me back to Ireland, if you like. The way I feel now, I would be happy to go.”
Her question further antagonized Lydia. “If it were up to me, I would send you back in a second, but it’s not, is it? Since Lord Trevlyn appears to have a fondness for you, far be it from me to even suggest you leave.” She released a weary sigh, as if the heavy burden of Evleen’s deplorable conduct lay entirely on her shoulders. “I shall strive for tolerance, though God knows how sorely stressed I am. You come from a backward country. Naturally you do not know how to conduct yourself in Polite Society. What a pity that you never learned your manners—”
“Or your morals,” Charlotte interrupted with feigned indignation.
“Or how to dance the waltz,” added Bettina with a giggle.
Evleen fought back a rush of bitter resentment. Why hadn’t they warned her she should know the waltz and all the other dances? Why hadn’t they offered to teach her? But such questions would be useless to ask. She was the intruder, thrust upon them. They had not wanted her in the first place. Most assuredly, they did not want her now.
By the time they arrived home, Evleen felt thoroughly desolate and heartsick. She planned to say a quick goodnight and hasten to her bedchamber, but before she could, Lydia declared she would say a final word. Forced to stand in the grand entryway, Evleen concealed her tears, clutched her fan, and grimly listened to Lydia’s final admonition.
“We shall do what we can for you, but it’s difficult at best to work with a girl who simply does not have the correct background. You cannot dance, politely converse, or even hold your fan correctly. You cannot sing, paint, or play the piano. In other words, you have no talent to speak of, which is a most deplorable lack, and, I think, an impossible situation for a young lady looking for a husband. Worse, though you claim otherwise, your morals are questionable. And you think you can be a member of the ton? Well, I think not.”
As her two older daughters looked on, barely concealing their enjoyment, Lydia sternly advised, “You had best stay out of sight the rest of the Season. If you cannot, if you must accompany us, please keep your mouth shut, and, as much as possible, just sit in a corner. I must admit, you’re not a bad looking young woman by half. You’ll never find a husband in the upper ranks of our society, but perhaps... well, I cannot promise, but despite your deficiencies, you might find a husband of a lesser class. A well-to-do merchant, perhaps, or a vicar, or an officer in the navy or military, provided he’s not a first son.”
“Or a second,” said Charlotte.
“Or a third or a fourth,” Bettina added with great amusement, and they all, except Amanda, joined in her laughter.
Despite her misery, Evleen could almost laugh at the outrageous fate Lydia predicted for her. “I shall bear that in mind, Mrs. Trevlyn,” she said solemnly, and with as much dignity as she could gather, left for her bedchamber.
“At least she didn’t dance with Montague,” Charlotte said when Evleen disappeared from sight.
“Poor Montague,” Bettina exclaimed. “Did you see how embarrassed he was when he found out she couldn’t waltz?”
“Had to lead her off the dance floor,” Charlotte said in disgust. “He could hardly wait to get rid of her. And to think, I was—well, I hate to admit this, but I confess I was slightly worried Evleen might try to steal Montague’s affections.”
“Hardly likely,” said Lydia Trevlyn, “All that worry was for naught, although I shall confess I, too, thought the girl might be a threat.” After a pause, her tightened lips relaxed into a broad smile. “But I most certainly was mistaken, wasn’t I?”
* * *
The next morning, while Thomas was still floating in that murky, semi-conscious state between deep sleep and wakefulness, his first thought was that something, he could not think what yet, was bothering him. The first thing he remembered was that he went with friends to Boodle’s after the ball last night. A rare occurrence. Ordinarily, he had no interest in gambling—a total waste of time and money, as far as he concerned, but... ah, yes, he remembered now, he was trying to keep his mind off Evleen because... now he had it, she had rejected him last night.