as she nudged her sister in the side.
“Oh right, that thing,” Miss Prudence Spencer said.
“Good day to you all, and enjoy your picnic,” they said together.
“And thank you for the entertainment and lovely biscuits,” Prudence Spencer added.
“Lovely girls,” Aunt Lavinia said watching the Spencers leave. “So well mannered.”
“I’m now doubly pleased to have put Miss Spencer’s name on the list, Anthony, as she is your equal in archery,” Aunt Petunia added.
“Both girls are indeed sweet natured,” Aunt Aggie said.
“Are we talking about the Spencers?” Anthony said, no longer able to keep quiet. “Because there is no way that older one could be termed sweet natured. She would be the last person I could ever marry.”
“Funny how she’s like that with you,” Toby said dropping down beside Aunt Aggie’s chair to forage through the picnic basket. “With the rest of us she’s exceedingly sweet natured.”
“That is interesting.” Aunt Petunia got a look on her face that told him she was more than happy with the thought that Miss Spencer was only irritated when Anthony was near. “How intriguing.”
“Not intriguing,” Anthony snapped. He then bent to take a biscuit and bit into it, so he couldn’t speak again.
His friends and family then proceeded to list the merits of the three women on the list, much to his frustration. Anthony’s reputation was fierce with anyone but this lot, and now Miss Spencer had infiltrated that part of his life. He was not happy about that… not happy at all.
“Well now, Miss Spencer has more merits than others, so I think we have the future Lady Hamilton,” Toby said. Anthony threw his half-eaten biscuit at him.
Chapter Ten
One week afterthe archery contest, Evie and her family entered the Bailey ball.
“Smile, daughter, there is so much to enjoy at these events.”
“Sorry, father.” Evie forced her lips upward.
She’d faked an illness and avoided taking a carriage ride with Lord Cavendish after he’d sent word he would collect her. Prue had answered the door and told him she was in bed with a sore throat. He’d not been happy. This Evie knew as she’d listened.
She’d then had to stay in the house for three days, which if she was honest had been a relief. This polite pretense they were forced to maintain—well, she was forced, her father and sister seemed to actually enjoy society—was stretching her nerves to breaking point.
The words Cavendish had said at the Hugh’s club were constantly inside her head. She would rather live on the streets than be subjected to life with that man, but how did she dissuade him?
“Of course, there is much to enjoy,” Prue said when Evie remained silent.
“Exactly,” Heathcliff Spencer said, beaming. Their father never understood the subtleties of sarcasm, which, unfortunately for him, his daughters excelled at.
“That painting is larger than the wall in our bedroom,” Prue whispered, looking up.
Following her sister’s eyes she took in the artwork. The huge, gilded frame had a gentleman dressed in severe black glaring down his long nose at them. At his side was a spaniel with long floppy ears.
“Clearly the dog was his favorite, as there is no sign of a wife or children,” Prue added.
