A Matter of Circumstance and Celludrones by Claire Robyns Read Free Book Online Page B

am, asking you to leave Lord Adair be.”
    “That’s unfair.”
    “No more so than your eternal badgering.”
    Evelyn hesitated before speaking. She hated revealing that she was
aware of the full extent of her husband’s objections, even to her closest
friend. Once the words were out, she just knew they’d be back to nip at her
skirts the moment she most needed to pretend ignorance. But when all else
fails, the truth must out. “Devon’s being stuffy about everything and I
need a collaborator.”
    “You have William.”
    “Devon considers him to be the main instigator.” She leaned forward
and took Lily’s hand in hers. “You’re the matron of morals and etiquette and
everything proper. Devon thoroughly approves. He won’t be able to raise a
single objection once he learns of your involvement.”
    “Except I happen to share your husband’s point of view.” Lily’s voice
softened. “Are you two quarrelling over this?”
    “Devon doesn’t quarrel,” Evelyn said grumpily. She sat back and folded
her arms. “He lays down the law and assumes the moon and stars will instantly
align to do his bidding.”
    “Ah, I begin to see. When you asked me to refrain from mentioning
risqué sports, it was because he has forbidden your participation.”
    “Not exactly,” Evelyn hedged. “He forbade me to engage in any further
steam-propelled canoe racing, but this is air-paddling. We don’t go anywhere
near water.”
    Lily rolled her eyes. “He’ll be furious when he discovers that you’re
defying him.”
    “Not nearly as furious as I’ll be if he tries to stop all my fun.”
He’d put his foot down in Surrey and, sooner or later, he’d learn that she’d
simply danced around it. “I don’t want to be at odds with my husband, Lily.
Marriage is a compromise and when he sees I have your support, he’ll have to
yield.”
    “I’m not sure that’s how marriage or compromise works.”
    “Lily…” she pleaded.
    “Very well,” Lily sighed. “I’ll be your champion, although Lord knows
I shouldn’t be encouraging you.”
    “Wonderful,” Evelyn said, her spirits instantly restored. “Don’t say
anything to him yet, though. We need to plan a slow invasion.”
    Two footmen entered, one pushing the tea trolley and the other
bringing a note for Evelyn. She recognised Devon’s handwriting and opened it at
once.
    “Devon won’t be joining us tonight. The session of Parliament has
overrun,” she summarised for Lily, “and he intends to call a meeting at the War
Office directly afterward.”
    She stood and folded the note, glancing at the footman standing duty
behind the tea trolley. “We’ll serve ourselves, thank you, George. Please
inform Mrs. Heckle his lordship will not be dining at home tonight. Lady Lily
and I will take an informal supper upstairs in the Oriental sitting room.”
     
    Evelyn’s eyes fluttered open at the soft click of the door opening.
She yawned and stretched, and the book she’d been reading tipped from her lap.
    Devon spun about. His gaze landed on her and the grin that had stolen
her heart from the very beginning tugged at his mouth. “I thought you were fast
asleep in your own bed.”
    “I wanted to wait up for you.” She uncurled her legs from the
armchair, pulling her wrap closer around her shoulders as she leaned over to pick
the book up. “I assume the meeting at the War Office means your Dirigible Fleet
Bill wasn’t passed.”
    Devon had been appointed Secretary of Alternative and New Threats last
year. The position was held in tandem with that of the traditional War
Secretary and had been designated to keep Britain abreast of the modern
technologies sweeping the continent.
    “I was making headway until the queen graced us with her presence. Her
speech was short and to the point. Britain’s power has always been at sea and
the two Customs airships already in service are sufficient.” He tugged his
cravat loose and undid the top buttons of his shirt as he crossed