The Story of a Baron (The Sisters of the Aristocracy) by Linda Rae Sande

their vantage point what had caused her to suddenly almost tip over and nearly end up atop the rather astonished Lord Sommers. And then Evangeline had performed some sort of maneuver akin to a pirouette, her body suddenly balanced on her tip-toes as she spun about.
    “Oh!” they had both exclaimed in unison, their combined voices loud enough that they were quite sure Evangeline had overheard them. But her own “Oh!” had drown out theirs, leaving them trying to suppress a sudden fit of the giggles. And then, when the baron and Evangeline had bent down to retrieve the book, which at some point had fallen off the bench, they watched with rapt attention as Lord Sommers lifted Evangeline’s hand and slowly brought it to his lips and Evangeline to her feet.
    Their long sighs, both in unison, caused another fit of giggles.
    “How long, do you suppose?” Samantha wondered, her gaze taking in the darkening skies above.
    “How long for what?” Julia asked, not sure to what Samantha referred but thinking she was probably referring to the impending storm.
    “Before they’re wed?”
    Julia smiled and regarded her friend for a moment, realizing just then it was possible the earl’s sister would end up married to the baron. “I’ll bet they’re married within a month,” she said with a good deal of confidence.
    Samantha nearly stopped in her tracks. “A month? ” she repeated, looking ever so astonished. “Oh, all right. I guess I’ll take that bet,” she said with a sigh. “But I would have said three weeks.”
    It was Julia’s turn to look astonished. And then even more shocked when the heavens suddenly opened up and rain began to pour down. Despite their parasols, the two were thoroughly drenched by the time they reached Fitzsimmons Manor.

    As Evangeline settled into the town coach for the ride home from Grosvenor Square, she couldn’t help but think of how much the description of Lord Afterly reminded her of her brother. The similarities in their avocations were striking, both requiring they be absent from the London social scene for months at a time, leaving an unmarried sister without protection or the means to meet eligible bachelors.
    Meeting men seemed to come easily to Lady Geraldine. She had obviously done something to warrant her reputation for being fast – something beyond the events featuring  Vauxhall Gardens or the ball – although the story hadn’t yet mentioned just what that something might be.
    Geraldine’s behavior was bold, but that didn’t necessarily deter Lord Ballantine from finding her intriguing. Indeed, Evangeline wondered at the baron’s reaction to the earl’s sister. Was it just a man’s reaction to a bold woman that seemed to have him already snared in Geraldine’s net? Or did the man truly have feelings for her? They’d known each other since childhood; certainly that had something to do with his fondness for the lady.
    When the coach parked in front of Rosemount House, Evangeline stepped out and waited for Annabelle, opening her parasol as rain began to fall. Once her maid was out and on her way into the house, the footman closed the door and the driver pulled away, intending to park the coach in the carriage house off the alley.
    Evangeline stood in the rain, staring at the departing coach, staring at the crest adorning the door.
    Everly.
    Afterly.
    Two earls who spent months away from London pursuing their avocations. Two earls who left behind sisters who were not married – not even betrothed.
    If I can make the connection, certainly other readers will as well , she realized in dismay. Suddenly light-headed, Evangeline swayed a bit as she stood on the front walk.
    Her maid, not yet in the house, noticed her sudden distress. “Milady?” Annabelle said with a bit of concern, her line of sight tracking Evangeline’s so that she, too, was left watching the departing Everly coach.
    Evangeline continued to stare at the gilded crest until it disappeared around the