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“I’m sorry, Mamma, but I don’t understand. I thought we’d already ascertained that I had no other eligible suitors. How has that changed?”
    When Mamma lifted one eyebrow, meeting her gaze with an arch, knowing look, a sense of foreboding crawled up Evie’s spine. She had to struggle to find a coherent reply to her mother’s unspoken challenge. “Do you mean Will? Mamma, surely you must be jesting.”
    â€œI never jest, Evelyn, at least not about something this important.”
    â€œIsn’t that ever the truth,” Eden muttered.
    Evie ignored her twin. “You’re wrong, Mamma. Will is at loose ends, that’s all. He thought it might be nice to visit old friends.” At least she hoped that’s all it was.
    Eden sat up, swinging her feet over the edge of Evie’s high bed. “Do you really think Wolf ’s come down expressly to see Evie?”
    â€œDon’t call him by that vulgar nickname.” Their mother smoothly came to her feet. “I cannot fathom why else he would visit. Goodness knows I never encouraged him to drop in like this.”
    Evie spread her hands wide. “Then why would you wish him to court me? You don’t even like him.”
    â€œWilliam has done very well for himself,” Mamma said. “He is on the Duke of Wellington’s staff and apparently enjoys the favor of the Duke of York. I imagine he’ll have quite a good career in the military or the diplomatic corps.”
    â€œYou certainly never saw an advantage in his association with his father before,” Evie blurted out. “Quite the opposite.”
    Her mother quelled her with a haughty look. “That is simply not true. My reservations about William always concerned his lack of financial prospects.”
    That was a hum if Evie had ever heard one. Mamma had always objected to Will’s scandalous parentage.
    Eden snapped her fingers. “It’s obviously because Michael’s a Catholic,” she said to Evie. “And because of his politics, too, I imagine. Mamma would rather you marry good old Will, even if he is the by-blow of a prince.”
    â€œThat is enough from you, Eden,” their mother said irritably. “Your father would be most displeased to hear you speaking in so crude a fashion.” She turned her back on her favorite and glowered at Evie. “I want you to be pleasant to Will tonight. No ducking into the corner with Mr. Beaumont to discuss that dreary charity of yours. Try, for once, to be charming instead of acting like the bespectacled bluestocking you are so determined to be.”
    She didn’t wait for an answer but swept to the door, her short train swishing softly behind her. “Gather your things and come down, girls. We don’t want to be any later than we are.”
    â€œWe’ll be right there, Mamma,” Eden said. “I just have to fetch my fan.”
    Evie groaned, wanting nothing more than to climb into bed and hide her head under the pillow. Thanks to Will’s mystifying reappearance, the fragile truce between Michael and her mother would surely collapse. If Mamma had even a hint that someone else might be willing to marry Evie—short of the dustman or the butcher—she would leap on that chance.
    â€œLord, what a mess,” Eden said.
    â€œThank you for stating the obvious. It’s bad enough that I now have to manage Will, but I’ll also have to keep Mamma away from Michael. The poor lamb was just beginning to think he was actually making headway with her, too.”
    â€œYou’d better spend some time with Wolf if you have any hope of spiking Mamma’s guns. I’ll take care of your gentle-hearted swain if you like.” Eden adopted a martyred expression. “I’ll even ask him to drone on about Catholic emancipation. If that doesn’t show you what a devoted sister I am, nothing will.”
    â€œThat’s not funny, Edie.