On a Wicked Dawn

were busy with shutting up the house, it was a pleasant and eventful interlude.' Minerva sat in her customary armchair, sipping a cup of tea. Her gaze rested briefly on Emily, seated alongside Miss Pink, then she raised her eyes to meet Luc's.

He surmised he'd be hearing more about Lord Kirkpatrick shortly.

'I'm so glad you could all come to Somersham for the wedding.' Amelia sat in another armchair, likewise sipping tea.

'It was perfect — just perfect' Portia continued to twirl. 'And seeing everyone again — well, we've known them all for years, but it was lovely to catch up and learn how people have got on.'

Luc leaned his shoulders against the mantelpiece — surrounded, as he'd been for the past eight years, by a sea of females. He was fond of them all, even Miss Pink, although they often laid siege to his sanity. And now he'd added another. One who threatened to be the most unnerving of the lot.

Portia was the most predictable. Ceasing her twirling, she swung to him. With her dark hair and deep blue eyes, she was the most physically like him; she'd also inherited the longer bones of his mother's family — she was taller than Emily, Anne, and Penelope. 'I'm going to visit the puppies. They must have grown enormously in the past two weeks.'

She bobbed a curtsy, then headed for the French doors giving onto the terrace and lawns.

Luc inwardly grimaced, but felt compelled to say, 'The largest male is already adopted — don't set your heart on him.' Portia halted and looked back at him, brows high. 'I thought he looked a potential champion — have you claimed him, then?'

'No.' Luc nodded at Amelia. 'I gave him to Amelia.'

'Oh!' Portia's smile was genuinely delighted — in more ways than one. She beamed at Amelia. 'What have you called him?'

Luc shut his eyes fleetingly, inwardly groaned.

'He seemed very set on questing.' Amelia returned Portia's smile. 'He's Galahad of Calverton Chase.'

'Galahad!' Portia gripped the back of the chaise, her face alight. 'And Luc agreed?'

Amelia shrugged. 'The name hadn't been used before.'

Portia looked at Luc; from her expression she was busily making connections he'd much rather she didn't. Her eyes narrowed, sparkling with intelligent conjecture, but all she said was, 'Capital! I'm off to see this phenomenon.'

She strode for the French doors.

Penelope set down her cup, swiped up two biscuits. 'About time, brother dear. Wait for me, Portia — I have to see this, too.'

With a nod to their mother and Amelia, Penelope hurried out after Portia.

The energy level in the room subsided to more comfortable levels. Everyone smiled, relaxing a trifle more. Luc hoped Amelia, at least, imagined Penelope's comment referred to the puppy's name; he was fairly certain his irritating littlest sister had meant something more pointedly personal.

Minerva set down her cup. 'Of course, there were a few other events of interest during the past week beyond Astley's and the museum.' Together with Emily and Anne, she filled Luc and Amelia in, passing on the good wishes of various hostesses. 'When you return to London later in the year, you both, along with Dexter and Amanda, can expect to be besieged.'

'With any luck, some scandal will by then have reared its head, deflecting the interest of the fickle.' Luc straightened, adjusting one cuff.

Minerva shot him a cynical look. 'Don't wager on it. Given Martin and Amanda took refuge in the north, and you married at Somersham and headed immediately up here, the hostesses will be waiting for their moment.'

Luc grimaced; Amelia smiled.

Miss Pink, sufficiently restored from the rigors of the journey, rose and quietly excused herself; Emily and Anne, having finished their tea, decided to retire to their rooms.

'I've set dinner for six,' Amelia said, as they bobbed to her.

'Oh, good!' Emily said. 'We'll be famished by then.'

Anne smiled softly. 'It's so good to be home.'

The instant they'd quit the room, Minerva glanced at Luc. 'You may expect a letter from Kirkpatrick — by my guess, within the week.'

Luc raised a brow. 'He's that serious?'

Minerva's lips twitched. 'Impatient, my dear, as I would have thought you'd appreciate.'

He let that comment lie.

Minerva added, more seriously, 'An invitation to visit here would be appropriate, but I didn't want to say anything until I'd consulted with you.'

Her gaze had shifted to Amelia — who suddenly realized the implication; she waved. 'Of course.' She glanced at Luc. 'Late July or early August, perhaps?'

He met her gaze. 'Whatever you decide. We'll be here until late September.'

Amelia looked back at Minerva.

Who relaxed in her chair. 'We can decide once he writes — he definitely will.' Her lips curved. 'So that's Emily all but settled.' Minerva glanced at Luc, then back at Amelia, her smile deepening. 'I won't ask how you two are getting on — I'm sure you've been settling in and finding your feet without any great difficulty. Has it been very warm up here?'

Cursing her memory, which immediately focused on that long afternoon she and Luc had spent rolling on their bed, Amelia prayed she wouldn't blush. 'We did have a day or two when it was quite hot.' She fought not to glance at Luc.

Minerva rose. 'The chaos must have subsided by now. Time for me to go up and rest for an hour or so. Six, you said?'

Amelia nodded.

Minerva inclined her head to them both. 'I'll see you in the drawing room.'

She glided toward the door, then halted. Turned back, frowning. 'Actually, while we're alone…' She glanced briefly at the door, then continued, her tone serious, 'While I was packing, I found I was missing two items. A grisaille snuffbox — you know it, Luc — and a perfume flagon with a gold collar. They're both small things, but old and quite valuable.' She looked at Luc. 'Both were in my sitting room, and yes, they're definitely gone, not misplaced. Do you have any ideas?'

Luc frowned. 'We haven't taken on any new staff.'

'No. That was my first thought, too, but what with running shorthanded for years, everyone still with us has been with us all those years. It seems inconceivable it could be anyone within the house.'

Luc nodded. 'I'll check with Cottsloe and Higgs — it's possible we had someone through for the chimneys, or something similar.'

Minerva's face cleared. 'Of course — you're quite right. That's sure to be it. Still, it's a sad day when one has to guard such items every time someone unknown steps over the threshold.'

'I'll look into it,' Luc said. Minerva nodded and left.

Amelia set aside her empty cup and rose. Both she and Luc remained standing, watching until his mother had passed out of sight beyond the open drawing room door.

Then they glanced at each other; their gazes met, held. They stood a foot apart. Luc reached out, sliding his fingers down over her wrist to twine with hers.

This close, in this light, and because he let her see, the desire that prowled behind his dark eyes was impossible to mistake.

Again she sensed his welling need to kiss her, to touch her — to take her in his arms; like a wash of heat against her skin, it awakened her, drew her to him. A shimmering aura, desire hung between them until, once again, she sensed him rein it in, suppress it.

His gaze still locked with hers, he lifted her hand, pressed a kiss to her knuckles. 'I'd better go and check what's going on in the kennels. Portia and Penelope have their own ideas about everything, and they're both termagants at heart. And then I really have to do some work in the Office.'

She accepted what he was telling her with an easy smile, but when he released her hand, she linked her arm