Now I understood why she had kept hold of my hand.

Evan, newly arrived at the top of the steps, stood beside the Ermine. He was dressed in the clothes of a gentleman, the first time I had seen him in his rightful garb. Fitted buff breeches that showed the strong length of leg, a pristine cravat, a blue silk waistcoat, and a jacket that seemed molded to his broad shoulders. He had shaved, too, and cut his hair in a fashionable Brutus. Here was Lord Evan Belford, and the sight brought an involuntary flush of heat to my face.

He politely offered his arm to the Ermine and they both descended the steps. She did not seem pleased by his escort—I wondered what he had done to deserve such pinched-nose censure.

By this time, Julia, Lady Hester, and Miss Grant had vacated the carriage. At the corner of my eye, I saw Julia stiffen at the sight of the Ermine, but she managed a smile of greeting. Hester visibly gasped at the sight of her brother. Lud, was she going to give us away at the first test? But no, she quickly turned the involuntary sound into a cough and busied herself with her shawl, maintaining the masquerade. Miss Grant, too, had herself in hand but stared across at me as if this, too, was my fault.

“Lady Augusta and Lady Julia, I believe you are acquainted with my cousin Mrs. Ellis-Brant,” Charlotte said. “And may I present Mr. Talbot, who is staying with us to study some of our rare books.”

Evan bowed to me and Julia.

I nodded graciously and fleetingly met his eyes: Study rare books?

A tiny lift of one shoulder: Best we could do.

What was he doing here? He was meant to be far away, safe from Mulholland and searching for the doctor who had attended the duel, if the man still lived. We needed to ascertain whether there was a link between him and the Sally Lawrence who had appeared in the wager book of the Exalted Brethren of Rack and Ruin. Had something happened to stop his search? Or had he decided to do as his sister demanded and take her and Miss Grant out of the country, after all?

Whatever the case, he had put himself in grave danger.

I turned to Charlotte and managed to gather myself enough to attend to the courtesies. “Countess Davenport, may I present Mrs. Carter and her sister, Miss Dashwood.” Hester and Miss Grant curtsied. “Mrs. Ellis-Brant and Mr. Talbot, our friends Mrs. Carter and Miss Dashwood.”

Bows and curtsies were exchanged once again. All very unremarkable, except for my racing heart and mind. The Ermine had been following the scandal around Lady Hester with relish. What if she put two and two together?