“To not love poetry is surely a crime when you walk in society. What will people think, Miss Spencer?”
“That I’m a philistine with a forthright nature and am too old to change.”
He’d been in a rage not long ago and now he was barking out another laugh.
“And you.” She looked up at him, the sun picking up the gold flecks in her eyes. “Who is your favorite poet?”
“I like many,” he said.
“Favorite poem then?”
“Cyriack, this three years’ day these eyes, though clear,
To outward view of blemish or of spot,
Bereft of light, their seeing have forgot;” Anthony said.
“Nor to their idle orbs doth sight appear.
Of sun, or moon, or star, throughout the year,
Or man, or woman. Yet I argue not,” she added.
“I thought you said you didn’t like poetry?” Anthony managed to get the words out of his dry mouth. She knew his favorite poem.
“I don’t, but my sister loves it and is constantly quoting it.”
“I believe John Milton is one of the greatest English poets of all time,” Anthony said as he turned them back toward the carriage. He rarely talked about his love of poetry to anyone, and yet he was doing exactly that.
“I think you and my sister will get along well,” she said. “She is constantly thrusting books in my direction and demanding I read them.”
“And yet?”
“And yet I would rather continue reading the tales of Captain Broadbent and Lady Nauticus.”
“You cannot be serious? That is utter drivel,” Anthony said.
“It is not drivel. It is entertaining, and escapism, unlike the long winded, boring poetry you and my sister enjoy.” Her eyes were sparkling now as she met his gaze.
Evangeline Spencer enjoyed a good argument. He tucked that away with the other things he already knew about her.
“You will get on exceedingly well with Toby,” he said as they reached the carriage.
“Oh?” She raised a brow as he held out a hand to help her inside. “Is he an intelligent and articulate man then?”
“You are a mouthy woman, Evangeline Spencer.”
“Thank you. I do believe that was a compliment.”
“It wasn’t.”
“Well, I will take it as such.”
She released his hand and settled inside the carriage. He helped her maid, then joined her.
*
Heathcliff Spencer couldnot have been happier when Anthony had asked to speak to him in private, upon their return to the Spencer house.
