The garden pavilion was bathed in the golden warmth of the afternoon. The scent of blooming jasmine filled the air, but the atmosphere remained sharp. Evelina sat with a composed elegance that seemed to fascinate Julian, while Lucius watched her with a mixture of pride and curiosity.
Cedric, however, sat like a gargoyle carved from cold stone. His eyes never left Evelina. He was a man who lived in the world of facts and records. His informants had described the Minister's daughter as a "sick, trembling girl." Yet, the woman before him was anything but trembling. He was looking for a crack in her mask—a sign that she was a fraud. But all he saw was a woman who looked like she could run around the entire manor before and after breakfast.
Julian, unable to contain his excitement any longer, stood up on his chair. "Oh! I have a test for you, Lady Evelina! Will you take it now? Lucius says you are very smart, but I want to see for myself."
