Before Emberly could talk any sense into him, Evan grabbed Avery by the lapels. “First of all, let me make myself abundantly clear when I say you will lose this wager; I have no desire to reacquaint myself with that woman and her wiles. Secondly, if you, or anyone else for that matter, dare to make that wager again, I will pound you so senseless that you will wish that you were never born. Am. I. Clear?”
Evan released him and brush his lapels.
“Jesus, Radcliffe,” another exclaimed. “It was a harmless wager. No respectable person of the ton takes her seriously.”
“That is not the point, Beauvale. I will not have my name dragged through the mud while I am trying to find a suitor for my sister.”
They all stared at him. When Beauvale continued, “So the gossip is true then? Wickham jilted her for an American heiress.”
All Evan could do was grumble. He wanted nothing more than for this little charade his mother was putting on to be over with.
“Wickham did leave, but I promise you, if he ever sets foot on English soil again I will call him out.”
Evan removed himself from the circle of men that surrounded him and walked toward the window overlooking the courtyard. All the ladies were strolling outdoors before luncheon. “You are all welcome to my stables. I will join you shortly, I just remembered I have some ledgers to go over.” Without looking back, he left the room and headed to his library with Emberly hot on his heels.
“If you insist on following me, make sure you bolt the door behind you. I have no desire to be interrupted further.”
“Just hear me out and you can return to your sulking,” Emberly said.
Evan waved off for him to join him at his desk.
“What could you possibly have to say at this point, Emberly? I’ve already said what I’ve had to say on the matter of my sister and that woman.”
“I realize this whole husband hunting has you in a foul disposition. Do keep in mind that you know how people talk. They will speculate as to why you’re desperate to find her a husband so quickly after Wickham ran off.”
Evan snorted. “I am well aware of that fact.”
“Then do try and be civil. I will help you find the proper suitor, but for now you need to get through this engagement your mother and sister are hosting.”
Evan relaxed. There was a reason he and Emberly were friends. Emberly balanced his impulsive nature, which was an oddity unto itself; the viscount was even more impetuous than he.
“Well, now that you’ve mentioned it, I do have an outing I am planning of my own. I plan on taking Annabelle to the opera, and I’ve invited Eliza and her cousin to join us. Perhaps, you can join us.”
He watched the expression on his friend’s face change from shock to curiosity.
“Am I to understand that the two of you are now so intimate that you’re calling each other by your given names?”
Evan had no intention of dignifying that inquiry with a response. “I am planning on taking Annabelle next week. I hope you will be able to join us. I am certain you will not want to miss the opportunity in a formal introduction to the lady.”
He glimpsed the devious grin that lured the minxes to Emberly.
“How could I ever decline such an opportunity?”
“Then it is settled. Let us return to those pompous asses in the stables. I will be glad for all of them to be gone by tomorrow, including the ladies.”
* * *
“What do you mean he kissed you? Of course, a gentleman always picks up a glove and kisses a lady they admire,” Mary teased while holding Eliza in her arms. “Do tell. I want every detail.”
Eliza pulled away and walked up the stairs and stopped halfway to face her.
“No! He kissed me as a lover would. Quite passionately…it all happened so quickly. I hardly know what to conclude from such an exchange.”
Eliza raced to her room and flopped onto her bed, only to be joined by her cousin a few seconds later.
“Oh no you don’t, Eliza, I want to know everything that he said to you.”
“Nothing really. Other than he would like us to join him and his sister at the opera next week. I was sure he meant nothing by the invitation, that is, until he kissed me long and hard in the carriage outside your house.”
Eliza sighed at the fond memory. She clung to his scent that lingered on her skin.
“Elizabeth Winston, if I didn’t know any better, you are besotted with the earl. Heaven prevail! A miracle has happened.”
Eliza reached for a pillow and tossed it at Mary.
“Do stop, Mary. I’m enjoying the moment, try and not spoil it. If you cannot find something constructive to say, do stay on topics such as the weather.”
“Pardon…” her cousin muttered, confused.
Eliza peered over at her and they broke out in a fit of laughter.
“Ahem…”
Mary’s son had entered the room, appearing unamused with their childish antics.
“If you ladies are done behaving like silly chits, I will be dining with some of the men from the regiment tonight. Do,” he waggled a finger at them both, “try and stay out of trouble.”
Eliza watched Mary’s son leave with the most ridiculous and stern expression on his face, when Mary blurted out, “That boy is turning into his father with every passing day. I do hope he will find a proper lady and make us proud.”
There were times, like now, Eliza would have liked to have been blessed with children of her own, and yet providence had not. Moments like this one made her take stock of how fortunate she was that Alfred had left her with a smidge of income. Though she was not close with his son, she was grateful he honored his late father’s wishes.
Yet, the fact remained that she had not been her own identity these last ten years. She married late. In fact, her own mother had written her off as spinster and prepared to take her off the marriage mart. Were it not for her father’s connections, she’d have not married Alfred.
“Eliza…” Mary nudged her. “Do you ever wonder what it would have been like to have been married off to a younger, virile man.”
She turned toward her cousin. “Sometimes.” Her voice trailed off and sadness pulled at her heart. She was a childless widow, and even despite that her husband hadn’t given her any children, it would not stop the wagging tongues of the ton suspecting she was barren. A thought that would limit her suitors if she were to consider remarrying. The gossip would not aid in that singular matter as well.
Her cousin gripped her hand and brought it to her lips and placed a gentle kiss. “You will have children one day my beautiful and intelligent cousin. I would wager you could very well be a countess one day soon.”
A wonderful thought and perhaps it was true, perhaps it was all a dream. The Earl of Chisholm’s kiss had left her bereft of her senses. Lord, the man knew how to make a lady swoon.
“What say you we have ourselves some luncheon and then we shall venture off to collect your new wardrobe. I daresay, I cannot way to see you in some new gowns. Just imagine the heads you will be turning at the theatre with the earl at your side,” Mary quipped while vaulting from the bed.
“I’ll be along in a moment, Mary.”
Eliza rose from the bed and headed to the window. The traffic below was busier than the norm for this time of day. She supposed a little dalliance with the earl would not hurt, but she knew nothing of courtship or the etiquette of such affairs. Just how did one demonstrate their affection to gentlemen without coming across as a doxie? She’d have to ask her cousin for advice, but hoped the dear woman wouldn’t laugh at her. Far be it any fault of her own for not knowing any better, but it was time she sought out her own happiness instead of mulling around in her own fears and disappointment.
Eliza made her way down to the dining room where her cousin had started luncheon without her. She sat down and glared at her cousin who grinned like a fiend.
“What on earth is so amusing, Mary?”
“You’re distracted
, Eliza. Is it the kiss with the earl that has you out of sorts, or that you require some personal attention?”
Dear God. The woman was out of her wits by openly discussing such subject matter.
“If you must know, then yes, it was the earl I was thinking about.”
“Excellent. So, now that we’ve established you can secure a kiss from an earl, I wonder what other gentlemen you could catch. Shall we put my theory to the test?”
Eliza recognized the grin her cousin bore. Full of intrigue and trouble. Just the sort of thing she did not want to attract. She supposed she will discover soon enough the sort of intrigue her cousin is carefully plotting out.
Chapter Six
Evan paced the foyer furiously waiting for his sister. They would be late as usual, a trait he absolutely abhorred.
“Hurry up, Annabelle, it’s not been your first time to the opera,” he yelled up to her.
She appeared on the stairs and descended. “What is the matter, Evan? Haven’t you heard of being fashionably late before? Proper ladies are always fashionably late to these sorts of outings.”
Evan groaned and grabbed her hand rushing out the door.
“Evan, please. You’re hurting me.”
“We still have to pick up Lady Winston and her cousin Lady Mary.”
His sister scrunched up her face. “Who are Lady Winston and her cousin?”
The question gave him pause. His heart screamed to say a beautiful woman, but sensibility demanded he keep his interest in the lady to himself.
“They are friends; who I hope you will be kind to. They would be the sort of ladies you could call on for tea; seek counsel from them in all things proper.”
His sister raised her gloved hand to her mouth to mask her gasp. “Do you not think Mama proper?”
“I do not need to answer that, but I will say that she did not watch you close enough and keep you from getting ruined.”
“Evan!” she cried. “We were to be married, Wickham and I. How was I to know the rake would run off to America with a wealthy heiress?”
His sister began to sniffle, and he offered her his handkerchief and she declined.
“Honestly, Evan, I thought we were beyond this discussion. Can you answer my question?”
He nodded and extended his hand for her to proceed.
“What is the purpose of me meeting these ladies and this surprise outing to the opera?”
“I am trying to see if you’re interested in meeting any of my acquaintances.”
“Ah. The hunt for my husband continues. I have to admit, Evan, that soiree that Mama hosted was dreadfully boring.”
For once, Evan agreed with his naïve sister wholeheartedly. “Did you know that she provided me with only half the list of attendants?”
“I did. Although, I found it quite shocking that Mama invited that wretched Lady Amelia. I mean, considering all the gossip that I’ve heard regarding the both of you and your indiscretions with her when her husband was still alive.” His sister glared.
“How did you-”
“Henry told me. I had asked him why she kept running off after you left the room. Naturally, I was curious. A woman notices these things, and I’m certain Mama has her theories.”
“Does Mama know that she insists upon becoming my countess?”
His sister shrugged.
“Oh, here we are. I’ll only be a moment, Annabelle.”
Evan opened the carriage door, and hurried up the steps. Before he could knock a manservant opened the door.
“My lord. If you will follow me to the parlor, Lady Winston will join you in a moment.”
Evan waited eagerly to see the lovely lady and luckily she followed along another minute later.
When he rose to meet her at the door, his breath caught in his throat. The gown, her hair, her eyes…she was a goddess come to life, and he’d kissed her already. A need to have her crept over his flesh.
“My lady, you look utterly ravishing.”
She blushed. “Thank you, Evan.”
“Ah ha!” he cheered. “You said my Christian name. I gather your affections are the same as mine?”
“Possibly, my lord, I’ve yet to see how you conduct yourself in public with your sister.”
Evan appreciated a woman with sense of humor, and while he suspected she wasn’t trying to jest with him, her attempts at being coy were failing. He wanted her even more which was a pity seeing as they would have not a single moment alone this evening.
“Will your cousin be joining us this evening?” he asked.
Eliza nodded. “She said she would join us afterward, that she had one stop to make first.”
“Very well then, let us depart. I am certain Annabelle is bursting to meet you.”
He extended his arm to her, and she fell in step with him out the door and into the carriage.
Eliza took a seat across from his sister and smiled at her.
“Allow me to introduce you to Lady Annabelle Radcliffe, my sister. Annabelle, this is Lady Elizabeth Winston.”
Annabelle grinned and side-eyed him. “It is a pleasure to meet you, Lady Winston. When you can, you must tell me how you came to be my brother’s friend.”
Eliza inclined her head at the suggestion which worried him immensely. Would she tell his sister about their first meeting, or their secret ride? His sister would certainly expose his actions to his mother which he had no time for.
“Well ladies, I am certain you both will get along fine. Perhaps after tonight we can plan for another outing if you’re both inclined to agree.”
* * *
“This is quite exciting. It has been sometime since I have attended anything quite so public.” Eliza added with a smile. Short, polite conversation was the best manner in which to meet someone.
“So, the gossip is true then?” Annabelle inquired with a shaky smile. “You are out of mourning?”
“It would appear so, Lady Radcliffe.”
“Please,” she waved off. “Call me Annabelle.”
“Although, between the three of us, I do not hold out much hope. In being the second wife of a baron, and his son inheriting most of his father’s fortune. I have a comfortable income, yet not anything that would be considered impressive and alluring.”
Evan’s sister snorted and he look rather pained as she was forthcoming with her situation. There was no lie in what she said, and wondered how it would look upon the rest of the ton in her attending the opera with a family above her station and means.
“There is no need to talk like that, Eliza,” the earl said. “You only need concern yourself with enjoying the company this evening. I can tell you and Annabelle will get on famously.”
That she was sure of, now, if only she was as confident that Mary was going to join them. Something told her that her cousin had made other plans purposely to leave her alone with the earl and his sister. If that were the case, then where in God’s name would Mary have gone? Christian had left early to attend some function with other members of the regiment, and Mary acted as if she had received some gentleman caller. Her cousin, most indeed, would have left her in such an awkward and unfamiliar situation.
When the carriage stopped, Eliza was surprised by the number of people entering at the same time. Evan stepped out first and aided his sister and then herself to the ground.
For all her nerves, there was something so exhilarating in attending the opera for the first time. She had spent so much of her married life in their country estate that the concept of being social did not exist.
She followed Evan and Annabelle, observing the rush of the ton; the lecherous gazes of men and ladies in attendance with their husbands. Tonight was sure to be a spectacle. The theater was a full house and while she recognized some faces, she hardly knew anyone beyond the company of the earl and his sister.
Her excitement soon turned to nerves when a young man approached Evan.
“Ahem! Radcliffe, you must introduce me to this lovely woman.”
<
br /> The earl looked back at her and then back to his friend.
“Emberly, can you at least wait until we’re in my box?”
“I guess it will have to do. Annabelle, allow me…”
Evan’s sister took the arm of the young man and they disappeared to the top of the stair case.
“I guess we have a few moments alone before we head into my box. How are you feeling, Lady Winston?”
The formality in his voice took her aback. “I am fine.”
A rush of heat flooded to her belly. Was this normal?
“Are you ill, Eliza? You look flushed.”
Eliza smiled. “I will be fine once I am seated. The theater is quite warm and I am unaccustomed to being around so many people.”
He smiled back. “I am not overly fond of these establishments either, nor of the pretentious lot who attend, but we all do what we must. Annabelle needs a proper husband, and I ought to at least find her one who will keep her amused for a while.”
Eliza gasped and then laughed. “Well then, when you say such a thing, is it any wonder why you are still unmarried yourself?”
They stopped behind a banister before entering his box. He pulled her in close by her waist. His breath warmed her face and the strange and yet familiar wanting from before returned.
“Madam, I will have you know, I have in part not married yet as I do not think I am ready. Since inheriting this earldom there was much to learn. Toss in the messy business with my sister-well-I have not given it another thought. Though, it would seem others have plans for me. Let us join Emberly and Annabelle before she makes a spectacle of us all.”
He grinned a cheeky smile that would have melted many a heart, and for a brief moment the memory of his passionate embrace warmed her. She took his arm and followed him as they entered his box.
“Ah! There they are, Annabelle. Come, come, I am due for an introduction.”
“Lady Elizabeth Winston, allow me to present to you my oldest friend, the Viscount Emberly.”
The Viscount bowed and she curtsied. “A pleasure, my lord.”
“Ah, but the pleasure is all mine.”
The Elusive Lady Winston (Regency Rendezvous Book 5) Page 4