She wondered what it was like for Gregory to grow up here. Had her family’s house in France been so large? Had her father welcomed people in during the holidays? Had he cared for people in the nearby village? Not only did she not know the answers to any of these questions, there was no one she could ask. Heloise always said their mother had never wanted to speak of their home in France or their father. Accordingly, Nadine hadn’t told them anything either, not even after their mother had died.

They departed the coach, and as they walked toward the door, Heloise leaned toward Evie and whispered, “You seem pensive. Is everything all right?”

“Yes.”

“Are you anxious to see Gregory?”

Evie managed not to roll her eyes. Heloise had been somewhat relentless in her efforts to match Evie with Gregory permanently. Oh, she’d tried to be subtle, but there was no mistaking what she hoped would come to pass. She wanted to see Evie wed.

“You mistakenly continue to believe that my happiness relies on him. It does not,” Evie responded quietly but firmly.

“I do not believe it relies on him, only that it might be enhanced.” Heloise gave her a warm smile, and Evie reminded herself that her sister only wanted the best for her. Even if she was biased due to her own wedded bliss about what that looked like.

The grand entry hall, cheerfully adorned with evergreen, welcomed them with warm polished wood and shining marble floors. The butler greeted them, then gestured to the receiving line. They waited several minutes in the queue before they met Lord Witney.

Gregory’s older brother wasn’t as tall as him, but he possessed the same brown eyes. However, his gaze seemed to lack the warmth that Evie always detected in Gregory’s. Instead, Witney demonstrated a casual arrogance, his gaze assessing as if everything belonged to him or could, if he so wished. His hair was brown, which was perhaps the greatest difference—at least physically—between the two brothers. Gregory’s was a golden blond, an often preferable shade, at least in Society. Had it signaled him as the chosen one? In that moment, Evie felt a rush of pity for the marquess. Whatever his behavior, did he deserve to be held in less esteem by their parents? Furthermore, was he aware and had that driven him to even greater depths of profligacy and haughtiness?