On a Wicked Dawn

one of Anne's spencers.

'At least the balls aren't quite so crowded anymore,' Anne put in.

Fiona swung to face her. 'Not as crowded?'

'Definitely not,' Emily confirmed. 'They were much worse — truly crushes in every sense — at the height of the Season.'

'So was your come-out a crush?' Fiona asked.

Minerva smiled. 'Indeed — it was a very well attended affair.'

She glanced up at him; Luc met her gaze and shared her proud smile. He still inwardly shuddered at the disruption and effort his sisters' come-out had entailed, but at least he could now pay for it.

'It was such a pity you missed it.' Anne caught Fiona's hand. 'So odious of your aunt to insist you go to visit your cousins instead.'

'Now, now, girls,' Minerva intervened. 'Fiona is staying with her aunt, and Mrs. Worley has been very kind in sparing her to us so often?

Anne and Fiona accepted the rebuke, meekly, but it was clear their poor opinion of Fiona's aunt choosing to take her to visit relatives in Somerset during the critical week had not altered.

'I heard there's to be a balloon ascension in the park the day after tomorrow.'

Emily's information distracted the girls; Minerva sat back, watching with fond affection as they discussed the event.

Luc paid their ramblings little heed; his gaze on Amelia's golden head, he wondered… she was watching the younger girls, smiling at their excitement. 'Would you like to view the spectacle?'

She looked up, met his eyes — read them, and colored delicately. She glanced at the girls. 'Perhaps we could make a party?'

Luc inwardly grimaced, but gracefully nodded when his sisters looked eagerly his way. 'Why not?' It would serve as a reasonable first outing to which he could publicly squire Amelia.

Fiona whooped; Anne smiled. Emily laughed. They fell to discussing the details.

Under cover of their excited chatter, Amelia glanced up and met his gaze, a certain consciousness in her eyes…

'Actually, we've just been discussing…' His mother captured his attention before he could fathom the reason behind that particular look. Minerva smiled and held his gaze. 'As Amanda has gone north and won't return this Season, and as I've got to escort these giddy girls about, then it makes eminent sense for Amelia to join us, especially when Louise has clashing engagements.'

He managed to keep his expression impassive, then he looked again at Amelia. She met his gaze over the rim of her cup, then lowered it and smiled brightly. 'It seemed the most obvious idea.'

'Indeed. So Amelia will be joining us here tonight, then we'll all go on to Lady Carstairs's rout.' His mother raised a brow at him. 'You hadn't forgotten, had you?'

He straightened, 'No.'

'I'll order the carriage for eight, then — we should all be able to fit.'

Amelia set down her cup and spoke to Minerva. 'Thank you. I'll be here before eight.' She smiled, then extended the gesture to the girls. 'But now I really must go.'

Luc waited, suppressing his impatience while she farewelled his mother and sisters. When she turned to him, he waved to the door. 'I'll see you out.'

With brief nods to his mother and the girls, he stalked after her to the door, reached around her and opened it, then followed her into the hall. A quick glance showed no footmen about; shutting the door, he caught her gaze. 'You agreed to follow my lead.'

She opened her eyes wide. 'Weren't you intending for me to join your mother and sisters at some point?' Turning toward the front door, she started pulling on her gloves. 'It seemed an opportunity waiting to be grasped.'

'Quite.' He prowled by her side as she headed for the door. 'But at some point.'

She halted, looked at him. 'Which point?'

He frowned. 'Possibly after the balloon ascension.'

She raised her brows, then shrugged. 'Tonight was sooner. Anyway' — glancing down, she struggled with one of the tiny buttons closing her gloves—'it's done now.'

Impossible to argue that. Luc told himself it didn't really matter. They reached the front door; he opened it. She was still struggling with her glove.

'Here — let me.' He grasped her wrist, sensed more than heard the quick intake of her breath. Felt the frisson that sheered through her as his sliding fingertips found the gap in the cuff of her recalcitrant glove, found her bare skin.

He met her gaze, then, gripping, slowly raised her hand and looked at the difficult button.

She remained absolutely immobile — he didn't think she even breathed — while he dealt with the tiny closure. The button slipped into place. He looked up, caught her gaze — deliberately rubbed the fine leather, smoothing the button into place, his thumb riding slowly back and forth over the sensitive inner face of her wrist.

Her eyes sparked; she twisted her wrist — he released her. She looked down, gathering her skirts.

Thrusting his hands in his pockets, he lounged against the doorframe. 'I'll see you tonight then. Before eight.'

'Indeed.' She inclined her head, but didn't meet his gaze. 'Until then.'

Head rising, she stepped out and descended the steps. Reaching the pavement, she turned for her home and waved one hand; her footman came quickly up the area steps, nodded to Luc, then fell in behind her.

Luc dispelled the frown that had been about to form; straightening, he shut the front door — only then did he let his lips quirk. She might have taken it upon herself to initiate the next step, but he still held the whip.

Satisfied, he headed for his study. Passing the side table at the back of the hall, he paused, contemplated the polished surface. Where was his grandfather's inkstand? It had stood there as long as he could recall… perhaps Higgs in her annual spring cleaning frenzy had taken it for polishing and put it somewhere else. Making a mental note to ask her sometime, he strode on — to the business still waiting behind his study door.

'Are you sure Minerva has room for you in her carriage?'

Amelia glanced across her bedroom and smiled at her mother. 'She said she'd use her traveling carriage. There'll be just the six of us.'

Louise considered, then nodded. 'None of you is stout, after all. I have to say it'll be a relief to have a quiet night at home. I still haven't recovered from the rush of Amanda's wedding.' After a moment, she murmured, 'I suppose I can trust Luc to keep an eye on you.'

'Indeed. You know what he's like.'

Louise's lips quirked. Then she straightened. 'No, no!' Amelia had grabbed up her reticule and shawl and was hurrying toward her — she waved her back. 'Stop and let me see.'

Amelia grinned and halted. She slid the cords of her reticule over one wrist, draped her shimmering shawl about her shoulders, then she stood straight, head high, and pirouetted. Then she glanced at Louise.

Louise nodded approvingly. 'I was wondering when you were going to wear that. That shade becomes you.'

Amelia broke from her pose and hurried to the door. 'I know.' She kissed her mother's cheek. 'Thank you for buying it for me.' Stepping on down the hall, she smiled over her shoulder. 'I have to rush — I don't want to be late. Good night!'

Louise watched her go, a smile on her lips, a softness in her eyes. When Amelia had disappeared down the stairs, she sighed. 'You don't want to miss the chance of setting him back on his heels — I know. Good night, my dear, and good luck. With that one, you'll need it.'

Decked out in black coat and black trousers, ivory cravat and silk waistcoat, Luc was standing in the front hall looking up the stairs at the head of which his mother and sisters, and Fiona, all dressed for the evening, were finally congregating, when he heard Cottsloe open the front door. Assuming Cottsloe was checking to see if the carriage had arrived, he didn't glance around.

Then he heard Cottsloe murmur, 'Good evening, miss,' heard Amelia's light reply.