Part 27 (1/2)
The courtesan sniffed. ”So much for friends.h.i.+p.”
Evelyn stared for a moment, then laughed. ”Beryl, of course. I should have realized at once.”
Beryl fluttered her fan and cast her a smug smile. ”Because no one else you know could possibly look as glorious in the garb of a seductress?”
”Well, yes, that.” Evelyn grinned, leaned closer, and lowered her voice. ”And the fact that only you would wear something so daring.”
”Daring?”
”Your bosoms, dear.” Evelyn nodded at the other woman's bodice. ”Another quarter of an inch and you will pa.s.s daring and slide right into tomorrow's gossip.” She adopted a falsetto voice. ”My goodness, did you see Lady Dunwell's bosoms spring free from her gown? And at a charity event, no less. The woman has no sense of propriety.”
”Oh dear, I hadn't thought of that. But as you didn't recognize me, no one else will.” She cast Evelyn a wicked smile. ”I shall have to take off my mask should my bosoms escape their confines. I would hate for gossips not to have the correct information.” Beryl glanced down at her impressive display of decolletage. ”Although I would think my bosoms would be recognizable to any number of people even with my mask on.”
Evelyn stared. ”You really have no sense of propriety at all, do you?”
”I certainly hope not.” Beryl huffed. ”I have put a great deal of effort into my wicked reputation, and I should hate for it to have been a waste.”
Evelyn laughed. Good Lord, Beryl was scandalous and immoral and destined, no doubt, to come to a bad end. Still, there was something Evelyn quite liked about her. Perhaps it was because she was so unlike anyone else she knew.
”But how did you know who I was?” Evelyn said. ”I thought I was quite cleverly disguised.”
”Ah yes, about that.” Beryl glanced from side to side although with her mask on it was difficult to tell. ”I shall explain but not here.” She plucked Evelyn's gla.s.s from her hand and pa.s.sed it to a waiter, then took her arm and steered her toward the entry.
”Where are we going?”
”Somewhere we won't be overheard.”
”Why?”
”I may not care about my reputation, but I do have concerns for yours. You are such a proper sort.” She heaved a heartfelt sigh. ”And I am such a good friend.”
Evelyn stifled a smile. ”So I see.”
”I told you I would be.” They pa.s.sed through the entry to the ballroom, then Beryl paused and glanced around. ”The ladies' receiving room is down that corridor so we shall take this one instead.”
Beryl headed down the hall, Evelyn by her side. Not at all easy given the width of their respective gowns. ”Why are you being so mysterious?”
”I'm not being mysterious, dear, I'm being cautious. It's not nearly as much fun. And as I am, well, certainly not older but definitely wiser, I feel you would benefit from my advice.”
”Do you?” Evelyn bit back a grin and silently thanked the department. In spite of her work for them, and any number of questionable activities, she had emerged with a public reputation which, while admittedly not spotless, was, as her mother-in-law put it, not especially blemished. Respectable enough to marry an earl. Her brows drew together. Where was he anyway?
Beryl pushed open a closed door and peered inside the room. ”This will do.”
Evelyn followed her into a fair-sized salon, tastefully appointed for both comfort and style, but then she would expect nothing less. ”I must say your secrecy has quite piqued my curiosity.”
”Secrecy is essential when one plays these sorts of games.”
Evelyn narrowed her eyes. ”What sorts of games?”
Beryl ignored the question and closed the door behind them. ”As you know, there was a time when I had my cap set for Adrian.”
”And?”
”I only mention it because I do know the type of man he is. It's of no significance really.” Beryl shrugged. ”You were his choice after all.”
”When we met ...” Evelyn chose her words with care. ”Adrian said nothing that happened in our lives before then mattered.”
Beryl stared. ”Why, what a dear, sweet liar the man is.”
”He is not.” Evelyn huffed. No matter how annoyed she might be with her husband, she did not wish to hear anyone else speak ill of him.
”Goodness, dear, a man only says nothing in your pasts matters when he has more to hide than you do.” She studied her for a moment. ”Unless I'm mistaken.”
Evelyn's stomach tensed. ”Oh?”
”Well, I had thought you were extremely proper and I do know Adrian wors.h.i.+ps the ground you walk on-”
”Does he?”
”Of course. He tried to catch you in flagrante delicto.”
Evelyn raised a brow. ”And that means he wors.h.i.+ps me?”
”Not all husbands make the effort,” Beryl said with a casual shrug. ”Only a husband who truly cares or one who views his wife as nothing more than a possession would go to the trouble of tracking down his errant-”
”I was not errant!”
”Wife. Adrian has never struck me as the sort who would think of his wife as something he owns.”
”No, he's not.”
”I told you I know the type of man your husband is. You do realize how lucky you are?”
”Yes, I do.” Evelyn pulled her brows together. ”What on earth are you trying to say?”
”I'm trying to say that you should not follow in my footsteps.”
Evelyn stared. ”I should not what?”
”You have far too much to lose,” Beryl said firmly.
”I have no idea what you are talking about.”
Beryl studied her for a long moment. ”You don't, do you?”
”No.” Evelyn huffed. ”And I thought you were going to tell me how you knew who I was.”
”It all ties together, dear.” She paused. ”Are you certain you don't know-”
”Would you please tell me what you are going on about,” Evelyn said sharply.