“So you’re advising that I tell him I want to change the perimeters of the agreement?”
“Yes, so long as you can separate your heart and your body, why not? Have orgasms and fun and not just revenge. In fact, perhaps the orgasms and fun would be the better revenge for both of you.”
“I’ll consider it,” Evelina said, and then shook her head. “Oh, but I can’t talk about it anymore. You mentioned a moment ago that Julia was little better than I am about love. What do you think of her viscount? I’ve only met him in passing.”
Arabella rolled her eyes. “Oh, you know how men like that are. Silas and I bumped into them at a club and he was fine. Rather like a potato, but not entirely unpalatable. She seems like she’s keeping her head about herself, but I’d like to keep monitoring her if you don’t mind doing the same.”
Evelina nodded and she and Arabella began a conversation about the logistics of how to act as nursemaid to their youngest sister without it being too obvious. But even as they did so, Evelina couldn’t help but wonder how much she, herself, needed an angel over her shoulder so she wouldn’t forget herself.
She’d done it once and she had to be careful never to do it again, no matter what she decided when it came to Lord Blackburn and his drugging, seducing kisses.
CHAPTER10
In the three days since he’d last seen Evelina, Vaughn had not stopped thinking about her and that charged moment in the carriage when their lips had met and it wasn’t for anything but pleasure. She had been the star of his vivid fantasies, as well. So as his carriage arrived at her home so they could go together to the gathering of a few friends and their mistresses, he had both a spring to his step and a little embarrassment in his heart. He was going to have to look at her and try to pretend that in his dreams he hadn’t undressed her with his teeth.
Not to mention she would likely have an answer to his suggestion that they renegotiate the terms of their arrangement. If she said no, he would have to hide his disappointment and recover. After all, this thing between them was never supposed to be about connection or sex. If she didn’t want those things with him, he could manage that.
And somehow stop fantasizing about it so their affiliation wouldn’t become uncomfortable.
When he got out of the carriage and went up to her door, he was greeted by her butler. Unlike when he’d taken her to the opera, he was escorted to a parlor and found she was already there waiting for him.
She turned from the fire as he entered and he caught his breath. She truly was lovely. The dusky pink of her gown matched the bright color in her cheeks and the lines of it accentuate her gorgeous curves. Her hair was done loosely tonight, with pretty little ringlets arranged to highlight the angles of her face.
“Aren’t you a vision,” he murmured, and it wasn’t a lie.
She smiled, that blush going even darker than the dress. “You are too much of a flatterer, I will get a swelled head at this rate.”
“I say nothing that isn’t true. Certainly, I cannot be the first man to give you compliments. They must line up to do so.”
Her lips thinned a little and he realized he’d hit upon a point of true pain for her without meaning to. “Not exactly,” she said.
He shook his head in disbelief. “Southwater wasn’t free with his compliments? Even when he got to regularly see you looking like this?”
She shrugged, but the dismissive action didn’t match the emotion on her face. “Not in the last six or seven months we were together. I realize now he must have been saving those compliments for someone else.”
Anger flared in him, but for the first time in this situation, it wasn’t for himself. Right now it didn’t matter that perhaps Southwater had been complimenting Florence instead, it was only how the removal of his affection had hurt Evelina.
He stepped a little closer and caught her hand, lifting it to her lips. “The fact that he couldn’t only see you in any room is proof enough of what a fool he is. You are stunning, Evie, truly a sight to behold and any man who doesn’t track your every move and breathe out the wordgoddessin your wake is an idiot.”
Her gaze darted down and her cheeks pinkened even further. “You see, entirely swelled head.”
“I doubt that,” he teased. “And now, shall we go?”
She nodded and they moved into the foyer together where she retrieved her wrap from her butler and then they were off to the carriage. He helped her into her seat and they rattled into the night toward their destination.
She shifted as they rode, her hands crossing and uncrossing her lap. “Er, remind me what friends we’re visiting?”
“The Marquess of Ravenscroft and his mistress?—”
“Matilda,” Evelina provided with a smile. “Oh, I like her.”
“Good. And I believe the Earl of Thistlebury will also be in attendance.”
“Thistlebury.” She seemed to search her mind for a moment. “Harriet Benson,” she supplied at last. “She’s a very experienced courtesan and I don’t know her well, but I’ve always respected her.”
“Then it shall be a very fine evening,” he said. When she nodded and then her gaze darted away, he sighed. “Evelina, it appears you have something that is weighing on your mind. The ride is more than a quarter hour to go, won’t you clear your thoughts and tell me?”
She huffed out a breath. “Very well. Yes, I’ve something to say. To ask. To discuss.”
