Chapter 10

CHAPTER 10

Basil and the other men came into the drawing room, the warm glow of port flushing their countenances. The Misses Elmsworth, Hall and Owens came forward and greeted the gentlemen with smiles, eager for the diversity their presence would bring to the evening.

"Yes, do make yourselves comfortable," Evangeline said, sweeping an arm over the room to indicate any number of chairs, settees, and sofas. "The ladies have arranged a delightful little concert for this evening."

The girls demurred and blushed as the gentlemen voiced their approval of the idea. Tea and coffee were brought in and placed next to Evangeline, who examined the service to make certain it had everything she had particularly ordered before pouring for each guest.

"And how, I should like to know, did you discover just how much cream and sugar I prefer?" Lord Malden asked after his first sip. "This cup is perfection, Lady Ramsbury."

Evangeline's eyes twinkled. "I have my ways, my lord, I have my ways. When I pour, I love making sure that everyone gets the cup of tea they deserve."

Her eyes found Basil's as she said this, and he smiled in response to the bright light in hers, unsuspecting.

Excellent.

With everyone settling into conversing with one another, Evangeline prepared the last cups of tea without much of an audience. Betraying nothing, she took her time with Basil's. Anyone who might be watching would only notice that Basil Morley liked his tea sweet as she poured spoonful after spoonful of tiny crushed white granules from one of the bowls of painted china.

Once ready, she lifted cup and saucer and indicated to Basil with a nod of her head that it was his.

He stepped over and took it from her. "Thank you," he said and went back to his seat next to Mrs. Owens, who had been doing her best to answer his polite inquiries to her health and family as stoically as possible.

Evangeline waited a seeming eternity for him to lift the cup to his mouth. When at last he did and took a sip, his eyes widened under frowning brows. For one gripping moment, Evangeline thought he might spit it out all over Mrs. Owens, but he bit back his grimacing features and gave a heroic swallow. With slow precision, he turned his face toward Evangeline, his lips tightened, eyes narrowed.

Evangeline lowered her gaze and mustered every ounce of control she had to refrain from bursting out in laughter. She could not help the smug smile as she brought her own teacup to her lips. Taking in a mouthful, she raised her brows in exaggerated pleasure. "My, that is delicious, if I do say do myself."

When she looked up again, Basil's eyes were waiting for her. He slowly shook his head at her. She allowed her smile to grow and shrugged a shoulder at him. Basil looked down at his tea then back at her. Then, before her very eyes, he downed the whole briny concoction in one go, glaring at her the whole time.

Evangeline's mouth dropped open and she checked an incredulous cry just in time. She could not believe what she had just seen. The amount of salt she had stirred into that cup would have killed several score of snails.

He excused himself to Mrs. Owens, stood up, and made his way to Evangeline. Behind his closed lips, she could see his tongue working over every inch of his mouth trying to dissipate the awful taste that must still be present.

He offered his teacup to her, smiling. "Might I beg another cup from you, Lady Ram? My first was simply too delicious not to have a second. Though, could I do with a bit more cream this time around," he said with clipped civility.

Evangeline took his cup and saucer from him, her expression serene. "But of course, Mr. Morley. I will have it ready in a trice, if you'll only come back in a few moments."

"Come back? When I have the opportunity to watch true talent and skill at work? I am only sorry I did not take advantage of it the first time around." He sat himself down beside her on the settee. There was precious little room, and she hastened to make way for him. "Lord Malden, was your cup as good as mine?"

Evangeline's chest caved from an internal laugh.

Basil watched as Evangeline made him up another cup. "Ah, no sugar, at all, thank you," he said.

"At all? That is new," Evangeline said. She turned the little spoon and the tiny granules spilled back into the bowl and handed him the beverage. "There you are. You know, I was hoping for more of a display from you, Morley. You disappoint me."

He smiled back, his mouth full of tea. As he swallowed the relief on his face was comical. "That was a rather cute little trick. I should have known I would need to be on my guard with you."

"Cute?"

"Indeed. But if this is the only thing you could think of for your revenge upon me, I think you are tying your caps a little too tightly at night, m'dear. You are dealing with Puck, you know. I think that is quite my favorite name you've flung my way, by the by. Puck. Much better than Jester."

He chuckled and raised his teacup to his lips, but paused in the act as he caught the expression growing on Evangeline's face, which was not unlike a cat caught in the cream pot.

He thought this was the end, did he? She blinked tranquilly at him, and he screwed his face into a half grimace, half smile. "You are going to make me pay for this morning, aren't you?—"

"Oh yes, my own," she said, hardly letting him finish. "Oh, yes."

"Two can play at that game, you know," he countered.

She tilted her head, acknowledging his words. "I would not expect anything less from you. But know I have been far too lenient with you for too long. It is time someone put you in your place, and if it must be me, then so be it."

"You can put me in my place anytime, Titania."

"Oh, stop," she said, gently slapping his arm. "Titania? Queen of the fairies? Do not be ridiculous."

Basil grinned. "You do realize that engaging with me in matters of levity, there is no going back."

She primmed her lips at him. "May the best man win, as they say."

He bowed his head graciously at her words. "May the best man win. Loser marries the winner?"

She held back a laugh. "Will you never give up on that dismal hope? It is quite futile, as I have been assuring you for years. Besides, a Puck could never hope to attain a Titania. You have chosen my new nickname poorly."

He shook his head. "I feel certain this is the year that I shall finally win your heart."

"And my money?"

"If that is still attached to you, then I shall do my best to tolerate it, if it means having you."

The thrill that ran through her at his words was more annoying than pleasurable. Basil had always had a way with words, but she would not allow herself to be wooed by them. If she had no money, he would not pay so much attention to her. She sighed and pushed down the feelings dancing within her. "It is time we part ways. I must tell the ladies to begin their concert. I understand you are not overly fond of music, but do be attentive, and try not to snore."

"Are you singing tonight?"

"No. And do not suggest it. The young ladies will take care of the entertainment beautifully."

Bail frowned. "That is a shame, but perhaps it is for the best. The rest of the men would fall in love with you in an instant, and then where would my chances stand?"

"Hm, you make an excellent point. Perhaps I will sing after all."

"And have that Mr. Lorne snatch you up before my very eyes? Never. You know he has not stopped looking at us this whole time. Well, looking at you, that is."

She made a face only Basil could see. She had noticed it too. "Why would you think him a rival?"

"Because he is so struck by your beauty that I rather think he would try to eat you up, he admires you so. He seems to be a man of morals, and I know that since that is what you prefer, there really is no chance for me, is there?"

He had meant all this in jest, but Evangeline's shoulders raised and stiffened. She was wholly done with older men who admired her. More than once she had wished herself invisible to that generation. "You've no need to worry on that head, Morley, I assure you."

Basil was not looking at her. He was looking at her shoulders. She tried to relax them. "That is good news," he said. "I hear the vicar is coming to dine with us tomorrow evening. Shall I have him marry us tomorrow to save you the trouble of rejecting Mr. Lorne?"

She scoffed. "No. And lower your voice, for heaven's sake. Now I must pay you back for this insolence too. Do not dig yourself deeper into the hole you have created for yourself. You shall never climb out, I will see to that."

A flame of competition lighted his eyes. "And miss the fun? I would rather be nibbled to death by ducks."

Evangeline chuckled at his words. "Nibbled to death by…ducks…"

Her eyes glazed over as the abrupt idea took hold. She wouldn't dare, would she?

A concerned look came over Basil. "What is it? Are you well?"

An instant later the usual twinkle replaced the glaze. "Yes, forgive me. A stupor of thought. Very well, Puck. We shall see."

She rose. Basil rose. "Thank you for the tea," he said.

She only shook her head and walked away. Behind her, she heard Mr. Stratham address Basil. "Morley, my man, fancy a game of cards with Sir Michael and Camden and me after the ladies retire? I was able to taste Fernsby's brandy before dinner, and I tell you, it is first rate."