The chest was deposited by the front door.
“In the parlor, now, Prue.”
“Oh, very well,” her sister said stomping past Evie into the room. “Bring tea if you please, Humphrey. We will need our strength for the journey, and then there is the fact my sister has been unwell. Do you remember how quiet it was for those few blissful days when she couldn’t speak?”
Humphrey thought better of answering that question and walked away.
“The carriage, Prue. How is it we can afford one, when to the best of my knowledge you never once mentioned it to me, and I did not tell you how to pay for it?” Suddenly exhausted, Evie sat after asking the question.
“Lord Hamilton is providing the carriage.”
Evie stared at her sister like she had developed an eye in her forehead.
“He asked if we had a carriage, Evie, and I said no, and that we would hire one, as I know you would have wished me to do,” Prue said, now seated beside her on the sofa. “He then said, I have two, you can use one of them.”
“Who has two carriages when you are only one person?” Evie asked.
“A wealthy earl is my guess. Who perhaps drives his aunts about the place?”
“I thought they had their own carriage. We saw them in it one day in the park.” Evie pinched the bridge of her nose hard to find some clarity in her foggy head. “We cannot allow him to pay for our clothing and a carriage, Prue. It is just not right.”
“At the time Father was here, and we were taking tea with Lord Hamilton and his aunts, and one of them said, I can’t remember which one, what a capital notion and I’m sure the Spencers will be a great deal more comfortable in your carriage, Anthony. Especially considering your illness.”
“Lord Hamilton and his aunts came here to take tea with you and Father while I was upstairs on my deathbed?”
“We checked on you,” Prue rushed to add. “You slept the entire time. Lord Hamilton was very worried and asked if he should call a doctor as you had been ill for so long. So he did and—”
“Tell me you are joking,” Evie said feeling faint for perhaps the first time in her life. How would she ever repay that man what her family now owed him?
“No, I would never joke about this. The doctor came and declared you had a chest inflammation and were extremely unwell. Lord Hamilton then made him return daily to check on you, until the doctor finally said you were improving,” Prue said. “Do you know that fierce reputation he has in society is completely unjustified? He can be a bit brisk, and occasionally gruff, but he is very kind, Evie.”
She had no idea what to say to that. Why had he done all these things? Was he worried about her holding up her end of the bargain?
“What did Father say with all of this going on?” Evie asked, instead of “tell me more about Lord Hamilton.”
“Naturally, he was worried about you and relieved when the doctor called. Father then said capital, and we would love to travel in comfort. Thank you, Lord Hamilton. He also loves parties and anything that involves him lolling about the place with people and eating a lot of food. So, the idea of a house party appealed to him.”
“Of course it did,” Evie said feeling nauseous.
Looking at her sister’s face she saw only happiness.
“You’re excited about the house party, aren’t you?”
“I am.” Prue clapped her hands. “Christian is coming.”
“Christian?”
“Mr. Landon.”
“Ah, right. I remember that was his name now. He seems a nice man.”
“He is, and was worried about you also, Evie.”
“I should have asked, is Miss Little all right?”
“She has recovered and called to see you along with Miss Beasley, but as you were still unwell, they left again.”
“Good Lord, Miss Beasley was here?”
