He had no idea how to respond to her observation, but was relieved of any obligation to do so when they were approached by a couple. She smiled at them and Silas realized this was the sister he hadn’t yet met, Evelina. Like the youngest, Julia, this woman looked a great deal like Arabella. Her eyes weren’t the same—Evelina’s were brown—but otherwise they had a similarly shaped face, the same dark hair.
“Evelina, Harry!” Arabella said, and drew their group off the dancefloor so they wouldn’t block the next set of dancers. “What excellent timing. I don’t think you’ve met my…” She trailed off and looked at Silas. “My friend, Silas Windham. Silas, this is the Duke of Southwater and my sister, Evelina Comerford.”
“Your Grace,” Silas said with a slight incline of his head. He actually knew Southwater, though he doubted the man recalled him. They’d been acquainted with each other as boys in school. Southwater had been a few years older. Silas had watched him bully some of the younger children and had ended up with a black eye for the trouble of defending them.
“Mr. Windham,” Southwater said, all disinterested politeness. “I’d heard you were back in Town for a few weeks. Pleasure to see you. How is your brother?”
Silas glanced toward Evelina, who hadn’t yet had a chance to greet him thanks to the intrusion of her protector. “He’s doing better, thank you for the inquiry. And Miss Comerford, I’ve heard so much about you.”
Evelina extended a hand at last and he shook it. “And I think you know I’ve heard so much about you,” Evelina said with a glance toward her sister.
“Evie,” Arabella said, and actually blushed. “She is terrible, she’ll tell you awful tales. All lies.”
“Hmmm,” Silas said with a wink toward her. “That only makes me want to ask questions.”
“Dearest, would you like some punch?” Southwater asked.
Evelina glanced up at him with a soft smile. “Oh, that would be lovely, thank you.”
The duke inclined his head and then left the three of them to weave his way through the crowd. Silas watched him with a frown. To fetch punch for his lover seemed kind on the surface, but Silas wondered if it was more out of disinterest in talking to Arabella and him rather than truly looking out for Evelina’s care.
Not that it was any of his business.
“You know I met your younger sister, Julia, at an event not so long ago,” Silas said, refocusing on the two women.
“Yes,” Evelina said with another wink for Arabella. “She told me all about it. And so you’ve met all three Comerford Courtesans. Do you have an opinion on the lot of us?”
He felt Arabella tense beside him. Just a little bracing for whatever he’d say, which made him wonder what other men had talked about when they discussed the sisters. Actually, he could well-imagine the disgusting things some men would come up with when faced with three sisters in the life.
“I think I’m most stuck by your strong bond,” he said, and meant it. “I’m afraid I’m not particularly close with my siblings, so to see how easy you are together is a true pleasure.”
Something on Evelina’s expression softened and she reached out to briefly squeeze Arabella’s hand. “Well, you ought to see all three of us together, then.”
“A tornado is what that is,” Arabella teased.
He smiled. “I’ve seen a tornado, in America. Terrifying things, but intensely beautiful.”
Evelina laughed. “Then it sounds like the perfect description for us. Terrifying but beautiful.”
“I find all three of you lovely,” he agreed. “But onlyslightlyterrifying.”
Evelina watched him a moment, her humor still on her expression, but her gaze focused. She was reading him, just as Arabella did sometimes. “How did you find the former colonies?” she asked. “You were there a long time, yes?”
“Over five years,” he said. “I traveled a great deal, saw cities and the countryside. There is great beauty there. And their wilderness is very different from ours. Here, you walk for a little while in one direction, you’ll find a town or house of some kind. There…well, if you wander too far you’ll never be found. Lost to the woods and the brush forever.”
“That sounds fascinating,” Evelina said with a sigh.
“I-I made some sketches during my time there,” Silas admitted, almost not realizing he was going to be so honest.
“You did?” Arabella asked, her eyes wide as she turned to face him more straight on. “I had no idea you were an artist.”
“I wouldn’t say an artist, but it’s impossible not to be in such a place and not capture it in some way, and I’ve never been much of a writer.”
“If you’ve brought the pieces, I’d love to see them,” Evelina said. “And it sounds like Arabella would feel the same.”
“I’m happy to share, as long as you do not judge my attempt at art too cruelly,” he said.
Evelina glanced over her shoulder. “Where in the world is Harry? He’s always been interested in America. Thinks we should take it all back by force, I think, for the resources there.” She slightly rolled her eyes, just barely perceptible.
