Notorious (Rebels of the Ton #1) - Minerva Spencer Page 0,109
conversation devolved into teasing and taunting until they were almost back to the park gates. Eva rode up between Drusilla and Byer.
“Excuse me,” Byer said as Eva’s horse shoved his aside. “Am I in your way?”
“Yes. Go away. I wish to talk to my sister.”
“Come on, Tommy,” Gabriel said, laughing. “You know better than to get in Evil’s way.”
“I’m sorry,” Eva said, once the men were far enough ahead so that they couldn’t hear.
Drusilla didn’t need an explanation. “Me too.”
“Friends again?” Eva asked, her eyebrows raised high.
“I never wasn’t your friend, Eva.”
“Good. I hated not talking to you—especially since I will be leaving London before the end of the Season.”
“You will? Where are you going?”
“Mel keeps begging me to come to stay with her at Lily Repton’s.” She gave a sudden grin. “She says they’ve got a lovely goer that Lily’s brother is training.”
By Mel, Eva meant Melissa, the youngest—and most reserved—of her two sisters. Lady Melissa was only seventeen and not yet out. Drusilla knew the girl was not looking forward to her Season. Although nobody had ever said the words out loud, it was obvious Melissa was not Lord Exley’s blood relative. She was taller than Drusilla, with fair, sandy hair and broad sunny features that were nothing like either the marquess or her two sisters. The only characteristic she’d inherited from a mother who was reputed to be the beauty of her age were her unusual blue-violet eyes. Well, and possibly a strain of madness.
“Ahh, now I know the real reason you are deserting London: for a horse.”
“Guilty as charged.” Eva hesitated, her smile draining away. “But I also miss Mel. She is not happy about the approach of her eighteenth birthday. I hope to reassure her—to tell her that a Season is not nearly as dreadful as we’d both feared.”
Drusilla’s eyebrows rose. “Really? I never believed I would hear such words from you.”
“Well, it is boring and tedious and annoying, but not dreadful.” She cut Drusilla a look that was almost shy. “Especially not if you’ve a friend to endure it with you.”
They rode in silence, Drusilla far too emotional to speak for some moments. When she’d gathered the reins of her feelings, she turned to Eva. “I’ll miss you greatly. When are you leaving?”
“Not too early—perhaps a week before Mama and Papa.”
“But surely you are staying for the Richland ball? I know how much you love masquerades.” Indeed, Eva’s childish enjoyment of costumes had always made Drusilla fear she might run off and join a troupe of actors.
“I shall hate to miss it, but I keep putting Mel off. Besides, I want to be out of the house before the packing madness starts.”
“Well, I wish you were not leaving, but I certainly understand.” Drusilla wasn’t lying. She’d been hoping to persuade Eva to come and stay with her and Gabriel. And Samir. But she didn’t know when Gabriel would tell his family about the boy.
“Don’t look so sad, Dru—I’m not leaving yet. Tell me, what is your costume this year?”
“Nell Gwynn.”
Eva laughed. “You’re so lazy—you’re always Nell.”
“I know. But the costume is so easy. And I can always eat the oranges if nobody asks me to dance.”
“You’ll have at least one partner.” Her eyes slid to Gabriel, who was laughing at something Byer had just said. Drusilla’s cheeks heated as she recalled last night.
“I’m so glad you two seem happy.”
“We do?”
Eva shook her head. “Lord! Love really is blind. If you two were any more lovey-dovey this morning . . . Well, suffice it to say, it will soon be plain to the entire ton this marriage of convenience has turned into a love match.” She reached across and squeezed Drusilla’s hands. “I am so glad for you.”
It always had been love on Drusilla’s side. Was Eva saying she believed Gabriel might feel the same way?
She smiled at her friend. “Thank you, Eva. So am I.”
* * *
“There he is.” Gabriel took her hand and led her toward The Serpentine, to where a little dark-haired boy in short pants was throwing crumbs to ducks and laughing as they squabbled. Beside him stood a woman dressed in a domestic’s clothing. The nurse saw them first and leaned down to the little boy.
He dropped his bag of crumbs and ran at full speed toward them. Gabriel released her hand to bend down and pick up Samir, swinging him around in circles while he shrieked.
Other nurses and children looked on. At this time of day—long before the fashionable