rage. [A. Bridgerton]

vii

The sun hit Evelyn's face as it flooded the room. Evelyn groaned and covered her head with her soft blankets. Charlotte giggled lightly before pulling the sheets off Evelyn's face. "Lady, we must get you ready! You have a line of callers outside waiting for you already," she pats her ladyship's head gently. 

"And I may have the newest Lady Whistledown waiting for you downstairs," charlotte chirped.

Evelyn shot up from her bed. She was eager to see what Lady Whistledown wrote about her after Vauxhall. Not only about her though, but she was also eager to know the latest gossip of the ton. It made Evelyn feel like a school child. 

Evelyn wore a white laced empire dress with embroidered designs that flowed throughout it. A small white string wrapped around her waist to make a bow in the back. This dress had sleeves that were just lace, allowing Evelyn to just wear fashionable hand gloves. Her hair was pinned neatly with braids.

She darted to the dining room where she was greeted by her entire family sitting at the breakfast table. It was an odd sight seeing them all gathered at once but she did not mind it. She welcomed it. Evelyn smiled as she walked toward her papa. He sat at the head of the table, newspaper in hand as he drank his coffee. 

Evelyn kissed his temple before taking her place at her designated spot. She reached for a biscuit before she was delayed by the footman bringing the newest Lady Whistledown to her on a silver platter. She quickly put her biscuit down, knowing that breakfast could wait while she read it.

"I danced with a prince!" She shrieked, causing the many servants to glance at each other.

The four men stopped what they were doing almost choking on their drink or food due to the sudden screech.

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Many callers had come and gone, none capturing Evelyn's attention. Her thoughts were clouded with the Prince of Denmark. The day started to come to an uneventful end. Her brothers had slowly left her until it was just her and her papa. Her papa sat graciously at a small desk in the drawing-room, as he monitored the men who came and went but also did his duties.

Evelyn huffed as the last caller left. 

"How did you know mama was the one?" she questioned.

Edward raised his eyebrow and moved to sit beside his daughter. 

"It is a feeling that you get when they are near. As though you can finally breathe and nothing else matters," smiled at her fondly. "With your mama, I just knew. And I think she did too."

Evelyn took in her father's words. 

"A caller for Lady Evelyn, sir," the footman bowed. 

Anthony Bridgerton walked into the drawing-room. He bowed to her papa. "Your grace," he greeted. The two men shook hands before Edward pat the young man's back and walked back to his small desk. 

Evelyn looked at the young Viscount. Her heart fluttered. She felt as though no matter what had happened between them, she could never get enough. Is this what her papa had meant by the feeling one gets when their love is near?

Evelyn gave the viscount a small smile as a greeting.

"Lady Evelyn," Anthony formally stated, most likely due to her papa being in the room pretending to read his newspaper but eavesdropping. 

"Iwaswonderingifyouwantoaccompanymetoapicnic," Anthony jumbled his words together. 

Evelyn stared at him. She had only gathered 'wondering' and 'picnic' from his mess of a sentence.