UPSETTING NEWS (1)

<AT EARL HUXLEY'S MANOR>

"You are evil, Sylvester... a very heartless man. You left my little girl out there alone and came running in here all by yourself. Did you think about what would have happened if the man she hit had died and she had been arrested? Or that she was being arrested?

"What about her father? What would I tell him if he came back tomorrow and found Evelina missing? Or how would I explain her whereabouts in the red light district so late at night? Do you think you can afford to breathe when he finds out? You must be stupid to think you can survive after this." Breanna turned to her right where Helene, her personal maid, was standing. "Go. Ask Theophilus to bring some horses and men to the red light district. Have them bring Evelina back before news of her visit there has a chance to reach the ears of the Crown Prince or her father. Hurry!"

"Yes, my lady." Helene nodded quickly and sprinted out.

Breanna's anger still did not subside. "You!" She pointed at Sylvester.

The man looked up to see the fierce charcoal daggers shooting from Breanna's eyes. Her temper had been tested tonight. "You'd better pray that news of her misconduct doesn't reach the Prince's ears before his messenger has a chance to leave Evelina's engagement letter at my door. Otherwise... don't expect me to be so merciful."

Sylvester lowered his eyes at once. Breanna stopped tapping her shoes on the floor and started pacing instead.

"Auntie?"

Breanna snapped her head to the side and immediately spotted a desperate looking Violetta hurrying down the stairs. Her weighty, curly brown hair bounced as she ran. Breanna's breath caught in an instant.

"Auntie," Violetta called softly now that she'd reached the bottom of the stairs and was sprinting next to Breanna.

Breanna's hand flew to her breast. "What are you doing out here, Violetta? Shouldn't you be upstairs sleeping in your bed?" she asked hesitantly.

"I'm sorry, Auntie, but I've been tossing and turning in my bed ever since you argued with Evelina -"

"Violetta?"

"I couldn't sleep after that, Auntie. I just went to visit Evelina and found her missing in bed. Is something wrong? Has something happened to Evelina?" Violetta said.

"Not quite, at least we hope not." Breanna said as she moved over to Violetta and gave her a hug.

~~~~~

When Evelina returned home, she hesitated for a moment before getting off the carriage. She kept thinking about the stranger she'd met at that place and how she'd borrowed money from him without even asking his name.

"What if he finds out who I am by tomorrow? Will he come to the house where I live?" she asked herself as she quickly got out of the carriage. "Thank you." She paid the driver who'd left her at the side of the road. The chill seeped into her pores as she stood looking at the house. The golden lights shining down the path told her that her mother was probably up by now. She entered through the high gates.

As soon as Evelina entered the house, Violetta rushed to her and hugged her so warmly that she almost cried.

"I'm sorry I worried you, Vee." Evelina said affectionately, but was spared a hug as her mother flew out of the Chesterfield she was sitting on, scowling intensely.

"For God's sake, Evelina, how could you?" Breanna snapped at her.

"Mother... I'm... I should have been back sooner, but someone let me down."

"Oh, I know that. Sylvester told me all about your little conspiracy and how you ended up killing someone."

"No, Mother. He didn't die." Evelina said.

"Oh, he didn't?"

Evelina blinked her answer.

"Thank God." Breanna breathed a sigh of relief.

"And I'm sorry for sneaking out of the house." Evelina apologised when she saw how worried her mother had been.

"Are you really? You only say you are sorry now because you got caught. So what if you don't like the idea of marrying the prince. Should the responsible daughter of an earl be caught lurking in places like the red light district? Evelina, I am very disappointed in you. What if the man you tried to kill was an important person? What then?" Breanna fumed.

"But he didn't die, mother, and I did what I had to do because he came at me. I was only defending myself."

"Do you think that is a good enough excuse? Should you have gone to such a place at night? What devil possessed you to do such a thing? Do you know how important your identity is? What if someone had discovered you?"

"Someone obviously did." Evelina said ashamed.

"I have to fix this before the infamous news lady delivers the news of your shenanigans to the doorstep of every eligible bachelor in the ton."

"What does it matter if they know all about it?" Evelina blurted out thoughtlessly.

"What does it matter? Did you just say what does it matter? I'm going to pretend that you didn't just say that, so I'll let you go safely to your room. In the morning, when your father returns, we will discuss all of this."

"You will tell him where I was tonight?" Evelina's eyes widened.

"Why does that upset you? Isn't that what you wanted? To bring shame and disgrace on your father and me?"

"I didn't want that. I just wanted to get the subject of marriage out of the way. You have been pressing me a lot about it lately."

"And shouldn't I be? Your sister Josette and Archibald are expecting their second child. When she was your age, Josette and her husband honeymooned for a year. Why should yours be any different? You keep rejecting every man who asks for your hand, and now even the Prince? Will you ignore the prince too? Do you know how much pain your actions cause me?"

"Auntie!" Violetta cried.

Breanna had moved to slap Evelina's cheeks, but Violetta quickly intervened.

"I'm quite sure she regrets what she has done. Please let it go?"

Evelina had never seen her mother so angry. Her breath caught in her throat as she realised what had almost happened.

"Thank your stars that Violetta was here to stop me. You do too much to annoy me these days."

With a scowl, Breanna turned towards the stairs and was soon marching up them.

"Auntie is very upset," Violetta hinted, turning to look at Evelina.

"You should probably go to bed," Evelina said, smiling.