“No,” Evelyn said, before meeting Verity’s knowing eyes and admitting the truth. “Perhaps slightly. Is anyone watching me?”
Verity hesitated, but she was always one to speak the truth. “Yes, since you walked through the door,” she said. “But I think they are just waiting to see how you have been standing up to all of the scrutiny. Show them that there is nothing more to be said.”
“Agreed,” Evelyn said before lifting her chin, although she felt the heat on her neck.
“The Duke of Ravenscar is here,” Verity noted, watching Evelyn’s reaction closely.
“Oh?”
“Yes, across the room with Lord Julian. Don’t look now, as they are staring this way.”
“Why?”
“Likely for the same reason we are discussing them. Your names have been linked, for whatever reason.”
“It is still perplexing,” Evelyn said in exasperation.
“I don’t think I have ever seen you perplexed before,” Verity said wryly as Evelyn finally allowed herself to look across the room — and catch the duke’s heated gaze. She stilled, unable to move from his stare, even though she knew that she had nobusiness looking at him in such a way. But… he cleaned up very finely in those beautiful buff breeches that hugged his thighs and the black jacket that wrapped around him.
She shook off her admiration to wonder if he had learned anything since their last conversation, and resolved to find some time to speak to him again soon, even if it wasn’t tonight, with so many eyes on them.
“Lady Norwood was already sniffing me out, trying to determine just what had brought me here.”
“What did you say?” Verity asked.
“Her invitation,” Evelyn said with a grin, causing them both to laugh, loosening some of the tension that had settled in, even though Evelyn still couldn’t shake the sensation of being observed, and not with curiosity, but with calculation. As though someone were waiting to see what she would do, and whether she would make a mistake.
“Lady Evelyn?”
Surprised, Evelyn turned to see who had risked the social ramifications of speaking to her, finding a small, familiar woman near her own age, awaiting her. It took Evelyn a moment to recognize her.
“Lady Thalia,” she said in surprise. “How are you?”
“I am well,” she said. “After all of the rumors that have arisen lately between you and my brother, I thought we should, perhaps, speak.”
“Of course,” Evelyn said. “I am always happy to spend time with you, as it has been a while since I have seen you.”
“I prefer not to attend such events, although my mother adores them,” Thalia said. “I enjoy… other pursuits, but I did wish to become reacquainted with the woman my brother spoke of with such… intensity.”
Evelyn felt her brows lifting. The duke had spoken of her to his sister? How… interesting. Thalia was charming andobservant, and Evelyn had always liked her when they ran into one another at events such as these.
“He told me that you were discovering more about why you have been suspected,” Thalia said. “Have you learned anything?”
“I have not, unfortunately,” said Evelyn. “I seem to be going round in circles, as though this were a children’s game with the message constantly changing.”
“Oh dear,” Thalia said, biting her lip, but she was looking over Evelyn’s shoulder. “Here comes Lord Julian.”
“Lord Julian Hartford?” Verity said, her eyes widening.
“The very one,” Thalia said while Evelyn studied her friend, wondering why it mattered so much. Did she know the brother of the Marquess of St. James?
“Ladies!” he said as he approached, his warm brown eyes deep and inviting, his smile wide, a dimple flashing in his cheek. “How am I so lucky as to find the three of you here together?”
“It is positively shocking,” Verity said with what almost appeared to be an eye roll. Evelyn couldn’t help the laugh that emerged from her lips.
“I am not too scandalous for you to converse with, Lord Julian?” Evelyn asked, lifting a brow, and his eyes lit up.
“The more scandalous, the better, Lady Evelyn. Do you not agree, Lady Thalia?”
