“Exactly.” Toby stepped forward. “Lovely to see you again, Miss Spencer, and I am pleased you have recovered.”
“Not quite. She’s still tired and pale,” Mr. Spencer said. “But my eldest daughter is strong. She will bounce back to her old self in no time.”
Because she’s had to be strong, Anthony wanted to say but kept that thought to himself.
“Well, that is all behind us,” Prudence said. “Come, let’s find our rooms, and then you can go back to sleep, Evie.”
“I don’t need to sleep anymore. I want to explore the gardens.”
She wore a dress in pale blue, with cream lace around the cuffs and neckline. He wondered if it was one he’d paid for. Anthony knew Evie would have a great deal more to say about the money he’d spent on her and her family. He looked forward to it. He loved arguing with this woman.
“About the dresses,” she said out of the side of her mouth as they made their way into the house.
He snorted. “It is done, Evangeline. What are you going to do? Unstitch them and take the cloth back?”
“It’s a thought,” she muttered, which had him barking out a laugh.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
After she leftAnthony and the heated discussion about money she was in no way finished with, Evie and Prue went to their rooms. They weren’t large, but big enough, considering they had shared a room and bed in London. Prue’s was across the hall, and their father’s next to her.
Everywhere she looked inside the Hampton manor house was grand. From the furniture to the floorings and drapes. Floor after floor of wonderful antiques and paintings. It was by far the largest house she’d ever entered, and she could not wait to explore. But first she’d just rest for a while because that bed looked comfortable.
An hour later she woke disorientated. The illness had made her weak and tired, and it would take time for her strength to return. Rising, she washed and then changed into a new dress. This one was a simple apricot in soft material that fell in elegant folds to the floor. She’d never worn anything like it before.
A dress Anthony had paid for. That soured her pleasure in wearing it slightly.
She knew pride influenced her feelings, but Evie felt humiliated because the Spencers couldn’t afford their own clothes.
As there was nothing she could do about this now, she left her room in search of her family and food. She knocked on Prue’s door. When she didn’t answer, Evie tried her father’s, but there was no answer there either.
Hoping she didn’t get lost, Evie headed left and thankfully found stairs. She saw glimpses through windows of manicured lawns and bordered gardens. The furniture smelled of lemon polish and was expensive and elegant. Stopping to study the contents of glass-fronted cabinets, Evie wondered if Anthony’s estate looked anything like this. Did he have more than one? Not that she’d ever see them. However, he interested her, so it was natural to be curious, or so she told herself.
It was nothing to do with the kiss he’d given her in his carriage. He’d been pleased to see her, she was sure of it, just as she had to see him. It was ridiculous how one man could make her heart beat faster. A man she had no rights to, Evie reminded herself.
The chandelier when she reached the bottom was bigger than any she’d seen, and she was excessively pleased it was not her job to dust it. Evie stood, staring up, awed at the light catching on the glass for long seconds, until the sound of someone clearing their throat drew her eyes to the enormous doorway.
“Miss Spencer.”
She watched Miss Beasley approach and with her was Miss Little, who was now looking a great deal better than last time Evie saw her.
“Miss Little, I am pleased to see you have fully recovered,” Evie said noting how uncomfortable both young ladies looked.
“Oh, Miss Spencer, I can never say thank you enough for what you did for me,” Miss Little rushed to say. “What you did…” Miss Little pressed her hand to her lips. “W-was so incredibly brave.”
“I know I have no right to ask this of you, Miss Spencer,” Miss Beasley then spoke in a subdued voice. “But I would ask your forgiveness for the way I have behaved toward you this season.”
Both ladies looked ready to cry.
“Please, there is no need—”
“I would be dead were it not for you!” Miss Little ran at Evie then and hugged her tightly. She had surprisingly strong arms.
Evie, never comfortable with displays of affection from people she didn’t know, awkwardly patted her back. “It’s all right, Miss Little. Really,” she added as the girl started sobbing.
“What I did that night to you is unforgivable,” Miss Beasley said, stepping closer to Evie and the still sobbing Miss Little. “I’m so sorry, but when Lord Cavendish asked me to lure you outside for him, I knew it was my chance, you see. I enlisted my mother’s help.”
“Chance for what?” Evie asked as she gently eased Miss Little back.
