Dinner had been terrible. Not that Eva had expected much from it. She couldn’t wait to escape to her bedchamber for the night, but there was no way Aunt Clara would allow her to leave the parlor yet. All the Ladies had agreed to retire there after dinner. With Lord Somerset being the only gentleman in attendance, he could either join them or retire for the evening. She wished she had gotten the latter choice.
She sighed.
Lord Somerset was so lucky he’d been born male. Even if the ladies all seemed to believe him empty headed. Eva suspected that wasn’t entirely accurate. There was something about him that didn’t quite seem right. She didn’t know what, but she was determined to uncover his secret. Maybe she would find him alone while he attended this house party and ask him a few questions. Eva wanted to know more about him. Perhaps if she tried to be friendly with his cousin Lady Seraphina Bell or his uncle’s ward, Miss Agatha Cartwright. They didn’t seem as horrid as Lady Jane.
“How was your journey to Seabury Castle?” Lady Jane asked Miss Agatha and Lady Seraphina.
Miss Agatha didn’t even acknowledge Lady Jane. She stood and wandered over to a nearby window and stared outside with a hopeful expression. What was she hoping she’d see out there? If she prayed for a snowstorm to save her, it was a little late for that. Lady Seraphina stared at Miss Agatha and then shook her head. She turned her attention to Lady Jane. “It wasn’t pleasant.” She didn’t elaborate, but her tone said a lot. It was cold and unrelenting.
Lady Jane was not accustomed to being dismissed. Even if it was the daughter of a duke doing it. She opened and closed her mouth several times. “Did you hear that the Duke of Riverdale and the Marquess of Huntington are going to attend the house party?”
“Are they?” Lady Seraphina yawned. “How unusual for them. They must be experiencing a fit of ennui.” Clearly, Lady Seraphina was a bit apathetic toward her surroundings as well.
Eva had to agree with her. She wanted to go home, or at least visit her grandmother. She lived along the Irish Sea and it wasn’t more than a half day’s journey to her estate. If only her father would let her stay there instead… It wasn’t any more entertaining there than with Aunt Clara, but at least she was more welcome there. “Perhaps we should play a game.” It might help to pass the time they were forced to spend together, anyway.
“I’d rather not,” Lady Seraphina replied. “I’m still exhausted from the carriage. Traveling doesn’t agree with me.” She smiled at Eva. “Perhaps tomorrow evening. What sort of games do you enjoy?”
“I don’t have a preference,” she answered. “I’m willing to try any you suggest.” Eva hadn’t found any parlor games she enjoyed. They were all tedious and required more than she wanted to do.
“Then we can decide tomorrow. Perhaps we can play a hand of whist.” She turned her attention to Miss Agatha. “Will you play with us, Agatha?”
Miss Agatha turned around and nodded. “If you insist.” She then glanced at Lady Jane. “Did you say the Duke of Riverdale was coming here?”
“I did,” Lady Jane answered in an energetic tone. She was probably happy someone was as interested as she was in the duke’s attendance.
“How odd,” Miss Agatha replied. “It really is unlike him or Lord Huntington to attend parties. At least not ones that involve ladies.” She frowned. “I wonder what they’re up to.”
Lady Jane glared at her. “I expect they’re hoping to be entertained.”
“I doubt that very much.” Miss Agatha said dismissively. “They are capable of entertaining themselves without bothering to travel to somewhere as remote as Seabury Castle.”
It appeared as if Lady Seraphina and Miss Agatha were well acquainted with the duke and the marquess. “Why do you believe they’re coming?” Eva asked Miss Agatha. “Since you’re acquainted with them.”
Lady Seraphina waved her hand. “They’re closer to Bas—I mean Lord Somerset— than us. We’re forced to spend time with them when they visit Wharton Manor or are in town. They all went to Eton together.”
That was interesting, Eva thought. Perhaps they were only attending to spend time with the Earl of Somerset. He was Bas to his close friends and family. Eva liked that nickname. It suited the earl. She wanted to ask them more questions about Lord Somerset, but held back. Any interest she showed a gentleman would be noted by her aunt, who thankfully had paid little attention to their conversation. She seemed lost in conversation with Lady Dowden. “Do you ever wish you could have gone away to school?”
“Ladies, do not study,” Lady Jane said in a cool tone. “We don’t need to fill our heads with useless information.”
“How do you know it isn’t useful?” Lady Seraphina lifted a brow. “If you never bothered to learn.”
“Considering your cousin went to Eton and is known to be stupid, I think that’s all the answer I need.” Lady Jane tilted her chin into the air. Her snobbishness was rearing its ugly head.
Lady Seraphina sneered at her. “Your ignorance is shining brightly, my dear. Be careful what assumptions you make about the people in your current sphere. You never know when you may have made a grave error and your social acceptance is about to be eradicated.” With those words, Lady Seraphina stood. “Agatha, I’m going to retire. Would you like to join me?”
“Oh, yes,” Miss Agatha said. “The company here is leaving an unpleasant taste in my mouth.” She turned toward Eva. “Not you. I don’t find any fault so far with your behavior. I do hope that doesn’t change.”
Eva put a hand over her mouth and coughed to stop the laughter from spilling out. “I don’t plan on being rude in the future,” she replied after she lowered her hand. “Have a good rest.”
“Until tomorrow,” Lady Seraphina said. She didn’t look in Lady Jane’s direction. Eva liked these two ladies a lot. She had a feeling they would be good friends.
Bas had never been so grateful to be the only gentleman for miles. Apparently, Lord Andover was in the next town over for some sort of meeting and wouldn’t return until morning. That was highly suspicious, and the reason the Duke of Wharton had sent him to this cold, vile castle. He intensely disliked Lady Andover, Lady Dowden, and Lady Jane. He was reserving judgement on Miss Evangeline. She wasn’t so easy to read. Though he did believe her to be much kinder than the other three.
He felt a bit ashamed to have abandoned Seraphina and Agatha, but they would understand. None of them were there for the company. When the duke gave an order, he expected it to be followed, and no one dared to question him. They had all learned that lesson at an early age. With the Earl of Andover not in residence, it would be much easier to search his study and personal space. Though he would still have to be careful. There were still servants lurking around and other people inside Seabury that might question him if he were to be caught.
He had already sneaked into the earl’s chambers and searched. Bas had found nothing of interest there, but that had probably been his only chance to go in and look around. He would do the study and library, then retire for the evening. He might not be able to do much more searching that night. It would be highly suspect if he were caught in the middle of the night. Perhaps he should save the study for another day and go to the library first. At least he could use the excuse of looking for something to read if he were interrupted in there.
With that decision made, he strolled down the corridor to head toward the library. One of the footman had shown him around earlier that day. After the debacle involving the biscuits, which had been as awful as he had feared. Somehow, he had managed to eat them all, though. Much to Lady Andover’s horror… The expression on her face had been worth stomaching those horrid biscuits.
When he reached the library, he set down the candelabra he’d been carrying. He debated lighting some more candles, so it would be easier to look around without having to carry the candelabra. Instead, he lifted the candelabra and set it on the desk and started to look through the drawers. He found a notebook and started to flip through it. The sound of feet shuffling on the floor outside the library had him shoving it inside the drawer and closing it shut. He could look at it again later.
Bas turned toward a nearby shelf and peeked at the contents. Books on farming…how quaint and boring.
“Lord Somerset,” a woman said from behind him. He turned around and met Miss Evangeline’s gaze. He tilted his lips upward into a smile. This was a development he liked. He had been hoping to spend some time with her alone.
“Miss Evangeline,” he greeted, then bowed. “You look lovely in candlelight.
“I…I…” She swallowed hard, then spoke again. “You don’t need to charm me.”
He lifted a brow. “Because you’re incapable of being charmed?”
She shook her head. “Not at all,” she blurted out. “It’s just unnecessary.”
He frowned. Bas wanted to push her to give him a better answer, but didn’t think it was the right time to do so. “What brings you here?” he asked instead.
She tilted her head to the side. “Why does one usually visit a library?”
“I wouldn’t know,” he said in a simple tone. He still had to play the dimwit with her. “Why do they?”
Lady Evangeline shook her head and laughed. “Well, generally it is to find a book to read.”
“Oh, yes,” he agreed. “That’s why I came in here.” He turned toward the shelf. “I need something that is going to help me fall asleep.”
She walked over to his side and peered at the shelf. “I would have to agree with your choice, then.” Miss Evangeline wrinkled her nose, and he found it utterly breathtaking. He wanted to lean down and press his lips to hers and discover what she might do. Would she return the kiss? “Books on farming should help you sleep for weeks, I’d think.”
“What?” he said and blinked several times. He felt like the dolt he was supposed to be. What had they been discussing?
“The books silly,” she said. “On farming.” Miss Evangeline pointed to them. “Or would you like something else to read?”
“Honestly, I find any books distressing.” That was the truth, really. He had to really concentrate to read, so he only tried with books that mattered. Farming was not high on that list. Though he probably should learn a little if he was to take over the Somerset estate and make something of it. The duke had been managing it for him for years.
“Oh, how terrible.” She met his gaze. “I adore books. Well, not all books. Some are quite tedious.” She pointed to the shelf with books on farming. “Those would be terrible to read, don’t you think?”
“Absolutely,” he said without thinking. He would have agreed with her if she had declared the sky to be a soft shade of green, grass a brilliant purple mixed with dots of pink, and snow nothing but a figment of their imagination. Most people believed him a fool, and she was treating him as if he was worth her notice. He could love her for that alone. “What do you recommend I read?” He would read whatever she gave him even if it took him years to finish it.
“What do you usually like to read?” she asked.
“Not a thing if I can help it,” he admitted. “But I find myself curious what you enjoy reading. Pick a book out for me, please.”
“I don’t know…” She stared past him at the shelves. “What if you hate it?” Miss Evangeline nibbled on her bottom lip and he was once again transfixed by her. She was so damned lovely, and her heart appeared to match what he could see on the outside. Bas wanted her as he had never wanted a woman before.
“I promise I won’t,” he told her. He tilted his lips into a half smile. “It will take me a while to read, you know. I may not finish it before this house party is done. I’ve always struggled with words.”
She frowned. “I’m so sorry. Perhaps we can compromise then.”
He tilted his head to the side. He would do whatever she asked…he just hoped it wouldn’t interfere with his mission. “What do you suggest?”
“Why don’t we set time aside each day and I’ll read it to you.” When he didn’t answer right away, she glanced away. “Unless you find my company unpleasant…”
“Not at all,” he said softly. “I would love to spend more time with you, and reading seems innocent enough.” God help him. How was he going to keep his hands and lips off this delectable woman? “When should we…read?” He didn’t know what else to call it. Story time? He probably would have a difficult time concentrating.
“After we break our fast,” she said. “It’s the only time my aunt doesn’t require me for something.” She had bitterness in her tone when she spoke of Lady Andover. Miss Evangeline didn’t seem to care for her aunt. That said a lot about her, too.
“That sounds perfect.” He plucked a random farming book off of the shelf. “This will do for tonight.” He leaned down close to her ear. “Sleep well tonight, Miss Evangeline. I look forward to listening to your story.” With those words, he left her alone. If he didn’t, he might end up kissing her, and that was a colossally bad idea. Though he fully intended to kiss her thoroughly before the conclusion of this house party…