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Authors: Tessa Dare
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pulled back. Her own eyes were moist with sympathy as she offered a handkerchief. “You poor dear. Is he well now? Mr. Bellamy, I mean.”
“Yes.” Lily wiped her eyes with the square of linen. “It was only a small injury, sustained when the crowd panicked at a boxing match. He won’t stop attending the things, you know. Wherever there’s fighting—man or beast—he goes there, hoping to find Leo’s killers. But I fear he’s just going to get himself killed. It’s been five months now. I don’t understand why he can’t let it go.”
“He feels responsible. That’s what he told us that night. He was supposed to be with Leo, and he thinks he could have prevented the murder if he’d been there.”
Lily sniffed. “Does he think he has some exclusive claim on regret? Doesn’t he realize I’ve felt the same guilt, every day since Leo died? If only I’d asked him to stay home, I tell myself. If only I’d insisted he take the family carriage instead of a hack. If only I’d been with him that night. Never mind that I’m a woman and a slightly built one at that. If I’d been in that alleyway with Leo, I would have fought those men with everything I had. Strength, fury, nails, teeth. I would have done anything in my power to save my brother’s life, even if it meant giving my own.”
A little sob escaped her, and Amelia clasped her wrist.
“And now,” Lily went on, “it’s like I’m watching Julian wander into that same alleyway that claimed Leo’s life. The only difference is, it’s all happening at a slower pace. I’m forced to watch from a distance, standing helplessly by as each step brings him closer and closer to danger. No matter how I call out to him, he doesn’t respond. Then this morning …”
Then this morning had changed everything. She’d held his senseless body in his arms, felt his blood on her fingertips. Atop it all, that desperate kiss … It made the danger so real. She refused to stand by and watch Julian stumble toward his own doom. This time, she would fight.
In her lap, her hands curled into fists. “Before Leo died, Julian lived to amuse and be amused. He loved balls, the theater, his friends, and his clubs. Somehow I have to force him back into that world, so he’ll remember what he’s been missing. Since the dinner party won’t work tonight—”
“Wait,” Amelia said, her chin firming. “The dinner party will work. We’ll make it work.”
“Truly?” Her heart leapt. “But what about the duke? What about Claudia?”
“Leave everything to me. Claudia will remain upstairs. Though I warn you, the menu will be simple, and I can’t promise Spencer will be the most gracious of hosts.”
“That doesn’t matter. It’s probably for the best if he and Julian stay in separate rooms, anyhow.” She squeezed her friend’s hand. “I can’t tell you what this means to me.”
“It’s my pleasure, truly. I love to give parties but have little opportunity. What about other guests? Is there anyone you’d like me to invite?”
Lily paused. “I know this may be difficult at such short notice,” she said, “but do you by any chance know where we might find a sizable group of eligible bachelors?”
“What’s this?” Amelia broke into laughter. “You do realize you’re talking to a woman who was, as recently as five months ago, a confirmed spinster with no suitors at all?”
“It’s just that I promised Julian. If he would be my escort to social events, I told him I’d consider marrying. I have no real intention of marrying at all, and no desire to inspire the hopes or attentions of gentlemen I actually … Oh, this is sounding horrible, isn’t it?”
“Rather.” Amelia’s eyes widened with amusement. “Let me be certain I understand. You’d like me to find some warm male bodies to fill chairs at the dinner table. All of these men must be presentable and feasibly marriageable, yet hungry or lonely enough to show up for dinner on a few
“Yes.” Lily wiped her eyes with the square of linen. “It was only a small injury, sustained when the crowd panicked at a boxing match. He won’t stop attending the things, you know. Wherever there’s fighting—man or beast—he goes there, hoping to find Leo’s killers. But I fear he’s just going to get himself killed. It’s been five months now. I don’t understand why he can’t let it go.”
“He feels responsible. That’s what he told us that night. He was supposed to be with Leo, and he thinks he could have prevented the murder if he’d been there.”
Lily sniffed. “Does he think he has some exclusive claim on regret? Doesn’t he realize I’ve felt the same guilt, every day since Leo died? If only I’d asked him to stay home, I tell myself. If only I’d insisted he take the family carriage instead of a hack. If only I’d been with him that night. Never mind that I’m a woman and a slightly built one at that. If I’d been in that alleyway with Leo, I would have fought those men with everything I had. Strength, fury, nails, teeth. I would have done anything in my power to save my brother’s life, even if it meant giving my own.”
A little sob escaped her, and Amelia clasped her wrist.
“And now,” Lily went on, “it’s like I’m watching Julian wander into that same alleyway that claimed Leo’s life. The only difference is, it’s all happening at a slower pace. I’m forced to watch from a distance, standing helplessly by as each step brings him closer and closer to danger. No matter how I call out to him, he doesn’t respond. Then this morning …”
Then this morning had changed everything. She’d held his senseless body in his arms, felt his blood on her fingertips. Atop it all, that desperate kiss … It made the danger so real. She refused to stand by and watch Julian stumble toward his own doom. This time, she would fight.
In her lap, her hands curled into fists. “Before Leo died, Julian lived to amuse and be amused. He loved balls, the theater, his friends, and his clubs. Somehow I have to force him back into that world, so he’ll remember what he’s been missing. Since the dinner party won’t work tonight—”
“Wait,” Amelia said, her chin firming. “The dinner party will work. We’ll make it work.”
“Truly?” Her heart leapt. “But what about the duke? What about Claudia?”
“Leave everything to me. Claudia will remain upstairs. Though I warn you, the menu will be simple, and I can’t promise Spencer will be the most gracious of hosts.”
“That doesn’t matter. It’s probably for the best if he and Julian stay in separate rooms, anyhow.” She squeezed her friend’s hand. “I can’t tell you what this means to me.”
“It’s my pleasure, truly. I love to give parties but have little opportunity. What about other guests? Is there anyone you’d like me to invite?”
Lily paused. “I know this may be difficult at such short notice,” she said, “but do you by any chance know where we might find a sizable group of eligible bachelors?”
“What’s this?” Amelia broke into laughter. “You do realize you’re talking to a woman who was, as recently as five months ago, a confirmed spinster with no suitors at all?”
“It’s just that I promised Julian. If he would be my escort to social events, I told him I’d consider marrying. I have no real intention of marrying at all, and no desire to inspire the hopes or attentions of gentlemen I actually … Oh, this is sounding horrible, isn’t it?”
“Rather.” Amelia’s eyes widened with amusement. “Let me be certain I understand. You’d like me to find some warm male bodies to fill chairs at the dinner table. All of these men must be presentable and feasibly marriageable, yet hungry or lonely enough to show up for dinner on a few
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