13 MEETING THE DUKE (1)

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CHAPTER 13

It had been two weeks since Prissy had visited and forced her to go dress shopping with her. Two weeks since her mother had mentioned the prince, or said anything about the queen issuing another invitation. This should have put Evelina in the clear, but it didn't.

"For God's sake, Germaine! What is taking so long with her dress?" Breanna marched into the changing room, her temper bouncing off the walls before she'd even got her feet in the door. "We would be very late at this rate."

Evelina let out a hiss, catching the heated mood the Countess had entered with. It was hard enough the process she had to go through with her hair. And now Germaine's precision in getting her dress to fit - a process that had already taken two hours- plus her mother's justified outburst, was sapping her strength.

"Forgive me, Countess. It's the waistline that needs a little uh, adjust- "

"You've had all week to finish any alterations. Or why are you the most sought-after modiste in all the ton?"

Germaine concentrated on her work. After a few minutes she jumped up.

"Très beau! It is finished." The active plum wept with passion after being on her knees at Evelina's side for so long.

The latter, in turn, may have reacted a little too quickly to the news. As she tried to turn and walk away, the matronly woman quickly instructed her assistants to make the corset a little tighter. Evelina began to choke.

"What's the matter with you?"

"I can't breathe, mother."

"Nonsense! The dress looks nothing but perfection to me. Just wait and see how many hearts you make flutter tonight. Thank you, Germaine. I always knew I could count on you."

"Everlastingly, Countess. I just love how her skin tone blends perfectly with the dress," Germaine said.

The Countess beamed.

Soon, hand in hand with her father, the Earl, Evelina was descending the stairs. She did not understand why the Countess had made such a fuss about her delay, only to board a different carriage from them. They were a family and could have got on the coach together. But Breanna's curt dismissal of the idea was a clear indication that tensions between her and the Earl remained high.

–

Evelina's coach pulled up in front of the venue. It was Lady Featherstonehaugh's Ball. The same one she had so passionately told Prissy she wouldn't attend. The Countess, however, had somehow managed to get her to come, although not without having to argue a good deal.

The dramatic beams of light from the multiple ceiling chandeliers sparkling across the inlaid floors of the Grand Hall created the illusion of walking on sprinkled stardust.

"This is much classier than Lady Verity's ball last season!" Evelina said.

Her father grunted and stopped walking, leaving her eyes to look around at the debutantes old and new, the tall feathered hats that sat like a dome on their heads, and all the sophisticated fabrics they wore, including the suit-clad gentlemen who crowded around the ladies, begging for a chance to dance while eyeing them like prey.

"I shouldn't be in a place like this."

Evelina, in shock at her father's out of the blue statement, tilted her head in his direction. What did he mean? Fathers were there too.

"Your mother is up there." Huxley tilted his chin up to point.

"I know. I see her," Evelina said. "But, Father, I… "

"You mustn't miss a dance on my account."

Evelina was silent as he turned to leave.

"One more thing." His eyes returned to her face. "Remember whose daughter you are when you have to make certain decisions tonight." Huxley kissed her hair gently and left.

…

"Lina?"

Prissy found her huddled against the wall in a corner, seemingly more preoccupied with the business of hiding than with having any kind of fun at all that evening.

"God, you showed up. But why are you kissing a wall and not some bloke?" Priscilla hugged her now.

"The reason is partly because I want this over and done with," said Evelina in her ear. "And partly because my reasoning doesn't quite fit with any of the blokes who have come up to me."

"So now you will also say no to invitations to dance."

They stopped hugging each other.

"Not when the first option I got said he couldn't wait to have me bear thirteen healthy children in his country farmhouse after explicitly commenting on the tender, loving sparkle in my eyes."

"Well, you're at a ball, Evelina. You're allowed to have a bit of fun. And flirting with rich, random men on the dance floor will do you a world of good." She finished with a little giggle.

"How many men have you flirted with since you've been here?"

"Not me. I have two very important people watching me to make sure I stay in line. Come." Prissy put her hand on top of hers and led her into the middle of the ball.

"Where are we going?"

"To show you Colin. He is on the other side of the hall. Can you believe he and I were just talking about you and he said he would set aside a day to have you over to the house? Who would have thought you would meet here first?"

Evelina was also very excited to meet the young Viscount and to be able to see his current appearance, but she did not want to say so. Saying so might give the impression that she was interested in him, which she was not.

"What about the Duke? Have you met him?" Evelina asked as they made their way around the pairs of couples that were rocking on the dance floor and continued on up the hall.

"Not yet," said Priscilla. "But I'll see him tonight. And so will you. Colin assures me he is well on his way."

This novel is exclusive to Web Novel, please contact me through the chapter comments if you find that all or any part of this publication is being uploaded elsewhere (on another site). Thank you.

Très beau is French for (very) beautiful.