Chapter Three
With the help of her maid, Evelyn twisted her hair into ringlets and pinned them in neat rows.
She’d chosen a pale-blue taffeta gown for the morning’s callers.
She’d had a steady number over the past month, and it was in these visits she truly understood who the person was and what they wanted.
She looked forward to understanding the irresistible Mr. Shaw and hoped the intensity of her dream would not make her embarrass herself.
She broke her fast with her family then sat in the drawing room to wait.
Her mother and father were always present at these times and helped if the conversation became awkward.
Thankfully their interest in her happiness and comfort was sound and they would never act in a manner that would cause anyone to see her in a poor light.
True to his word, Mr. Shaw called upon her bright and early. Until any other young men arrived, she would have him all to herself so to speak.
“Good morning, Miss Bramston. I trust you rested well?” he asked as he passed her a box with a ribbon tied around it.
Her cheeks burned as she said, “I did, indeed, sir. And you?”
His gaze flicked over her face and his eyes narrowed. “Are you unwell?”
“I-I am well, sir. It is a little warm in here.” She opened his gift to discover a wide-brimmed hat trimmed with a combination of silk ribbons in soft pastel colors.
The box also included pale-blue silk short gloves with a pearl button at the wrist. It was a beautiful gift.
More thoughtful than others she’d received.
“Thank-you, Mr. Shaw. This is a lovely gift and I will enjoy wearing it.”
“I am pleased you like it. I look forward to seeing you wear it.” He sat back and smiled. “Tell me, Miss Bramston. What do you enjoy most about the summer season?”
Finally, a reprieve. “I do enjoy a soft summer breeze as I stroll along the promenade on a beautiful sunny day.”
He peeked around her to look out the window. “Perhaps tomorrow we can do that as I do not believe today’s rain will allow.”
She turned her head to the window to find the sky had opened up and a great downpour set upon them.
“You are fortunate in that you arrived before that started,” she said as she turned back to him.
His eyes set upon her lips drew a memory from her dream. She was convinced she already knew what his lips felt like on hers yet she could never tell him that.
“And what do you like most about the summer season?” she asked trying to deflect from her own wanton thoughts. What was wrong with her?
“I too enjoy a leisurely stroll, but I confess I am partial to horseback riding. Do you ride, Miss Bramston?”
Another flash from her dream of her straddling him with his manhood buried deep inside her. She coughed softly into her hand and squirmed on her seat.
His eyes narrowed on her as she said, “I do enjoy riding, though I have little experience.”
Her father left the room then and her mother sat as far away as possible.
“Miss Bramston, you seem uncomfortable. Am I the cause?”
How could she tell him? But she didn’t want to have him think he was in any way lacking or at fault. Well he was, but he wasn’t.
“You see, Mr. Shaw. Last night I had an unusual dream,” she said in a low voice. “About you.”
Her cheeks burned; she was sure they must be bright red by now. He took in her countenance and after a few moments a slow smile spread across his face.
“And you are wondering if the things that happen in dreams might be the same in real life.”
She walked a dangerous path. She did not know this man or how loose his lips. Such conversations were not initiated by innocent young women. She was powerless against this draw she had to him and yearned to know if he felt the same.
“I have dreamed of you too, Miss Bramston. Though mine have been waking dreams,” he said with a wink. “I have dreamed of kissing your soft lips,” he said as his gaze flicked to hers. Unconsciously, she licked them and his mouth opened a little.
A loud “ahem” behind him drew her attention to their butler from the doorway. Evelyn sat up straight only realizing she’d been leaning toward Mr. Shaw and he to her.
“A Mr. Aloisios Harrington and a Mr. Norbert Carew to see Miss Bramston.”
Evelyn stood and extended her hand as was expected as the two gentlemen came forward, one with candy and the other with flowers.
Nice sentiments, but she’d seen the same from others and while she was grateful for the gift, somehow Mr. Shaw’s was more special.
Did that make her shallow? She hoped not.
The men were wet from the rain so her mother came over and offered them seats on the wooden bench by the window overlooking the street.
“Miss Bramston, might you be attending the Fry ball Friday next?”
Her mother had already accepted on their behalf. This one promised particular excitement since it was designed as a masquerade ball.
“I believe I am, Mr. Carew.”
“And might I be so bold as to ask what you might be wearing so I may find you for the first dance?” he asked as he looked pointedly at Mr. Shaw.
“She has already granted the first two dances to me, Mr. Carew. And you know better than to ask a lady to reveal herself before a masque has even begun.”
Evelyn was grateful to Mr. Shaw, but unfortunately, Mr. Carew’s cheeks grew red and he frowned.
“If you are able to find me,” she said, “I will grant you a dance.” It was the best reprieve she could think of.
“And myself as well?” Mr. Harrington asked. “If I suss you out, might I be awarded a dance as well?”
“Yes,” she said realizing now her folly. She’d prefer it if she could dance with only Mr. Shaw for all the balls.
Both men sat a little straighter then and she was not sure, but it appeared they shot smug smiles in Mr. Shaw’s general direction. He merely sat up straight, his own expression ironically somewhat masked.
The morning passed quickly as other gentlemen came and went and by the noon meal, only Mr. Shaw remained.
It was as though he did not want to miss knowing who called upon her.
She smiled to herself as, if that were the case, it meant his protective action was a sign of an attachment to her.
The thought warmed her in more ways than one.
“I shall call upon you again tomorrow, if you like, Miss Bramston. And if it is a fine day, we shall take that ride.”
“I would very much like that, Mr. Shaw,” she said as she lifted her hand to him. He took it and pressed his lips to her fingers sending delightful shivers up her arm.
As he turned to leave she watched him go admiring the way his trousers fit around his muscular legs and how the sleeves of his coat fit well, leaving no one in doubt of the muscle that lay beneath.
She’d seen it all in her dream and struggled to keep those images at bay.
She was turning into the worst sort of wanton woman alive!
After he left she practically flopped onto the chaise waiting for her mother’s opinions to flow like thick cream.
She sat beside Evelyn and stroke her hair. “You did well, my love. But you must work to shield your emotions toward Mr. Shaw lest you fall under scrutiny.”
“Was I that obvious?”
“Perhaps not to the other men who came after, but to Mr. Harrington and Mr. Carew, I believe there was an opinion forming of and attachment between you and Mr. Shaw. He did nothing to curb that either, so all I’m saying is that you must tread carefully.
We do not want to bring the wrong kind of attention to you as you know how fickle opinions can be.
Now if he were to make a claim on you, that would be different, but to date he has not, and so you will dance with other fine young gentlemen and not single out just the one.
Do you understand what I’m telling you?”
“Yes, Mother. I understand.”
“Now, tell me. Do you prefer Mr. Shaw?”
“I do.”
“And there’s nothing wrong with that. These things emerge and as long as they are tempered with an appropriate mode of decorum and conduct might very well result in a favorable outcome by the end of the season.”
Suddenly, Evelyn was not interested in the rest of the season.
She did not look forward to dancing with every Thomas, Richard, and Mr. Harrington in London.
She only wanted to dance with Mr. Shaw. But she could see her mother’s point and would conduct herself appropriately.
She would also accept any invitation extended by said Mr. Shaw.
The remainder of the day and the many days that followed passed quietly.
No one seemed to want to socialize with such bad weather.
The rain appeared as though it would never end resulting in her ride with Mr. Shaw not coming to fruition.
Melancholy settled over her only breaking when a missive arrived from him each day promising to keep to his word once the skies cleared.
At night she dreamed of him, their passions unleashed over and over and she would wake in a quivering state with her womanhood throbbing and her nipples hard just as her climax overtook her.
Other dreams included the lady from the cemetery warning her of the budding opinions of society who spoke ill of her and the way she conducted herself when in the company of Mr. Shaw.
She was torn between the dreams, as both were so vivid the emotions they evoked seeped into her waking mind influencing her to think in different directions.
On the one hand, the passion she encountered every night made her want to see him more and more. She hung on every word in his missives.
On the other hand, the society she kept did have fickle opinions and thrived on gossip with little care whose reputation lay in its wake.
Her mother frequently asked her if she was unwell, and her reply was not convincing enough to keep the concerned queries at bay.
Finally came the day of the Fry masquerade ball and her mother’s attention was redirected to their costumes for the evening.
Considering the theme of Lady Fry’s afternoon tea, her mother determined they must keep to the same.
Her parents would wear all black with black feather masks and Evelyn was to wear similar, but she would wear large black feathers on her back that had been crafted for days by the servants. They promised they would be light and so her mother had been getting her to try them on all week.
Now fully dressed and ready to go she was filled with equal parts anticipation and trepidation and how that was possible, she did not know. But remaining home was not an option. She would glean some truth this eve supposing it was the last thing she did.