“I believe they are called finger sandwiches.”
Evie looked at him and while his face held no expression, which she’d seen many times, those eyes were another matter entirely. He was laughing at her.
“And what did you reply to the person who alluded to you carrying my child, Evangeline?”
“Isn’t it considered vulgar to speak to a woman of such things?”
“Possibly, but I doubt your sensibilities are hurt as you are not the average society miss.”
She huffed out a breath. “They weren’t.”
“And I will remind you at this juncture that it was not I who told Lord Cavendish about our engagement. That was you, Evangeline.”
“I know,” she snapped, “and if I could go back and change that I would.”
“You can’t, so make the best of it,” Anthony said. “Remember Cavendish.”
She shuddered.
“Has he approached you?”
“No. I think he will keep his distance now,” Evie said looking around her for the man. She could not see him, thankfully.
She watched Prue dance by with Mr. Landon. “May I ask you something, my lord?”
He nodded.
“Do you know Mr. Landon?”
His eyes went to Prue, who was laughing at something her dance partner said.
“Not well, but enough that I can say I have heard nothing that would put your sister off marrying him, were it to come to that.”
“It’s vexing being a woman,” Evie said. “I cannot ask questions as a man can, but it is just as important to me that Prue be happy as it is she marry someone with money.”
“The Landons are comfortable,” he said. “Now, the music is about to end, and I will caution you to hold your counsel and think of the end result before telling someone exactly what you think of them for their impertinent questions, Evangeline.”
“I am not a fool, my lord. I know what is at stake.”
“And yet, I’m quite sure you can be pushed into losing what little control you have.” The side of his mouth tilted up, which Evie knew constituted a smile.
“I’ll have you know that my control is excellent,” she added.
He’d kissed her outside her house the day he’d spoken to her father. Just a simple brush of his lips over hers, and she’d not been able to stop thinking of that moment since. She wanted him to kiss her again, which was the perfect reason to keep her distance from her infamous fiancé.
“I assure you, Lord Hamilton, I am quite capable of playing the pretty when required. I was just shocked at the onslaught of questions and comments when I arrived. I have recovered now.”
“Dance with my friends; they know about us.”
“You told them, when I was not allowed to tell Prue?” Outraged, she glared at him.
“So you haven’t told her?”
Evie refused to look away, even as she wanted to.
“You told her didn’t you, Evangeline?”
Her name seemed to roll off his lips in a way it had on no one else’s lips before.
