Page 35 of How to Wed a Courtesan

He was right, of course—damn him. Evander didn’t want to admit it, but his statement was undeniable.

‘She’s fragile.’ The Duke returned his focus to the dancefloor, where Lottie danced with her undeserving partner. ‘She may not seem it, but it’s a hard exterior built over a woman who is tender beneath.’

This claim Evander did not protest, though he wished he could, for it was the truest of all.

‘I suggest you consider the consequences before acting on your own whims.’

Charles turned from Evander then, and walked away. Had the man not made his sister so blissfully content, Evander would have had the sod removed from his party. And as for the warning...

Evander pushed it aside, certain that everything would be set to rights.

Indeed, he found himself to be far more hopeful than he had been in the past six years.

Chapter Eleven

It had been far too long since Lottie had enjoyed herself as much as she did at Evander’s birthday ball. He was exactly the way she remembered him: charming, handsome, aristocratic. And his eyes remained fixed on her whenever she was near, a besotted grin pulling at his lips.

Being in close proximity to him once more recalled a plethora of feelings she’d worked hard to push away. Warmth filled her chest, and a nervous energy radiated from within: unmistakably love.

It was too alluring to imagine how it could be between them, easy and intoxicating, the way it had been when they were young. Except even the idea of letting her barriers unfurl had her muscles tensing with wounded fear. It was too soon. Even after all these years, it was far too soon to consider allowing herself to be that vulnerable.

‘Lottie,’ a familiar voice called.

She turned to find Eleanor waving towards her.

‘Lottie.’ Eleanor took her hand and squeezed it. ‘It is good to see you. I trust you are well?’

‘Better than I’ve been in a long time,’ Lottie answered earnestly. ‘I’m so grateful to you and your mother for the opportunity you’ve allowed me to pursue.’

‘And I assumed that glow on your face had something to do with my brother.’ Eleanor winked at Lottie.

Heat washed over her cheeks in a blush. An actual blush. Goodness! How long had it been since her blushes had been genuine? Not since she was a young woman in the company of Evander, before he’d left. When it was just the two of them in the country and a whole future stretched before them like a sunlit field.

‘Have you been finding your travels pleasant?’ Lottie asked, referencing the many trips the Duke and Duchess took together through the foreign locations written about in the journals of the adventure club.

Eleanor clasped her hands over heart and sighed with elation. ‘I never knew life could be like this. That love could be like this. I cannot imagine the world I would have lived in had I never had our meetings.’ She inclined her head. ‘Thank you. Truly.’

‘You needn’t—’

‘But I must.’ Eleanor’s green eyes glinted. ‘And I have someone to introduce you to. Shall I have her come tomorrow evening?’

Ah... A new student. ‘By all means,’ Lottie replied gratefully. ‘Thank you.’

‘I assure you it is the least I could do.’

And while they were on the topic of students, Lottie noted that Lord Rawley was on one side of the room and Lady Caroline, rather unfortunately, was on the other.

‘Do excuse me,’ Lottie said to Eleanor, who waved off the request and made her way towards Lady Westix.

Lottie approached Lord Rawley, who regarded her the way a child might a snarling beast creeping out from under the bed.

‘Good evening, Lord Rawley.’

Though she tried to say it as kindly as possible, his eyes grew large in his face. She almost felt bad for him. Almost.

‘Lady Caroline doesn’t appear to have any dance partners.’ Lottie looked to where the young lady lingered, near the wallflowers.

‘Yes, but...’ Rawley looked at his palm, frowned, and then opened it to her. A smear of ink was visible at the centre of his white glove.