How to Plan a Wedding for a Royal Spy by Vanessa Kelly Page B

or the quivery feeling one got behind the knees when a certain person walked into the room.
    But even as Michael assured her that he was agreeable to the change in plans, Evie felt Will’s gaze pulling at her, so familiar and strong that it frightened her. Reluctantly, she met it head-on, expecting to see sardonic amusement over this morning’s domestic tempest in a teapot.
    But it wasn’t amusement or even mockery she discerned in his gaze. His expression was intent as he studied her, and when his gaze flicked over to Michael, it darkened with something that looked surprisingly like resentment. Or was it jealousy?
    That, she told herself as she rose to her feet, simply couldn’t be true.

Chapter Seven
    Evie hurried through the entrance hall as she pulled on her gloves. She was woefully late since she’d been dragging her feet upstairs in the vain hope that the riding party would leave without her. In fact, she’d almost worked up the courage to defy her mother’s orders when Eden had rushed in, determined not to leave without her.
    â€œI know you don’t want to see Will,” her sister had said, “but you can’t hide away forever. The war is over and we’ll be running into him on a regular basis, so you’d better get used to it. Besides, Mamma will raise a horrid fuss and that benefits no one, especially Michael.”
    That annoying logic had punctured Evie’s resistance. Drawing her mother’s fire onto Michael’s head was hardly fair, given the noble gesture he’d already made to deflect her ill temper.
    Smiling absently at the footman holding the door open, Evie rushed outside but was forced to pause under the portico until her vision adjusted to the bright morning sunshine. The effect was always intensified by the glare off her spectacles’ lenses, and it took a few moments until the motes dancing in front of her eyes began to clear.
    â€œAbout time.” Eden grinned at her from atop Castor, her bay gelding. “I thought we were going to have to send out a search party.”
    â€œThey wouldn’t have had to search very hard, would they?” Evie replied tartly as she descended the shallow marble steps.
    Castor shook his head, obviously eager to be off. Eden settled him with an easy touch, totally in control of the large horse. She looked enchanting, as usual, in her forest-green riding habit and dashing feathered cap.
    It always amazed Evie that her sister rode so confidently given the fact she refused to wear spectacles. Evie’s heart leapt to her throat every time her twin took a hedge or soared over a ditch, but Eden never seemed to falter. She’d developed strategies over the years to compensate for her poor eyesight, one of which had been to find and train Castor until he was uncannily attuned to his mistress. It was the only thing that kept Evie from blurting out hysterical warnings every time her sister galloped out in her bold, fearless style.
    She glanced around the small group on the gravel drive, mounted and ready for their expedition. Michael smiled down at her from one of the gentler horses from Maywood’s stables, while Captain Gilbride allowed his gigantic black stallion to prance around the forecourt. Lord Deerling and Sir Reginald Baskerton, two of Eden’s most persistent suitors, had joined them as well, flanking Eden as they vied for her attention.
    But Will was missing, as was a groom with Evie’s horse.
    â€œWhere’s Pollux?” she asked, referring to her gelding. She didn’t enquire after Will, since she had no intention of displaying any interest in him.
    â€œLady Reese thought you might be more comfortable riding in Will’s curricle,” Gilbride answered. “Capital idea, as I told your dear mamma. That way you can also bring the picnic basket. I must admit to already feeling rather peckish, despite this morning’s excellent breakfast.”
    When that comment