friends have, there's no help for him here. He can give up all hope—'
'No! Wait.' After a moment, the young lady sighed, a whispering surrender. 'I'll try. If I see any little things that might suit—'
'Just pick them up and bring them to me.' The gentleman glanced at the house. 'I'll be in touch about where we can next meet.'
He turned to leave — the lady put out a hand and caught his sleeve. 'You will send the money to Edward straightaway — and tell him that / at least care?'
The gentleman studied her earnest expression, then nodded. 'It will mean a lot to him, I'm sure.'
With a bow, he turned and walked away through the trees. The young lady sighed, looked up at the distant terrace, then lifted her skirts and headed back to the house.
'Your pardon, ma'am, but Lord Calverton, the Misses Ash-ford, and Miss Ffolliot have called.'
Louise looked up. Amelia blinked. They were sitting at their ease in the morning room at the back of the house, Louise reading a book, Amelia on the chaise perusing the latest issue
From the comfort of her armchair, Louise shrugged. 'Show them in here, Colthorpe.' As the butler bowed and retreated, Louise smiled at Amelia. 'Given it's the Ashfords, we may as well relax.'
Amelia nodded absentmindedly, her gaze on the door. Luc had said nothing about calling this morning. After they'd returned to Lady Carstairs's reception room, he'd remained by her side, subtly but definitely
The door opened; Emily, Anne, and Fiona gaily bustled in. Amelia shut the periodical and laid it aside. Luc strolled in, impeccably turned out in a dark blue coat, breeches, and Hessians, as always darkly, dangerously handsome. The girls very correctly greeted her mother; Amelia tried to catch Luc's eye, but beyond a swift glance as he'd entered, he didn't look her way.
Then he was bowing over Louise's hand, greeting her mother with his usual polished grace. Alert, Louise waved him to the chaise; instead, he misinterpreted the gesture — purposely, Amelia was sure — and bowed. 'Amelia.'
She returned his nod, then watched in bemusement as he chose the armchair alongside her mother's and sat. The three girls fluttered over to perch around her. Luc turned to Louise; the girls turned to her.
'It's a lovely day outside.'
'So very pleasant. Just a light breeze.'
'We'd thought to take the air in the park, but Luc suggested—'
What Amelia wanted to know was what Luc was suggesting to her mother.
Smiling at the tableau of her daughter surrounded by the younger girls, all chattering, Louise looked at Luc and raised her brows. 'I take it you don't find keeping an eye on Amelia as well as your sisters and Miss Ffolliot in the evenings too much of a trial?'
Luc met her gaze, succinctly replied, 'No.' Amelia was a trial, but he would manage. 'Your daughter does, however, have a stubborn streak, and a tendency to go her own road, as you're doubtless aware.'
'Naturally.' Louise looked intrigued. He directed his gaze across the room, to where Amelia was listening to his sisters' and Fiona's entreaties. 'She gets on well with my sisters, and my mother, too, of course, which makes things easier.'
'Indeed?' The faint amusement in Louise's voice assured him she'd followed his change of tack; she knew quite well what 'things' he was referring to.
'I had hoped,' he returned his gaze to Louise, 'that you would approve.' He paused, then smoothly continued, 'I thought a jaunt to Richmond, given the weather is so clement, would be a welcome diversion. We're taking the open carriage, of course.'
He awaited Louise's verdict. She regarded him for a disconcertingly long time, but eventually smiled and inclined her head. 'Richmond, then, if you think it will serve.'
That last comment had him inwardly frowning, but he got no chance to probe for an explanation — he wasn't even sure he wanted one; Louise turned and spoke to the girls, who'd already outlined their plans to Amelia.
Louise indicated her approval. Amelia stood, shooting a sharp glance his way. 'I'll have to change.'
He rose. 'We'll wait.'
Crossing the room, he opened the door and held it for her. Pausing in the doorway, she looked up at him, suspicion in her eyes. He smiled. Screened from the others, he flicked her cheek. 'Hurry up.' After a fractional pause, he added, 'I guarantee you'll enjoy it.'
Her eyes searched his, then she elevated her nose and left.
Ten minutes later, she returned, in a gown of sprigged muslin, cherry red against white. Three flounces adorned its hem; the bodice fitted snugly, and the sleeves were tiny puffs. A bright red ribbon was threaded through her curls, a wider ribbon of the same shade was wound about the handle of the parasol tucked under her arm. Luc gave silent thanks that she didn't favor bonnets; he'd make sure that when they walked, she kept the parasol shut.
She was pulling on red kid gloves; half boots of the same shade were on her feet. She looked delectable — good enough to eat.
He rose. The two younger girls were by the window, examining the small ornaments laid out on the wide sill; he collected them with a glance and turned to where Emily was chatting with Louise. 'We'd better make a start.'
They made their farewells, then he waved his charges on, closing the door as he followed them into the hall. The girls bustled on, beaming at Colthorpe as he opened the front door for them. Reaching out, Luc captured Amelia's hand, twined her arm with his. Glanced down as she looked up at him. 'You'll enjoy the drive.'
She raised a skeptical brow. 'And the hours at Richmond spent following those three?'
He smiled and looked ahead. 'Those you'll enjoy even more.'
This time, he dictated where they would all sit. The three girls dutifully took the seat behind the coachman, facing Luc and Amelia. As the coach rolled off, Amelia cast him a suspicious glance, then opened her parasol, deploying it to shade her face.
The girls chatted and looked about, exclaiming at the sights as the carriage turned south, crossed the river at Chelsea, then rumbled west past villages and hamlets. Although the girls were only a foot away, seated as she was with Luc, Amelia felt no compelling need to listen to their conversation.
Luc said nothing, looking about idly, elegantly at ease beside her. He had to keep his distance to avoid her parasol; compensating, he'd spread his arms, one along the carriage's side, the other along the back of the seat.
She wondered what he was up to, but as the miles rumbled uneventfully by, she relaxed. Only then did she realize how tense she'd become — how intense she'd been for the past several months, doggedly pursuing her plan. Her plan, which had landed her here, where she wished to be.
With the right gentleman beside her.
She'd just come to that realization and let a small smile curve her lips, when Luc's fingertips brushed the soft tendrils exposed at her nape. She froze, couldn't quite hide her reactive shiver. As usual, she'd worn her hair pulled into a topknot, but it was naturally curly, so tiny locks sprang loose, feather-light, sensitive to the touch.
Turning her head, she intended to frown, but the look in Luc's eyes distracted her. Intent, he watched her; his fingertips shifted, stroked again.
'What are you smiling at?'
The light in those dark eyes wasn't teasing; he wanted to know. She looked forward, would have shrugged but… she didn't want him to take his hand away. 'I was just thinking…' She gestured to the bucolic scenery through which they were rolling. 'I haven't been out to Richmond for years. I'd forgotten how restful the drive can be.'
She glanced back at him, again found herself trapped in his eyes.
'You gad about too much.' His eyes remained on hers, his fingers firmed. 'From now on, you won't have to.'
She had to smile; trust a man to imagine that the only reason ladies 'gadded about' was in pursuit of them. 'There'll still be the Season, and making appearances. More or less obligatory, after all.'
