five p.m. Where else would those two be but at the grandest show in London?
Soon, Thomas was carefully driving along Rotten Row, amidst the press of countless horses and fine carriages, when he spied two bedraggled figures on the footpath, both dragging their feet as if they had been walking for a very long time. Thank God, Patrick and Evleen. The relief that nearly overwhelmed him was an awakening experience that left him reeling. He had not realized until this moment how much he cared. Patrick, of course, but... Oh, Evleen, my sweet Irish beauty, if anything had happened to you I would never have been the same.
He had to laugh. My God, what if his father knew what he was thinking? What would his sister, Penelope, say?
At least he could keep such a sentiment to himself. And you will, he thought, as he drew the curricle to the side of the road, reined in his horse, and arranged his mouth in a causal smile. “Fancy meeting you here, Miss O’Fallon, Master Patrick. Out for a stroll?”
Patrick was the first to spy him. “Look, Evleen, ‘tis Lord Thomas,” the boy called, tugging at his sister’s sleeve. She turned. He saw a quick light of recognition in her eyes, followed by vast relief, then, as he watched, her face took on an expression of indifference.
“Why, Lord Thomas, what a surprise.” She tilted her chin in that snippy way she had. “Somehow I would never have guessed you would be enamored of the Fashionable Hour, but on second thought, why not? You’re one of the ton, after all.” She gestured at the passing throng. “Quite a sight, isn’t it, the ton parading themselves and their mounts about? Don’t any of them work? Have they nothing better to do with their time?”
Her perceptiveness amazed him. It was the rare woman who could look beyond the seductive glitter of the Polite World, into the selfishness and hypocrisy that lay beyond. Galling though it was, he ignored her uncalled-for remark about his being enamored of the Fashionable Hour. “Work is anathema in the ton. You’ll soon learn.”
“I don’t know that I care to,” she answered, raising her head high, as if she were Lady Jersey herself.
He sprang down from the carriage, swept off his hat and bowed. “I’m relieved I found you. Your family is concerned. They’ve been looking for you.”
She looked surprised. “How strange. We were merely out taking in the sights of London. We were about to return home.”
“But how could we, Evleen?” asked Patrick. “We were lost, remember? You said so yourself. You were worried because you forgot what street Grandfather lives in.”
“Patrick,” she began, but when Thomas started to smile, she could not suppress a smile of her own. “Oh, very well, I admit it. We had a lovely day, up until I realized we were lost.” Her smile deepened, revealing dimples he’d not noticed before. They made her look even prettier than he already thought she was. “It would appear we are in your debt again, sir. That is, if you could kindly take us home?”
“My pleasure.”
He’s being so gallant, thought Evleen, even though I just came close to insulting him. She decided she had been much too shallow, much too glib, and she had best be honest and set him straight. “In truth, I was overjoyed when I saw you. What started out as a lark was turning into a nightmare.”
“I can imagine. In a strange city, not knowing your way home.”
“And getting hungry, too,” said Patrick.
She hardly heard him. Something was passing between Lord Thomas and herself again. Their gazes locked, just as they had that day at the Whispering Arch. I shouldn’t be, but I feel so drawn to him. She got control of herself and shifted her gaze away. “I trust we are not imposing.” Chagrined, she realized that last remark sounded stiff and contrived, which in actuality it was, since she’d been trying to conceal her inner turmoil.
He, too, seemed compelled to make a deliberate effort to set the spellbinding moment aside and motioned toward his curricle. “Come along, it’s not as far as you think. Patrick, you can ride in the groom’s seat in the back.” He added playfully, “You can be my ‘tiger.’ You’re just the right size.”
“Excellent, sir, Patrick called and eagerly scrambled into the small seat.
“Let me hand you up,” said Lord Thomas. Quelling her first response of, I can help my own self up, Evleen obediently took his hand and