Since he and his mother were both well-dressed and mingling in society, they would dissuade any talk of their circumstances. They still had to minimize their spending and there was much work to be done, but in all appearances, they looked the part of the wealthy aristocratic family they had always been.
Glancing at his pocket watch again, he departed his study for his chamber. Parker had his dinner finery pressed and ready, and a hot bath waited for him. Once he disrobed and sank into the water, he sighed. The heat of the bath helped him release his unending tension. It was becoming far too normal for him. The weight of the world still sat atop his shoulders, as was the burden of many firstborns, or in his case,onlyborn sons. He would tense right back into his usual place of worry and constant thoughts of his estates as soon as he emerged from the water.
After his bath, Parker took care to ensure Evan looked presentable for the dinner party. He looked quite well, if he thought so himself. It had been so long since he had donned a full kit. He forgot the confidence a finely cut coat could give a man.
Before long, he emerged from his carriage at Viscount Snowdon’s townhouse. Their butler escorted him to the drawing room and announced him to the rest of the party. “Good of you to join us, Evan,” Snowdon said.
“Yes, we are so glad you could come.” His wife, Lady Lydia Snowdon, grinned at him.
He bowed over his hostess’s hand. “It’s so good to see you again, and I am grateful for the invitation. This is my first event out of mourning, so I hope my manners are passable, my lady.”
“We were so sorry to hear about your father,” she said. “This is a casual gathering among friends, so you needn’t be so formal. I hope you will enjoy yourself.”
Evan greeted the other gentlemen present, Sandon, Gordon, Wilton, and Onslow. He knew all of them from their days at Eton and Cambridge.
“My apologies for missing your wedding, Gordon,” Evan said.
Edward, Viscount Gordon, wed his lovely wife Lady Juliana last year. He was certain Marina would have been in attendance at the wedding since the ladies were close friends.
“No apologies needed,” Gordon replied. “You were expected to be in mourning. Very sorry to hear about your father.”
“Thank you.” Glancing at where the ladies in attendance had gathered, the first person he saw was Marina, which caused his breath to catch. He should have suspected she would be in attendance since she was close friends with Snowdon’s sister, Lady Diana. Fighting the frown that attempted to mar his face, he forced a smile. Evan would have to face her sooner or later, and a small audience would be more palatable for her rage.
“Good evening, ladies,” he said, offering them his most charming grin.
He bowed to them and tried to catch Marina’s eye. She kept her gaze focused on the floor and refused to even glance at him. Observingthe rise and fall of her chest, he deduced that his presence affected her, leaving him uncertain whether the revelation scared or delighted him. He pushed aside the other thoughts he had from taking notice of her chest.
“Dinner is served,” the Snowdon butler said. The men sprang to action, claiming a woman’s arm to escort them to the dining room. Evan extended his arm toward Marina, hoping they might have a quick word, or even rattle her if nothing else. She glanced at it but slipped her arm through Wilton’s instead.
She smiled at him through her lashes and said, “Matt, I would be delighted if you would escort me this evening.”
Evan tamped down his jealousy from the way she smiled at the man, and on such familiar terms. Matt, the Earl of Wilton, was the most amiable fellow. Was he courting her? Not that he cared. It wasn’t even jealousy. His body reacted to her, that was all. It was a reasonable response, given she was the last woman he’d had any kind of intimacy with. And the woman he had intended to wed and love for the rest of his days…But he certainly wasn’t jealous.
Couldn’t she take up with anyone but their mutual friends? Surely that wasn’t too much to ask.
With no other choice, he looked at Lady Diana and offered her his arm. “Lady Diana?”
She placed her hand on his arm, and he offered her a polite smile. “Are you ready for the season to begin, my lady?”
“Quite,” she replied. “I expect this will be an entertaining season.”
“With beautiful ladies such as you and your friends gracing the ballrooms, it shall be quite entertaining indeed,” he said as he watched Wilton seat Marina and looked for any indication that she had feelings for him.
Not that he cared. Curiosity was all it was. The man took a seat a few chairs down from her and he exhaled. He refused to question his reaction. Everything about the woman vexed him to no end.
Once he seated Lady Diana and sat beside her, he realized Marina was on his other side. He fought the low growl caught in his throat. How would they survive a dinner in such close proximity, and with knives on the table?
“I hope you enjoy the menu tonight, Lord Ockham,” Lydia said. “Cook is quite renowned among our friends.”
“I’m quite looking forward to it, my lady,” he said earnestly. “I feel honored to be included in this intimate gathering. Since we are all among friends, I hope you will all do me the favor of calling me Evan.” Everyone at the table nodded their approval, other than Marina. She kept her eyes trained on her glass of wine. If he didn’t have the eyes of the table on him, he might make a jab about how the two of them were already on a first name basis.
Matt caught the table’s attention with talk of the new Earl of Powis. The previous earl had died under scandalous circumstances and a distant relative inherited the title. Once everyone had focused on the conversation, Evan took his opportunity to address Marina. “I didn’t expect to see you this evening, my lady.”
“Didn’t expect toorhoped not, my lord?” She took a sip of her wine and continued to avoid his eyes.
He chuckled under his breath. “Can I assume I reside on your list of the most detestable men, then?”
This time, she looked him directly in the eye with a tight smile etched on her face. “Indeed.”