“And good morning to you, your grace,” she said, forcing the smile onto her face, even if she didn’t quite feel it. They could still be civil, being in public, even though, as handsome as he was, he was still slightly infuriating.
“Good morning,” he said through pursed lips.
Evelyn was more tense than usual, but she refused to let it show.
“Why do we not get to the point in which you tell me I was wrong and explain how your plan is better?” he said, staring down at her, and Evelyn lifted a brow.
“First, let us recognize that I am not the one you are angry at, and it would be best if you didn’t take your ire out on me. It would be far better for us to work together and not be antagonistic about this.”
“Fine.”
“Whoever has spread these lies needs to keep suspicion away from themselves, perhaps?” Evelyn said logically.
“Perhaps. It is as though someone wants us publicly linked.”
He was staring at her in a way that had Evelyn’s spine straightening.
“Are you suggesting that I might be to blame for this?”
He shrugged. “There are many young ladies who would like to be married to a duke.”
“There just might be, but I am not among them. That, I can assure you,” she said, nearly snorting.
“Am I so bad?” he lifted a brow.
“Let us just say that you are not a man I would wish to be married to. Especially if you felt forced into the situation.”
He tilted his head in agreement. “That would certainly cause resentment.”
Despite the disdain each of them was showing for it, all of the talk of marriage had her flustered, and she decided to change the subject before he noted it. “Have you heard from Pine?”
“All he has uncovered is the history of the diamond. That it has changed hands multiple times. It was even owned by my family for some time until my father sold it, although for what reason, I have no idea.”
“Has he discovered where the rumor originated?”
“No, but he would have a difficult time doing so, for he has no access to our circles.”
“We just might have to determine that ourselves.”
“I have considered this time and again, and it is complete nonsense for anyone to blame a duke or a young lady. We are the least likely suspects. For what reason could we be suspected of stealing the diamond?”
“Perhaps someone is angry with us, although why, I am unsure.”
“I cannot think of anything that makes sense,” he said. “Tell me, what is your plan?”
She placed her hands on her hips as she sighed. “Unfortunately, it seems the damage is already done. Whether anyone actually believes that I am in the wrong, no one wants to be linked to my father or to me. He is humiliated and refuses to attend lectures.”
“I understand,” the duke said. “I am already facing political ramifications. Any influence I had is disintegrating.”
“And our innocence almost makes us look guilty, for what can we say besides that we were simply standing there, watching the spectacle?”
“We were both with friends.”
“Beside one another, as it happened,” she said. “Simply… standing in the same room.”
With him completely oblivious to her, but she didn’t need to speak that aloud at the moment.
“Well, that appears to be enough,” the duke said. “What do we do now?”
