“And we’ve circled back to my lord.”
“As I was saying, a single season,” she said with a bite now to her words. She then paused, clearly unsure how to proceed.
“Just say the words, Evangeline. I already know you are living with two identities and an inch from social ruin.”
As he was looking at her, Anthony saw her head turn to the left and then the right before she spoke.
“How did you realize Mr. Renee was me? No one else did.”
He weighed his answer carefully, not wishing her to think he’d been watching her.
“That day I found you wandering around looking at Lord Bailey’s exotic plants. Your head was bent, exposing the back of your neck. I saw the marks you have there. I then saw them on Mr. Renee the night I realized who you were.”
Her eyes were on her sister’s back, but he knew her thoughts were on what she would say next. Conversing with Evangeline Spencer was entertaining because he never knew what would come out of that lovely mouth.
“Surely others have such marks.”
“You have the foot standing thing also,” Anthony said as he nodded to Mr. Jacobs. The man was so startled he tripped and stumbled several steps but managed to stay upright.
“Foot thing?”
“You put all your weight on the right leg and the left foot rests on top of it, Evangeline. I have seen no one but you do that.”
Anthony was suddenly uncomfortable with how much he knew about this woman.
“I like to observe people, and because I dislike meaningless conversation just for the sake of hearing my own voice, I spend a lot of time doing that.”
“Are you suggesting I like meaningless conversation?” She looked indignant now.
“Where in my statement did you gather that?”
“Nowhere,” she muttered. “Sorry.”
“You must spend a lot of your life apologizing if you are quick to assume everyone is judging you,” Anthony said.
“You have no idea,” she added. “But I am not important or wealthy, so judgment is always a conversation away.”
“How cynical you are, Miss Spencer, but back to why you have no wish to attend the house party.”
Her sigh was loud. “We don’t have enough dresses,” she hissed. “There, are you happy I am completely humiliated?”
“Ecstatic. I woke up this morning thinking how happy I—”
“And you say I am annoying,” she interrupted him.
A loud scream reached them, coming from somewhere up ahead. Evangeline started running, so he followed. Anthony was faster and rounded the row of trees which led to the water first. He found a rowboat overturned, and the occupants in the water.
“Mr. Benjamin has gone under several times, and Miss Little is hampered by her dress, and I can no longer see her!” A frantic Miss Beasley uttered these words. “W-we are friends, and I know she cannot swim.”
Shrugging out of his jacket, Anthony attempted to pull off his boots, which wasn’t easy, but he managed it with a lot of hopping. When he was done, he looked at the boat’s occupants and found Evangeline wading into the water.
“Get out of there at once!” he roared, following her.
“There are two of them. You can’t save them both!” she called back.
“You’re fully clothed!” he bellowed.
“I will stand here, and you can bring them to me!” The water was up to her chest now. “Hurry!”
