“To ensure you did not marry Lord Hamilton,” Miss Beasley said in a wobbly voice. She too was close to tears. “My mother wished me to wed him.”
“I see,” Evie said, understanding exactly in that moment the pressure Miss Beasley’s mother had put on her.
“Helena!”
Looking to the door behind the two women, Evie watched Lady Beasley enter.
“Come here at once.”
“I am speaking with Miss Spencer, Mother, and apologizing for our behavior.”
“I have nothing to apologize for! You will come here now,” Lady Beasley said.
“No, I won’t, Mother. I will return shortly. Lucinda and I are thanking Miss Spencer for saving her life also.”
Lady Beasley looked ready to commit murder, but instead turned and walked back out the door.
“Please, do not fall into trouble with your mother for me. Your apologies are accepted,” Evie said.
“I realized after you saved Lucinda, Miss Spencer, that I was horrid to you, and I found I did not like the woman I hadbecome. Especially when you willingly risked your own life to save someone who had not been nice to you.” Miss Little, who was still clutching Evie, sobbed harder.
“We all have our faults, Miss Beasley,” Evie said easing out of Miss Little’s grip again. “Mine are many, as my family will tell you, but I think it is important to be honorable and kind each day, if you can be nothing else.”
Miss Little pressed her face into the handkerchief Miss Beasley thrust at her.
“Yes, I am going to try and do that,” Miss Beasley said.
“And now I am extremely hungry. Would you point me to somewhere there is a table full of food?” Evie said.
“Thank you for your forgiveness. I’m not sure were our roles reversed I would have been as generous,” Miss Beasley added.
“Do you know, I think you would have,” Evie said. “Shall we move on from this moment?” Both girls nodded.
They informed her where the food was and that there was a croquet competition taking place on the west side of the house.
They escorted her outside, and then Miss Beasley and Miss Little went to where their mothers sat with a group of other women. Evie hoped Lady Beasley was not too hard on her daughter.
She followed a path around the outside of the house, taking in the lovely green hills in the distance and the gardens she was going to explore.
Entering another door, she found a sideboard with several platters full of tempting food. The room was empty bar an elderly gentleman snoring loudly slumped in a chair. Picking up a plate Evie loaded it with small sandwiches and a wedge of plum cake. Wandering back outside she stood studying her surroundings and devoured everything.
“Hello, Miss Spencer.”
She tried not to stiffen as Mr. Calthorpe appeared. Evie nodded.
“Are you going to inspect the croquet my cousin has set up for the guests?”
“I am at present eating, sir. Perhaps after.” She crammed another mouthful of cake in so she couldn’t speak again.
“I will escort you.”
She shook her head, then fought to swallow. The cake wedged, and she coughed but got it down without spitting it all over him. Not that he didn’t deserve that.
“Are you all right?”
Evie nodded.
He did not have the mean look of his friend Cavendish. However, he had been present when Evie was lured outside and stood by with his sister to watch as she struggled to get free. His jaw only showed a faded tinge of yellow now from the punch Anthony had given it.
