"Where were you?!"
Breanna's question halted them just as they were about to step inside the house. Evelina felt her heart drop as her mother asked that, her tone insinuating that she had some inkling of the truth. And if she did know, Evelina shuddered at what the consequences might be.
"You two were gone for ages and now you decide to show up?"
"We apologize, Mother." Evelina hung her head. "There was so much to explore and experience. We couldn't do it all because of the rain… "
"Don't feed me lies, young lady. If you want me to believe that you both stayed in the carriage until the rain stopped, then why do you look like that? It's as if you got soaked and managed to dry off somewhere… "
"Actually, we…"
Priscilla nudged her before she could finish, then stepped forward with a smile directed at the countess. "You look absolutely stunning tonight, Countess."
Breanna blushed, smoothing down the top of her dome-style hair. "Do I?"
