“Who the devil would call at this time of night?” Annoyance filled her father’s face, his scowl sweeping around the table as if looking to them for the answer.
“Lord Ainsley, sir.” Meyers’s straight-faced answer left everyone’s jaw agape.
The chair on which Amelia sat seemed to waver, or perhaps the room itself dimmed for a moment. She blinked rapidly several times then turned to her mother to find the woman clasping her hands to her chest, cheeks red, eyes two wide blue pools of joy. “Come, Amelia. Let us retire this instant with Mr. Burke. We will await your father’s report in the drawing room.”
Amelia shot to her feet, her ears roaring so she had to grab the back of her mother’s chair to steady herself as she left the room. What did this mean? Why had Lord Ainsley come? There was truly only one explanation, though she refused to believe it. Not until his lordship said it himself, out of his own mouth. Speeding behind her mother down the corridor toward the back of the townhouse, Amelia prayed as she had not for many years. Not since Lord Ainsley had gone away so long ago.
She and her mother entered the room, in silence still, and her mother dropped into her favorite high-backed chair. “Ring for tea, please, Amelia.”
In the process of going back to the bell pull beside the doorway, Amelia was brought up short when Mr. Burke entered the room. They came face to face, his grim visage thinly veiling his outrage. Apparently he also thought he understood what Lord Ainsley’s presence at this time of night meant. Lord, but the evening had turned into quite an explosive affair.
Giving a sharp pull in the bell, Amelia skittered away from him, seating herself on the chaise, next to her mother’s chair, imploring the Almighty to direct Mr. Burke to the chair opposite them and not beside her. Either God had heard her or her face had warned the gentleman to stay away, for he paced instead, muttering to himself.
“Beastly inconsiderate of the man to interrupt a family dinner at this hour of the night. Gentlemen with a title believe themselves entitled to do whatever they please, without thinking of the inconvenience to anyone else. Ought to speak a word to him about common decency.” As his agitation increased, so did his strides become faster, more erratic, until Amelia’s head began to spin with the whirlwind motion.
She dropped her head into her hands to steady herself. The door creaked open. Thank goodness. Nothing would soothe her better at this moment than a cup of hot tea. Raising her head, she stared directly into Lord Ainsley’s gray-eyed gaze, trained directly on her. Amelia gave a squeak and sat up straight on the chaise, transfixed as a mouse caught in the steely stare of a hungry cat.
“Good evening, Mrs. Burrowes, Mr. Burke.” Lord Ainsley nodded to the others but came forward and bowed to her. “Miss Burrowes. I know it is late, but I came to speak to your father.”
CHAPTER SIX
The next afternoon Amelia waited at the window, again in the downstairs reception room for Lord Ainsley, even more nervous this time, if that were possible. Last night’s startling meeting, followed by loud protestations from Mr. Burke, had once more rendered her sleepless so that the Pears had been used liberally this morning as she washed and dressed.
Actually the whole affair had the quality of a dream to it. Less than a week ago she’d not thought of Lord Ainsley in at least eight or nine years. Now he was coming to formally pay court to her. The fact that he insisted on driving her in Hyde Park, during the fashionable hour this time, led her to believe that his intentions were completely serious. No one would run that gauntlet and risk censure by the ton unless they meant to make an offer for her.
The thought of that made her shiver, though the day was one of the warmest. Although she’d not thought of his lordship in such a long while, she remembered in great detail her feelings for him when they first met. Could she come to feel the same for him again? And if she could not, and he asked her to marry him, did she really have any more of a choice than she did with Mr. Burke?
At least with Lord Ainsley she could assure herself he would offer for her from affection and not for monetary gain. A sudden remembrance from last night drew her up short. Or did he have another reason entirely? The phrase he used about speaking to her father echoed his last words to her under the cherry tree. Might his sense of honor and duty be playing into his courtship rather than regard?
The black and yellow curricle pulled up to the curb in front of the townhouse and Lord Ainsley hopped down, a huge smile on his face. Turning away from the window, Amelia took a firm grip on her reticule. She could do this. If she had been prepared to marry Mr. Burke, for whom she had no feelings whatsoever, she could manage a carriage ride with the gentleman for whom she had felt something at one time.
The door to the foyer opened and there was a murmur of voices.
Amelia straightened her shoulders, so her new rose gown and matching spencer fell gracefully to the floor. She smiled her brightest just as Lord Ainsley was announced. “Good afternoon, my lord.”
“Good afternoon, Miss Burrowes. I see you are looking extremely well, despite last night’s excitements. You must thrive on such challenges.” His return smile was charming, but the gleam in his eyes set her heart to racing.
“There seem to be so many of them, now I am back in London, one can do nothing but attempt to rise to the occasion.” Babbling, she became aware as never before of his overpowering presence. She was tall by standards of the day, but Lord Ainsley seemed to tower over her, even though his head couldn’t be more than just a couple of inches above hers own. Still, in her eyes he loomed over her.
“Shall we go?” He offered his arm. “I promise not to bite.”
Drat. She must keep her countenance better schooled. “Thank you, my lord.” She took the proffered arm, his warmth immediately stealing through her. “I will hold you to that.”
He chuckled and she smiled to herself. They had bantered thus when they first met. One of his qualities that had drawn her to him in the first place. She could not abide a dullard, and Ainsley had been sharp as an assassin’s blade. He settled her securely in the curricle and she grasped the side again, although now she knew what to expect, she’d not likely be as frightened. Of the ride itself at least.
“I see the weather is cooperating with my plans. That’s a good sign.” He started the team. “Perhaps the gods are smiling down on our venture.”
“What venture, my lord?”
“Your reintroduction to Society, my dear.”
Amelia’s hands began to shake until she had to squeeze them together to stop them.
“Do not be alarmed.” He patted her clenched fists, and somehow his touch did indeed calm her. “We will take it in slow stages. Today you will be introduced to an old acquaintance of yours, Lord Haversham, and both his sister and my sister. The more people who are seen accepting an introduction to you, the better. Ah, and here they are, right on time.”
They had turned into the park, the horses trotting sedately, and had come up beside an elegant red and black barouche that had stopped. Two women and one gentleman occupied the other carriage. The gentleman and the fair lady had a strong resemblance. The dark lady, in an exquisite blue gown, who stared quite unabashedly at her, had Lord Ainsley’s features in a feminine face.
“Well met, Haversham. Ladies.” Her escort bowed as best he could while sitting. “I see you are taking advantage of the splendid sunshine this afternoon.”
“As ordered by you, dear brother.” The dark lady’s mouth puckered, perhaps in amusement, perhaps not.
“It is good for you no matter why you are out in it, Kate.” Lord Ainsley sent his sister a scathing look and the lady laughed outright. “You see how I am treated, Haversham? Have a care your sister is not so insubordinate.” He nodded at the blonde lady, whose pale cheeks colored a becoming dark pink. “Ladies, I would like to make known to you Miss Burrowes. She is an old acquaintance of mine, and we have been renewing that connection. Miss Burrowes, allow me to present my sister, Miss Katherine Locke,” he gestured to the
dark-haired lady, “Lady Letitia Stowe, and you may remember her brother, Lord Haversham.”
They all nodded pleasantly from their carriage and Amelia sighed quietly to have that first introduction over.
“Will you be at Mrs. Doyle’s card party this evening, Miss Burrowes?” Miss Locke asked politely. “I adore playing cards, especially with my brother. I fare so much better wagering at the gaming tables than I do on horseraces.”
“Humph.” Lord Haversham cleared his throat and shot a speaking glance at Lord Ainsley that Miss Locke appeared not to see. What little contretemps was going on there?
About to address herself to the question, Amelia glanced at Lord Ainsley with a raised brow. “I don’t believe I have—”
“Yes, Kate, we will be in attendance.” He smiled down at Amelia. “I had not had a chance to tell you, Miss Burrowes, but I have secured invitations for both of us and your parents to Mrs. Doyle’s tonight. If you have no other engagement, may I escort you there? I would very much like to sit down with you over a hand of cards.” In a lowered voice he whispered, “It will be fine. Another very simple way for you to ease back into Society.”
Such a whirlwind of activity after so long keeping to her home, Amelia nodded, although she scarcely deemed herself prepared for such an outing. Of course she played cards and played well, but only against her parents and lately her sisters. Out in public, wagering on the outcome, was something completely different. Screw your courage to the sticking place, Amelia. “Yes, of course, that would be lovely.”
“Perhaps you will join my cousin, Lady Celinda Graham, Lady Letitia, and me for a game as well, Miss Burrowes,” Miss Locke spoke up, sending a saucy look toward Lord Haversham. “We ladies can hold our own at a card table as well as the gentlemen, don’t you agree, Lord Haversham? Unless, of course, Lady Letitia is forbidden to play cards as well as waltz?”
“No, she is not forbidden the tables, Miss Locke, although her losses are her own to pay.” He looked fondly at his sister, who was blushing at all the attention. “But Letitia does not play to excess, do you my dear? Moderation is her aim in all things.”
“We will see about that,” Miss Locke muttered just loud enough for Amelia to hear her.
She glanced up at Lord Ainsley who simply shook his head. “We will see you this evening, then.”
“So nice to make your acquaintance.” Amelia nodded to the occupants of the barouche as Lord Ainsley started his team again.
“There is one hurdle passed.” He touched the ribbons and the horses picked up their pace. “Now we shall drive around the park to be seen together. That will elicit talk, but do not worry about it. There will be more tonight. We must expect it. But Mrs. Doyle is a woman above reproach so if she allows you entry to her card party, that will speak for your character.”
“Why go to all this trouble, my lord?” The question popped out before she could stop it.
“Because I intend to marry you, Miss Burrowes, and I cannot stand idly by while my wife is given the cut direct when we come to Town.” Again that matter of fact tone that spoke of a man who usually got his way.
He intended to marry her. Why would the words shock her so much when she’d presumed as much already? Yet shock her they did. So much so she didn’t realize they were slowing again until they had all but stopped.
“Well, well, the very gentleman I had expected to find in the park this afternoon.” Lord Ainsley pointed to a man on horseback halted beside a luxurious carriage with a crest on it. He seemed deep in conversation with the occupants.
“Is that…?” Things were about to get rather ugly. As they had last night.
“Mr. Burke. Yes.” Lord Ainsley smiled and Amelia cringed. “Let the games begin.”
* * * *
While Nathan had not wished to find Mr. Burke in the park, he had indeed expected him to be there. After the scene that erupted last evening at the Burrowes’s townhouse, he’d predicted the man would try to make trouble for them by any means possible.
Even before he’d at last spoken to Mr. Burrowes, briefly explaining his absence ten years before, and asked now for formal permission to court his daughter, he’d suspected Mr. Burke would not bow out gracefully. But when Mr. Burrowes’s surprise at his request had given way to immediate agreement, followed by a statement of the settlement he was prepared to make for his daughter’s dowry, Nathan had known for certain Burke would cause problems. One could not expect a man to lose five thousand pounds and not put up a fight for it. And indeed Burke had done that, trying to browbeat Mr. Burrowes into saying the settlements had already been reached and that Miss Burrowes had already accepted him.
Fortunately, Burrowes was made of sterner stuff. Quite likely the prospect of a daughter becoming the wife of a peer with a title made him stand his ground and tell Burke that no such contract existed, and that his daughter had not agreed to marry him. Issuing dire threats about the truth he’d be putting about to the ton, Burke had left with the aid of two footmen.
Now the toad-like little man seemed to be making good on his threat to keep Miss Burrowes’s reputation stained and her unmarriageable. Of course, he’d not tangled with Viscount Ainsley yet; however, that was about to change. As his curricle drew closer, he could see it was Lady Chalgrove, alone in Lady Hamilton’s conveyance. Not the most pleasant of women, the lady had not been on his list of close acquaintances to whom he wished to introduce Miss Burrowes. But likely a good ally for Burke’s gossip mongering. Once more into the breach.
“Good afternoon, Lady Chalgrove. How do you do? I see you are taking advantage of the abundant sunshine.” He smiled his most charming smile, although his cheeks seemed ready to cave in. Turning what he hoped was his sourest gaze on Burke, he gave the man a curt nod. “Burke.”
“Ainsley.” The man had the audacity to stare at Miss Burrowes with a hunger Nathan did not like at all.
“Many are doing so this afternoon, my lord.” Lady Chalgrove gave him a nod and a stiff smile. “Those who are accustomed to being here must be enjoying the pleasant day. Although others will try to insert themselves into a Society not meant for them.” Here she glared at his companion, making it extremely difficult for Nathan not to plant the woman a facer. Not that he’d ever strike a woman, but this one seemed to deserve it most heartily.
“Well, Society has never been but so discerning in its estimation of its fellow members.” Nathan raised his quizzing glass to Mr. Burke, peering at him as though he were some new species of insect. “Else many would have been dropped from its ranks long ago.”
“Indeed, my lord. I believe you have one such in your curricle this moment.” Burke piped up, his florid face turning beet red.
“An unfortunate misunderstanding occurred many years ago, as you have been given to understand, Burke. When the truth about that time comes out,” he shot a glaring glance into the carriage to emphasize the point to the lady, “Miss Burrowes will be completely vindicated.”
“Well, I see the lady has a determined champion in you, Lord Ainsley. She will need such to defend her immoral ways.” Lady Chalgrove pursed her lips and settled back into the seat primly.
“As I said, a misunderstanding on the part of the ton long ago that we intend to remedy.” He dared not look at Miss Burrowes. A single indication of distress might cause him to act more rashly than would be wise.
“But what of her more current behavior, my lord?” Burke gave him a knowing smirk.
“Miss Burrowes’s behavior this Season has been exemplary, sir, as I have reason to know.” Warning bells jangled in Nathan’s mind as he attempted to hang onto his civility with both hands.
“Surely the tryst you witnessed in Lady Hamilton’s library could not be deemed moral behavior by a pure young woman?” The man’s evil smile widened. “I was just remarking to Lady Chalgrove that I had no idea how depraved Miss Burrowes actually was until the moment she threw herself at me, thinking we were alone.”
Miss Burrowes gasped behind him, the soft, p
ainfilled sound snapping his last vestige of self-control. He thrust the ribbons into her hands. “Hold these.”
The startled swoop of her upraised brows was almost comical. “But—”
“You’ll be fine. Trust me.” He jumped down from the curricle and walked to the nose of Burke’s horse. “I will ask you to dismount, sir.”
“Dismount?” The confidence on Burke’s face slipped a notch. “Why would I dismount?”
“Because I would challenge you face to face, sir. It is the correct procedure when initiating a duel.” He stared unblinking into Burke’s eyes as the blood drained from the man’s face. Ignoring gasps from the ladies in both carriages, Nathan stood as still and immoveable as a rock. “Now get down.”
Burke pulled back on the reins and the horse jibbed. “Move away, my lord. You’ve spooked him.”
“Apparently you can control your horse as little as you can your tongue. Will you undergo my challenge, Mr. Burke? Or will you retract your statement about Miss Burrowes? You must choose one or the other, else I will brand you a liar and a coward to all the ton.” Nathan grabbed the bridle and the horse calmed. “You have besmirched a lady’s name and I will have satisfaction of you one way or the other.”
Mouth working, but no sound emerging, Mr. Burke cut a sharp glance toward Lady Chalgrove, whose eyes seemed ready to pop out of her head. “I…I believe I may have misspoken about the lady, my lord. She…I…I was the one who initiated the embrace you walked in on.” His voice turned from apologetic to peevish. “Because I believed us about to be betrothed.”
“And now that you are no longer her suitor, you believe you are entitled to spread false rumors about her perhaps to discourage my suit? Have a care, Mr. Burke.” If Nathan could have reached the man to throttle him, he would have done it without any more compunction than squashing a gnat. “I do not discourage so easily and next time I hear you spreading lies and filth about Miss Burrowes, I will seek you out and we will meet over pistols at dawn. And make no mistake.” His eyes bore into Burke’s. “I am an excellent shot and I will aim to kill.”
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