Chapter 6

CHAPTER 6

Despite her initial annoyance at his early arrival, Evangeline was forced to admit that Basil's presence in the house added amusement while she made the final preparations. Dinner was made jolly by his conversation, and he and Evangeline kept Lord Fernsby and Georgie well entertained with their constant banter.

The evening before the rest of the party was set to arrive, she and Basil were the last to leave the drawing room after dinner, deeply engaged in a battle of piquet. Since he had declared he was in good financial health, Evangeline had the satisfaction of plucking several pounds off him with no remorse. Basil took this in good part and demanded another chance to avenge his poor luck, but she firmly declared she was retiring for the evening and that nothing could convince her to stay up one minute later.

Basil escorted her up to her room, each of them holding a candle. Evangeline ran through her preparations in her head once more and could find nothing amiss. The house was in order and fully prepared to entertain thirteen guests in the greatest comfort and style Lord Fernsby could afford. All it needed now was people to fill it.

And one final warning to Basil.

"Now, Morley, you will behave yourself, won't you?"

"Behave myself? I always behave. Just as you always behave."

Evangeline frowned at him. " I behave, you do not."

"Everyone behaves, my dear."

She rolled her eyes, catching on. "Behave well , Mr. Morley."

"I will not if you resort to calling me Mr. Morley. Morley is bad enough, coming from you. I wish you would call me Basil all the time, not only when you are put out with me."

"I will not. Morley is familiar enough, but do be serious for one moment, I beg."

Basil stopped and turned to her. "All right. What is it you have to say?"

She appraised him for a moment. In the soft light of the candle, his eyes shone nearly black. His features, which usually looked as if he were about to laugh at any moment, were calm. He just might be in a humor to take her words to heart.

"Will you act with propriety during your stay? In front of the ladies, at the very least? I want none of my female guests being a target of your flirtations, falling in love with you when there will be men here better suited to them."

Basil scoffed. "Fall in love with me? Three girls with no more than two seasons behind them? They will think me a dotard compared to the other gentlemen."

Evangeline looked him over. At thirty-eight years old, he had not yet one gray hair to show for the raucous life he led, and the constant smile that always hovered around his eyes made him appear more youthful than he was. That he was so old that none of the girls would succumb to his charms? She had her doubts. "Why did you wish to come here?" she asked. "Why did Fernsby invite you, really?"

The sudden question made him blink, and it was a moment before he answered. "A change of air, an assurance of being well-entertained and well-fed, a certain beautiful woman to keep me company—" He waggled his eyebrows at her. "Who could refuse?"

Her eyes narrowed, studying him. "I do not believe you. There is something else. Some other reason why you are here."

Basil's expression fixed in place. She had hit upon something, she knew it.

"Fernsby and I have business together," he said after a moment.

"What sort of business?"

"Ah, if that were any of your business, my heart, you would already know, wouldn't you? In response to your request, I cannot promise I will not flirt outrageously with any or all of the ladies, but they will come to no harm through me. You know me better than that. There is only one woman here upon whom I have any serious designs."

He looked on her with a softness that was countered by a flame lurking in his eye. Evangeline met his gaze with a determined look of her own. A smile played on her lips. "When will you cast away this delusion of yours that we should suit?"

"When you agree with me. It is quite a cozy little delusion. You would be more than comfortable in it if you only gave it a go, trust me."

Evangeline huffed. "Three years of this game between us. You must know by now that I am not inclined to be married again. Most of my other suitors have already surrendered to the fact."

She had herself surrendered to the fact almost immediately after she had learned of the contents of the old earl's will. The Complication.

"I am not most suitors, my Lady Ramses."

"That much is certain. But queens, if you will keep calling me that, do not indulge in feelings of love toward their court jesters. It is not the thing, you know."

"A jester. How could I be a jester? You do not pay me enough for that."

"I do not pay you anything at all," she retorted.

Basil shook his head. "Thinking of the monetary, are we? Perhaps I am paid with something else? Something that is easily worth the effort of dancing attendance upon you all this time?"

He stilled, gazing down at her, letting the seconds pass by as a smile crept up a corner of his mouth. She could never decide if she loved or hated the thrill that always went through her when he smiled at her like that. It was exhilarating to think that a man could elicit such sensations in her. Sensations that had never accompanied any of her late husband's advances during their marriage.

On the other hand, she could not help but wonder how many other women had been subject to this same entrancing stare. It was this thought that always pushed down that fanciful feeling and allowed her rational side to command her. Basil was a rake, and while it was amusing to play with a little flame, too much indulgence would certainly lead to getting burned.

So, she smiled and cocked her head playfully. "Something else? And what is that?"

As he watched her lips curve upward his own smile grew. "There. There is my fee."

"What do you mean?"

"Watching you smile; the merriment lighting your eyes; the knowledge that I, with my perpetual ambition of making you laugh, put it there, and that you, my dear lady, seek me out for such a purpose. That is my reward."

A tiny flutter of trepidation seized Evangeline at his words. His usual light banter was becoming too sincere. She knew how to handle a comical, rascally Basil, but an earnest Basil?

She gave a little laugh and took a step back. It was time to part. "You work for mere dross, I am sorry to say. But promise me, Morley, please do behave. You know what I mean. I do not want any of our guests to have cause to complain to me about you. If you cannot do it for me, think of Lady Fernsby."

Basil took in a breath and closed his eyes before casting them upward. Evangeline continued, despite his growing tedium. "This house party must come away with certain goals met, and Lady Fernsby has worked hard to make this a success. Promise me?"

He looked down at her with a wry grimace. "Very well. I promise I will not talk to, flirt with, seduce, or manipulate into eloping with me of the unattached females of the party. Though I make no such promise for the chaperones."

She rolled her eyes but gave a chuckle. "I am satisfied, then. I bid you goodnight, Mr. Morley."

She gave a proper curtsy and lifted her hand for him. Playing along, he took it in a gentle clasp and bowed deeply over it before placing a soft, warm kiss on it. Of all her acquaintance, only Basil held the right to kiss her hand like that. "Goodnight, Lady Ramses. "

As he walked down the hall, she called after him in a whisper, "And will you stop calling me Ramses?"

He turned around and hummed in thought. "Ramses was a man, after all. It just paired so well with your title. Right. I shall call you Cleopatra from now on. Much more fitting. I don't know why I didn't think of it before?—"

She tossed a hand in the air. "Oh, never mind! Go away."

She entered her room and closed the door on his laughter. Sensing another source of light besides the fire, she looked over to the bed. "Why, Georgie, what are you doing up? Are you well? I did not wake you, did I?"

Georgie, propped up by a couple pillows shook her head and pointed a finger to the side of the bed. Evangeline understood at once. The chamber pot. "I thought you would have come up before now, though. You are working too hard, I think. I am sorry I cannot be more help to you."

Evangeline came over to the bed and rubbed her cousin's arm, comforting her. "Never think so, my love. It makes me happy to know that I am helping you. You would not take that pleasure away from me, would you?"

Georgie smiled and started out of bed, waving away Evangeline's protests. "Do not ring for Dobbs, I will help you undress. I wish I could be more like you. You always know what to do and never have a hair out of place."

"And that is why you are my favorite cousin. You say wickedly untrue things about me, and I cannot help loving you for it and wish you would say more." Evangeline turned so Georgie could undo the laces on the back of her dress. "Believe you me, while I try my best, I am woefully lacking in most areas."

"Who were you speaking with just now? Mr. Morley?"

"Yes."

"Will he really be as much trouble as you think?"

Evangeline sighed and lifted her hands. "That depends upon him and how many wickedly inclined fairies he gives refuge to."

"The two of you are so droll," Georgie said with a chuckle. "Does he still wish to marry you?"

"He thinks he does."

"Why don't you?"

Evangeline looked over her shoulder. "Don't I what? Marry him?"

"Yes, why not? He has been your most constant suitor."

"My most constant torment, more like."

"That cannot be so. You like it too much."

"Like what too much?"

"His attentions. Your countenance lights up whenever you are with him. Sometimes it is with amusement, sometimes annoyance. Whatever the feeling, he always seems to have an effect upon you, and I think you like it. So why not marry and ensure that you are bright every day? You can marry anyone you like for any reason you choose now. Why not marry someone you like so well?"

Because she could not marry just anyone she liked. The old earl had seen to that.

But Georgie's observations struck Evangeline forcefully as she shed her dress and went to the dressing table to brush her hair. She had not realized her cousin had made such a study of her, but much of what she said had some truth to it. She loved the merriment that Basil's company brought into her life.

When she was in London, not only did the usual barrage of suitors, most of them only out for her wealth, come down on her peace, but her own mother would testily urge her to choose a husband, for what woman could go on without a man to act and decide for her? Only Basil among them could almost convince her that he was after her for more than her money.

Almost.

Basil was a self-declared fortune hunter. Seemed quite proud of the title. Why did she favor his attempts at courting her over the others? Most of her other suitors she had known almost as long as Basil, so why was he different? Why did she not only allow his company, but seek it out whenever she was in town?

Over the years she had begun to wonder if he really was on the lookout for a rich wife. What he lacked in fortune and title he made up for in charm and good looks, and while his reputation had several black marks against his moral character, it was no worse than any other rake roving about town. So why was he still unmarried?

To answer Georgie's question, Evangeline had thought every now and then what it might be like to marry again, despite the Complication. Each time a firm negative came to her mind. Marriage would mean she would have a lord and master over her head and household once more. A new husband would have control of all her fortune. He would own everything but the few assets that were legally hers, like Amsbrook. Could she bear to give up all the freedoms she had gained as a widow?

And most importantly, she had seven children. He might take a dislike to them and treat them unkindly.

No.

Even with the restraints of the will, only the deepest love and devotion would make her submit again to the constraints of married life. And in return, he must love the children enough to wish to be a father to them. She could not imagine any man of her acquaintance capable of filling the shoes of a father. Especially Basil. Why, he would turn the house upside down in no time with his antics.

The children would probably love that.

"I do like him," she finally said. "But I find I like my present lot in life just as it is: happily living at Amsbrook with my children. There is no room for a husband."

"No room at all? Forever?"

"I cannot say forever. We none of us are fortune tellers. My feelings may change as time passes, but for now, I am quite content with the way things are. Mr. Morley and I continue as friends, and that is how I like him best. Besides, there is no time to think of a husband when I have Henry off to Cambridge and Ettie so near her come out, with Charlotte right on her heels. I am certain a husband should only get in the way."

She heard Georgie, who had gone back to her bed, chuckle in the darkness. "But are you ever lonely?"

Yes.

Evangeline shrugged a shoulder. "I do not have the time for it. My children hardly allow me a moment's peace. They are always wishing me to join in their adventures and play, especially Adele."

"That is not what I meant, but—oh!" Georgie gave a great yawn. "Never mind that now. I cannot keep my eyes open any longer."

Finished with the comb, Evangeline went over and settled Georgie deeper into bed. "How horrid of me to keep you up. Rest well, love. I shall take care of the candles."

Evangeline settled herself into the trundle bed made up for her. She blew out the candle and nestled into the covers. While the day had been long and filled with work, she did not fall asleep immediately. She felt a little twinge of guilt for deceiving Georgie, but did not wish to take the time to delve into feelings that she herself preferred not to think about.

She was lonely.

It was not a constant pull or ache that kept her company. She had spoken the truth that she did not have time for such dismal emotions. Her children were experts at keeping her busy and diverted. It was in her quiet, solitary moments, sitting alone near the garden, in a secret place under her favorite tree, or looking up from a book to ponder what she had just read, or just after she blew out her candle for the night, that a pulse of longing nudged at her heart. After a few beats, she would fall asleep, return to her book, or be interrupted by a son or daughter.

Have you never wondered?

She had never forgotten Basil's question. What it would be like to be married to a man more suited to her. Not only married, but in love with such a man. She had wondered. And while she was determined not to marry anytime soon, she did continue to wonder.