“Well, there are many greens. Perhaps the color of the leaves on a walnut tree, or a silver birch? When the sun hits—”
“Dark green,” he drawled, interrupting her. “Let’s move on as I am woeful at descriptions, and clearly you are not. Favorite food.”
“That’s easy. Boiled salmon and potatoes.”
“You’re a mean person, Evangeline.”
“Surely not?” Now the nerves had eased slightly, she realized she was enjoying herself, much to her surprise. “My favorite sweet foods are plum cake and barley sugar candy.”
“I am partial to eclairs and sugar plums,” he said.
“Both excellent choices,” she agreed.
They were walking down a path behind others out for a stroll. Some shot them curious looks. Lord Hamilton nodded, or doffed his hat, and Evie smiled. It was getting easier, she thought. As soon as that thought entered her head, she saw him.
“It will be all right, Evangeline. Trust me.” He placed a hand over the one she had on his arm. “Breathe easy and continue to smile.”
She concentrated on inhaling and exhaling as Lord Cavendish stalked toward them with another man she knew as Mr. Calthorpe. As they drew closer, she saw the anger mottling Lord Cavendish’s face.
“Miss Spencer. What is the meaning of this?” He spat the words out as he reached them. “Unhand the woman I plan to marry at once, Hamilton.”
“Cavendish, Calthorpe,” Anthony said, in his slow drawl. “Lovely day for a walk with a beautiful woman.”
“I demand to know why you are walking with Miss Spencer, Hamilton, when you know my intentions toward her.”
“I know nothing about you, Cavendish, and have no wish to,” Lord Hamilton said.
Evie tensed as Lord Cavendish leaned in, his eyes narrowed and mean as he glared at Anthony, and then her.
“Come here, Miss Spencer, and away from him!”
“Back away, Cavendish, before I make you.” Lord Hamilton’s voice, though not growling like Lord Cavendish’s, still conveyed a menacing threat.
Evie now saw the man most of society feared.
“Miss Spencer never once indicated to me she found your interest in her favorable,” he added. “Do as I say, Cavendish, and move back, because you are making a scene, and while I care little for that, I know appearances are everything to a man like you.”
“I don’t take orders from you,” Cavendish snapped, but his eyes shot left and right.
People had stopped to watch, and in that moment, Evie wanted to return home and close the door and never leave the Spencer house again.
“When it comes to Miss Spencer you do, Cavendish.”
“What? You have no claim on her,” Lord Cavendish spluttered. He fell back a step, clearly shocked.
“Exactly. What are you about, Hamilton?” the man with him, Calthorpe, said. “Some kind of petty revenge you’re still seeking for the harmless games at Blackwood Hall?”
Evie felt the arm beneath her fingers tense. Lord Hamilton’s expression was once again wearing that mocking smile, but when he looked down at her briefly, she saw the rage. She wondered what lay between these men.What had happened at Blackwood Hall?
“You were a coward then, and you’re—”
“Lord Hamilton has asked me to marry him, and I have accepted,” Evie said quickly, cutting off Lord Cavendish. “We are blissfully happy at the prospect, and I would ask you to respect my decision, my lord.” She dug her fingers into the hard muscled arm.
“Extremely happy,” Anthony said, in a voice cold enough to freeze water.
Lord Cavendish looked about to have an apoplexy. His face was flushed red, and his hands clenched into fists.
“I knew nothing of your partiality toward each other,” he gritted out. “Miss Spencer and I spoke just the other night—”
