Caroline’s eyes widened. “Oh, Olivia, I did not realize! You look so young and so beautiful; I had no notion that you were beyond twenty.”
“Two-and-twenty is barely beyond childhood,” Olivia remarked, astounded by the idea that she could be considered old. “Why, all you need to do is observe your mother to understand that youth and beauty does not suddenly vanish as you age.”
Caroline glanced at her mother, her shock transforming into a smile. “I have never thought of it like that before. You are quite right. Everyone often says my mother does not look older than five-and-thirty.”
“Yet, if you were searching for a husband at five-and-thirty, you would find yourself with an even sparser selection to choose from than Miss Agarn here,” Evan teased, taking a pointed sip of his wine.
Olivia narrowed her eyes at Evan. “And what of gentlemen? You cannot tell me that a man of forty is as appealing to a lady as a man of two-and-twenty.”
“A gentleman does not have to rely upon his appearance to gain himself a wife,” Evan replied evenly. “If he has fortune enough and station enough, there will always be a suitable match made.”
“And that is society’s greatest tragedy,” Olivia muttered, returning her attention to Caroline. “I would tell you to learn more about yourself, and of the gentlemen who attend society events, so you do not inadvertently find yourself with a broken heart and a shattered reputation. I have not experienced it myself, but I have heard of terrible rakes who will woo a lady, promise her everything, and leave her with nothing. You must avoid those sorts of wretches at any cost.”
Evan’s expression darkened as he sat back in his chair, giving Olivia an inkling that his sweet cousin had no notion of his reputation and that he did not want Caroline to know.
Shall I say something? Would that be enough to make him break this ridiculous engagement?Olivia considered it but decided to leave it in her arsenal for later if the situation became desperate.
“When is your father arriving?” Evan said suddenly. “I had hoped to meet him, for one can often tell the true nature of a daughter by the character of her father.”
Olivia stared at him, eyes blazing, heart clenching. “I am certain you already know his character,” she replied darkly, “for he is exactly like you. As for what it says about me—I do not think you can learn a thing about me from my father.”
All you would discover, my lord, is why I shall never marry you,she added inwardly, fighting to put some kind of indifference back upon her face.
* * *
Evan tried not to squirm in his chair, uncomfortable with the direction the conversation had taken. He knew why he had to tease and aggravate Olivia, but that did not mean it sat well with him, and he had a feeling that he had taken his words too far. Her expression had tightened, her body stiffening at the mere mention of her father, her gaze glinting with a mysterious pain that he thought he understood.
It is not the first time she has spoken ill of her father or alluded to a distaste toward him,Evan noted, fighting a compulsion to tell her that he knew what it was like to have no love for a father, warring with the urge to comfort her instead of tormenting her further.
Steeling himself, he aimed for a middle ground. “I must agree with my cousin—you are exceptionally beautiful. Perhaps, it was the orange silk that distracted me from mentioning it earlier, but this pretty yellow muslin; you resemble an angel, Miss Agarn. It allowsyouto shine in a way that the other gown did not.”
A flush of pink colored Olivia’s cheeks, adding to the angelic vision of her. “Itwasan awful gown.”
“I imagine a garment such as this one allows you to dance more easily,” he said, “and if there was room, I would ask you. It seems absurd that we are to be bound in holy matrimony without so much as a quadrille or a country dance together. A waltz, even.”
Caroline gasped. “Evan, hold your tongue, or you shall have society cursing your name!”
“There is no one here but us, and Miss Agarn is to be my wife—what is a waltz between a married couple?” He smiled at Olivia, who did precisely what she had mocked in the garden, hiding her face behind a fan as she blushed furiously. Or pretended to; he could not tell.
From the other end of the table, Evan’s aunt tapped a knife against her wine glass. “What are you all gasping and chuckling about down there?” she demanded, smiling as her gaze fell upon Olivia’s bashful display. Amelia seemed to believe it was genuine, and even Evan might have been fooled, for she was exceedingly enchanting when she blushed and smiled and acted coy. Too enchanting.
“We were discussing our favorite dances,” Evan said, watching as the color in Olivia’s cheeks rose while a second flush graced her neck.
Amelia’s triumphant grin spread wider. “Well, I shall not keep you from such obvious merriment, but remember that everyone is to retire early tonight. I have made arrangements for us to visit the lake tomorrow, and then we shall all spend the day in town the day after, to enjoy a luncheon, attend some appointments, and get to know one another better before the party.”
“When is the party again?” Olivia’s mother asked. “I intend to write to my husband this evening to inform him of our arrival, and I really ought to reiterate the date of the party in case he has forgotten in the midst of all of his business meetings.”
From the corner of his eye, Evan noticed Olivia bristle again, her left eye twitching as she pressed her lips into a flat, grim line. Either she did not want her father to be present, or there was something about her father’s “business” that she did not care for. He wanted to ask, but considering her frosty demeanor, he doubted he would receive a civil answer.
“The party is in three days’ time,” Amelia replied, “so do pace yourselves. Particularly you, darling Caro.”
Caroline laughed. “I will, Mama. Will Daniel be able to attend?”
“He has assured me that he will, but I cannot make promises on his behalf.” Amelia smiled, though there was sadness in her eyes. Ever since her husband had passed and her son, Daniel, had received the title of Earl, he had been gone often, dedicated to replenishing and improving the family fortune through business endeavors so that Caroline and Amelia would never want for anything, and nor would his wife and children, when he chose to marry and have children.
“I hope he can be there,” Caroline murmured, flashing a secret glance at Olivia. “Why, if you were not already betrothed to my cousin, I would have made it my mission to make you and my brother fall hopelessly in love. I have always wanted a sister that I could tell anything to, and I am certain you are precisely that sort of woman.”
Evan’s head whipped toward his cousin, his reaction involuntary. At five-and-twenty, with a series of enterprises that might, one day, make him one of the wealthiest gentlemen in England, perhaps Daniel would prove to be a far more enticing candidate for marriage. Indeed, Daniel might be exactly what Evan needed to avoid marrying Olivia himself, with the added benefit of not seeing anyone disappointed.
