“What is that?” Evie asked, getting to her feet to inspect the dress.
“Has your illness addled your mind? Clearly, it’s a dress.” Prue held it up with a smile.
“I can see that, but it’s not one of ours.”
“Well, when you were sick Lady Petunia and her sisters arrived and took me shopping. I argued, of course,” Prue said, “but they were insistent. We have four new dresses each, and several bonnets.”
“Dear Lord,” Evie whispered. “Tell me that isn’t true.” He’d done this. Lord Hamilton, after she’d told him they did not have enough dresses for the Hampton house party.
“Very well, it’s not true, Evie,” Prue said, gently folding the dress and lowering it into the open trunk.
“No. This can’t be happening. We can’t accept this kind of charity from him. It’s humiliating. How will I ever face Lord Hamilton again?”
“They are beautiful dresses,” Prue said removing a cream one from the box. “I knew your sizes so was able to have them made.”
“Can you not see this makes us beholden to him? After the season is over, we are leaving and will likely never return. How will I…we repay him for this?”
Prue dropped the dress and grabbed her shoulders. She then gave them a little shake. “He is a wealthy man, and you are engaged to him—”
“I’m not!”
“Very well, fake engaged, but the point is, he cannot have you turning up at a house party looking like the poor cousin of your great aunt, who is now living on the charity of her family because her husband stole all her money and—”
“I get the point. There is no need for one of your stories,” Evie snapped.
“Excellent. So, you understand why he did this?”
“I don’t like it, but I understand it.” Society valued appearances above all else, and even the infamous Lord Hamilton could not be seen with a fiancée dressed in ill-fitting, worn clothing.
“It was a very kind thing he did also, Evie. To spend money on you when he did not have to.”
She nodded, knowing that he was capable of that too. She’d seen him dive into the water to rescue Miss Little and Mr. Benjamin, who would have drowned had he not. Those were not the actions of the callous man he portrayed himself to be.
“So now you need to get ready as a carriage will be arriving soon,” Prue said slamming the lid shut. “Make haste, sister. We are about to go on an adventure neither of us foresaw before the season started.”
“Now? Today?”
“Now, today. A bath is coming. You will wash, and we will leave in two hours. The drive will be taxing, but you can sleep the entire way if you wish to.”
“How can we afford a carriage to Lord Hampton’s estate?” Evie demanded.
Prue ignored her and flung open the door. “Humphrey!” she then bellowed.
“Don’t yell at the staff, sister. How are we affording a carriage, and who ordered it?” Evie said.
“You called, Miss Prudence.” Humphrey appeared in the doorway.
“Yes, Humphrey, I want to take this downstairs for when the carriage arrives. Grab that end, and we shall do so now.”
“You will not bloody do so!” Evie roared. “You’ll answer the question.”
“Do you think a future countess should curse like a sailor, Humphrey?” Prue asked as she lifted her end. “Because I’m sure I don’t.”
“It’s not seemly,” he said, and then they were gone, hefting the luggage out the door. Evie followed.
“Answer the question, Prue, and you know well and fine I am not going to be a countess.”
Her sister made a great show of panting and making noises that suggested she was putting a great deal of effort into what she was doing. Evie knew better; she was avoiding answering her.
