Of all the insufferable small talk! As if he gave a care about their day. About as much as she cared about his.
r /> “I’m going to London.” There. That would get his attention.
Evan looked up from his soup. “I beg pardon?”
“Ally…” Sophie began.
“I said I’m going to London. I have a dear friend whom I would like to visit, and she is excited to receive me.”
Evan cleared his throat. “And who is this friend, might I ask?”
Ally smiled, thinking quickly. “Miss…Prudence…Spofford. She is expecting my visit. I’ll be leaving on the morrow.”
Evan looked to Sophie. “And I suppose you will go with her?”
Sophie shook her head. “No, my lor— er, Evan. I have no plans to accompany her.”
“Then I’m afraid it’s out of the question. You cannot travel alone.”
“Nonsense. I’m twenty-one years old. The coachman will be with me. He will see me safely to the rail. And Prudence is expecting me.”
“No,” Evan said flatly.
“No?” Alexandra raised her eyebrows.
“You heard me. No.”
“Since when do you have authority over me?”
“Since my father and your mother left you under my protection. You’re my responsibility while they’re gone, and I won’t have you gallivanting all over London unchaperoned.”
“I’m of age, Evan. I can go to London if I want. And I’m leaving tomorrow.”
“Ally,” Sophie said, “I do wish you would reconsider. The railway is still new. Perhaps traveling by coach would be safer.”
“No,” Evan said.
“You don’t trust our coachmen?” Ally asked.
“Yes, yes, of course I trust our coachmen.”
“Then what is the problem?”
“I don’t trust you.” He pushed away his plate and stood, summoning a footman. “I’m no longer hungry. Please clear my place.”
Ally’s skin tightened. How dare he? “You don’t even know me. How can you possibly say you don’t trust me?”
Evan closed his eyes for a moment, and then opened them. “Forgive me. I misspoke. I have no reason not to trust you. However, you may not go to London unaccompanied.”
“Well, I’m going,” Ally said hotly. “And you have no right to stop me.”
“Very well.” Evan sat back down, a look of defeat on his chiseled features. “Then I have no choice but to go with you.”
Confessions of Lady Prudence
by Madame O
Christophe’s eyes nearly popped out of his head, Amelia! His fiery gaze well-nigh melted my garments right off my body.