Chapter Two
The following evening,Miss Evangeline Spencer, not by a flicker of an eyelash allowed anyone to see the pain she suffered. If she could get her finger into her ear without someone noting, she would. The screech from the violin was giving her a headache, as was the supposed highly regarded soprano singing on the stage.
“Isn’t she amazing?”
Glancing to her right, Evie looked at her sister and the delighted expression on her face.
“You are not serious?”
“Deadly. Miss Dornetto has a wonderful voice.”
“It’s hideous, and every dog nearby is howling.”
“Oh shush,” Prudence whispered.
Shorter than Evie, Prue was the softer, sweeter Spencer sister. She always had a genuine smile on her face, unlike the cynical one Evie wore. Her hair wasn’t simply brown, but more cinnamon and shot through with gold streaks. Pale skin and lovely blue eyes. She wore a simple cream dress with a blue sash under the bodice, which suited her elegant figure. In short, Prudence was the epitome of what every debutante should aspire to be… unlike her older sister.
“At least father is not here tonight, so we do not have to listen to him humming or clapping,” Prue said.
“A small mercy, but one nevertheless,” Evie agreed.
She felt an arm brush hers on the left side, and turned to look at who was lucky enough to have arrived halfway through theperformance and was now taking the empty seat. Her eyes met Lord Hamilton’s, and the breath lodged in her throat as she saw the dark bruise on his jaw. It made him appear more savage than normal, which was saying something.
What was he doing here?She doubted a man with his reputation would willingly come to such an evening.
His head did a tiny dip to acknowledge her, and his lip curled as if to let her know he was about as happy to see her as she was him. She did the same and then they both looked to the stage, united in their mutual loathing of each other.
Of course, he would arrive late. Beastly man, he could do whatever he wanted. Hostesses either gushed all over him or quaked in fear. His reputation was blacker than coal, and he had the manners of a barnyard animal. Arrogant, rude, he cared little for society and its rules. Evie despised him even more than jellied eels, which was saying something.
She attempted to move to the right, so their bodies did not touch. Even through layers of clothing, she felt like his skin was in direct contact with hers. The man was far too large to be considered elegant. She could see the width of the knee closest. Encased in white breeches, it was at least twice the size of hers. His boots must be huge.
“Dear God,” he muttered as the soprano hit a high note, badly.
“Perhaps if you are not enjoying the performance, you could leave, my lord?” She spoke the words in a sickly-sweet tone out of her smiling mouth, so that anyone looking would think she was being polite.
“I don’t believe I asked your opinion, Miss Spencer.”
His insulting drawl made Evie want to slap him. Instead, she focused on the performance, which was not easy as it was terrible.
Unlike the man next to her, she had to be polite. Evie’s family did not have the status and wealth to offend. In fact, their future depended on the success of this season. Appearances were everything and while the Spencers seemed a family that could walk with ease in society, they most definitely were not. Their time in London was short, and Evie did not want to contemplate what would happen after.
“Next time you drag me to another spectacle like this, I will refuse, no matter if I win or lose,” Lord Hamilton said.
Evie turned her head slightly, and out of the corner of her eye noted the crossed legs beside him. No doubt they belonged to one of the two men he seemed to keep company with, Lords Corbyn and Jamieson. Although why anyone would want this man as a friend she had no idea.
She heard the men murmuring and then a loud shushing from in front of them.
“Apologies, Lady Linley,” Lord Hamilton said, much to Evie’s surprise. She didn’t think the man knew how to apologize.
“Don’t come if you don’t want to listen.” Lady Linley added, now glaring at him, her many chins quivering with indignation. “What happened to your face, Hamilton?”
Evie braced herself, as surely he’d eviscerate the woman for daring to question him.
“I walked into a door,” he said, which she thought was a lie.
Lady Linley huffed out a disapproving breath. “Your aunts will tell me the truth.”
“Undoubtedly,” he replied.
