Page 25 of A Bluestocking’s Secret Courtship

“Your Sir Jonathan is very handsome,” Regina whispered.

He halted on the stairs long enough to glance over his shoulder. Evangeline waved; he smiled.

“He seems to be taken with you,” Regina said. “Have you noticed how he looks for you every few minutes like he is afraid you might vanish?”

“He isn’t my Sir Jonathan. I admire his intellect. Nothing more.”

“Mm-hmm.”

“Are you coming, Regina?” Xavier called from the foot of the stairs, his voice echoing in the amphitheater. “Wait there. I will assist you.”

He sprinted up a few stairs before Regina stopped him.

“You two go ahead,” she yelled. “I’m feeling a bit winded.”

Xavier’s brow furrowed.

“I only need a moment’s rest. Evangeline will sit with me.”

The tense lines around his mouth melted away. His nod was slight—Evangeline would have missed it if she had blinked—and something unspoken hung in the stifling air.

Sir Jonathan spoke too softly to be heard at the top of the amphitheater. Xavier shook his head.

“Please, don’t mind us,” Regina said. “Enjoy the sights.”

Sir Jonathan hesitated, his gaze sweeping the landscape. Evangeline looked over her shoulder and saw nothing out of the ordinary.

“Catch your breath, darling,” Xavier called and urged their new friend onward. “We won’t be long.”

When the men turned away, Regina sighed and pulled an ivory fan from her reticule. Her cheeks were scarlet, and she looked tired around the eyes, her usual sparkle dimmed.

“For heaven’s sake, Gigi, you look like you might collapse. Why didn’t you speak up sooner?”

“You are fussing over me.”

“And I can if I want.” Evangeline clasped her sister above the elbow and guided her toward a wedge of shade created by one of the walls. “You are too stubborn by half.”

Regina scoffed but sat in the shade without arguing. Evangeline dropped her bag at their feet and sat beside her. Regina closed her eyes, fanning her face.

Evangeline scolded herself for dragging her on today’s excursion. They had been outside in the heat every day since their arrival, and she had underestimated the toll it would take on Regina. She still wasn’t fully recovered from their journey. Her older sister seemed invincible sometimes, and Evangeline forgot she was human like the rest of them.

“Maybe we should send for a doctor,” Evangeline said.

“It’s unnecessary.” When Regina’s cheeks faded to a less concerning shade of pink, she rested the fan on her lap. “I promised to broach a certain topic with you tonight, but perhaps I should take advantage of our time alone and talk with you now.”

Evangeline’s mouth grew dry. Something was wrong. As a myriad of potential problems zipped through her mind, she began gathering possible solutions. “Are you certain you’re not ill?”

“I’m as healthy as I have ever been. Why do you keep harping on this?”

“Because you don’t look well.”

“I’m flattered,” Regina said flatly, then reached for Evangeline’s free hand and squeezed her fingertips. “Xavier thinks we should settle on a date to return home.”

“Already?” She pulled her hand free. “Is this Xavier’s suggestion or yours? Because if you’re worried about Sophia and Aunt Beatrice getting on without you⁠—”

“No, it isn’t about them, I promise. I miss our sister and Auntie, but I know they don’t really need me.”

Evangeline narrowed her eyes, and her sister laughed.