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Authors: Jessica Nelson
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above reproach, she returned her attention to the marquis and his smug expression.
“No wife, but I do believe I shall be able to help you with your dilemma.” His eyes, full of amusement, met hers.
“I am not in a dilemma,” she said, feeling stubborn. “And if I was, I wouldn’t need your help.”
His hand went to his chest. “You wound me, my lady.”
“I heartily doubt that,” she muttered beneath her breath. Oh, how she wished her heart would stop its dreadful knocking against her sternum! One dance, one conversation, and now she could not escape this peculiar excitement she felt whenever she saw him. Like a silly miss out for her first Season, head turned by her very first suitor.
“On to a serious note.” Lord Ashwhite straightened in his chair and propped his elbows on his knees. “I have a proposition for you.”
“You are fairly bursting with propositions.”
“This is one that will suit your needs very well.” A slow smile spread across his face. “I have thought about buying your house—”
“My house?” She covered her lips, alarmed by the screech she’d uttered.
“Very attractive, my lady.”
She scowled at him. “Go on.”
“But after consideration, I thought it might be better to engage your sympathies once more. You see, you never told me the details of what your runner discovered about Lord Dudley. And I never told you why I wanted to know.”
Curiosity piqued, she studied him. “This is true. And I do apologize, but I had much on my mind.”
Surprisingly, his look was gentle. “I know that, which is why I determined to give you a few days’ rest before—”
“Hunting me down?” she offered.
“Fair enough.” He inclined his head, though she didn’t see a trace of repentance in his face. “Here is my conundrum. Lord Dudley is a distant cousin, but he is the direct heir to Ashwhite should I fail to fulfill the obligations of my father’s will.”
“To marry within three months.”
“Yes. Less than that now.”
She fanned herself, spotted Lydia dancing with a different young man, who wore the same look of eagerness as the last and chewed her lip. The right thing to do would be to help Lord Ashwhite. Especially in light of what she’d learned of Lord Dudley. “This information does change how I view your problem, but I must have a night to think on it. Could you meet me tomorrow, say around four in the afternoon, in my parlor? I will be prepared to give you an answer as well as share Mr. Ladd’s findings on Lord Dudley.”
Her gaze drifted past Lord Ashwhite and locked on Lord Dudley, who had spotted her hiding spot and now marched toward her with determination.
How had Lord Dudley gained entrance to Almack’s? Granted, he was an earl whose proclivities remained unknown to most of the ton . She was beginning to tire of seeing him at every event she went to, especially now that he was out of the running for Cousin Lydia.
Lord Ashwhite followed her look. “Trouble, Lady Amelia?”
“Not at all.” She stood quickly and gave Lord Ashwhite what she hoped was a confident smile. “Handling suitors is my specialty.” Head high, she swept out of the alcove to meet the earl who couldn’t seem to understand her very firm no . And as she left, she felt Lord Ashwhite’s stare upon her.
Tomorrow.
Tomorrow she’d have to decide whether to work with Lord Ashwhite or not. She might have to accept his offer in order to avoid the dregs of a caged life.
* * *
Spencer watched as Lady Amelia glided away. The way she moved spoke of gracefulness and poise. One might never guess from the way she walked that she indulged in intellectual and political pursuits. From the outside, she appeared to be a fashionable lady of the ton . He saw the exchanges she made, how the dowagers greeted her with warmth and comfort. They trusted her status and knowledge. There were no suspicious or haughty glances directed toward her. Not like the ones his mother used to endure. How
“No wife, but I do believe I shall be able to help you with your dilemma.” His eyes, full of amusement, met hers.
“I am not in a dilemma,” she said, feeling stubborn. “And if I was, I wouldn’t need your help.”
His hand went to his chest. “You wound me, my lady.”
“I heartily doubt that,” she muttered beneath her breath. Oh, how she wished her heart would stop its dreadful knocking against her sternum! One dance, one conversation, and now she could not escape this peculiar excitement she felt whenever she saw him. Like a silly miss out for her first Season, head turned by her very first suitor.
“On to a serious note.” Lord Ashwhite straightened in his chair and propped his elbows on his knees. “I have a proposition for you.”
“You are fairly bursting with propositions.”
“This is one that will suit your needs very well.” A slow smile spread across his face. “I have thought about buying your house—”
“My house?” She covered her lips, alarmed by the screech she’d uttered.
“Very attractive, my lady.”
She scowled at him. “Go on.”
“But after consideration, I thought it might be better to engage your sympathies once more. You see, you never told me the details of what your runner discovered about Lord Dudley. And I never told you why I wanted to know.”
Curiosity piqued, she studied him. “This is true. And I do apologize, but I had much on my mind.”
Surprisingly, his look was gentle. “I know that, which is why I determined to give you a few days’ rest before—”
“Hunting me down?” she offered.
“Fair enough.” He inclined his head, though she didn’t see a trace of repentance in his face. “Here is my conundrum. Lord Dudley is a distant cousin, but he is the direct heir to Ashwhite should I fail to fulfill the obligations of my father’s will.”
“To marry within three months.”
“Yes. Less than that now.”
She fanned herself, spotted Lydia dancing with a different young man, who wore the same look of eagerness as the last and chewed her lip. The right thing to do would be to help Lord Ashwhite. Especially in light of what she’d learned of Lord Dudley. “This information does change how I view your problem, but I must have a night to think on it. Could you meet me tomorrow, say around four in the afternoon, in my parlor? I will be prepared to give you an answer as well as share Mr. Ladd’s findings on Lord Dudley.”
Her gaze drifted past Lord Ashwhite and locked on Lord Dudley, who had spotted her hiding spot and now marched toward her with determination.
How had Lord Dudley gained entrance to Almack’s? Granted, he was an earl whose proclivities remained unknown to most of the ton . She was beginning to tire of seeing him at every event she went to, especially now that he was out of the running for Cousin Lydia.
Lord Ashwhite followed her look. “Trouble, Lady Amelia?”
“Not at all.” She stood quickly and gave Lord Ashwhite what she hoped was a confident smile. “Handling suitors is my specialty.” Head high, she swept out of the alcove to meet the earl who couldn’t seem to understand her very firm no . And as she left, she felt Lord Ashwhite’s stare upon her.
Tomorrow.
Tomorrow she’d have to decide whether to work with Lord Ashwhite or not. She might have to accept his offer in order to avoid the dregs of a caged life.
* * *
Spencer watched as Lady Amelia glided away. The way she moved spoke of gracefulness and poise. One might never guess from the way she walked that she indulged in intellectual and political pursuits. From the outside, she appeared to be a fashionable lady of the ton . He saw the exchanges she made, how the dowagers greeted her with warmth and comfort. They trusted her status and knowledge. There were no suspicious or haughty glances directed toward her. Not like the ones his mother used to endure. How
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