emotion coursing through her. It would do no good to let this marquis see feeling plastered across her face.
He spoke intelligently, listened to her ideas, danced like a dream and cared for his people. What of it? Many men did the same. There was no logic to the emotions stilting her thoughts. As soon as her slippers touched the cobblestones, he released her hand. She paid the hackney driver, and then they commenced to her brother’s front door.
“I will pay back your fare,” Lord Ashwhite said as they mounted the steps to the door.
“Certainly not.”
“Indeed, or shall I call for my landau and offer you a ride home?”
He was too charming, with that sun-induced twinkle in his eyes and that handsome curve about his lips. She adjusted her hat and gave him a prim look. “You’ll do no such thing, my lord.”
Twisting forward, she rapped smartly on her brother’s door and steeled herself for a conflict.
“You didn’t tell me about Lord Dudley,” he said abruptly.
“Oh, dear... Well, now is not a good time. I do not wish to bandy about information where the servants might hear.”
“I’m quite sure they know more than you do.” He paused. “That runner, Mr. Ladd, seems protective of you.”
“Surely your imagination.” She rapped on the door again, harder this time, more desperately.
“Have you been doing business with him for a long time?”
“You ask too many questions.” She raised her hand to knock again, but the door swung open, much to her relief. Confounded man. Why had he taken such an interest? It would not bode well for her should he decide to impart what he knew to her brother.
Eversham’s butler showed her into the library, her favorite room, as he well knew. He left the door open while he went to rouse her brother.
“I see old Ev’s sleeping habits haven’t changed.”
“They attended Lady Blight’s rout last evening.” Amelia perused the shelves for something new to borrow. Unfortunately her sister-in-law was more of a talker than a reader. More was the pity.
“And you?” Lord Ashwhite questioned.
“My, but speculation does seem to be your favorite game.”
“Whilst you excel at charades.”
Despite herself, she smiled. “Really, my lord, must we engage in verbal battle?” She turned and unexpectedly found him behind her. Breath caught, heart pumping, she paused.
“Yes, my lady, we really must, for I intend to win at this game.”
“I do not lose easily,” she said, refusing to back up. In fact, she’d give him a taste of his own antics. An exciting quiver of anticipation arched through her as she stepped forward. Only inches away.
His cravat was tied exceptionally well. The breadth of his shoulders surpassed her own, and she pointed her face upward, fixing him with a determined look that she hoped did not belie the curious thrum stretching her nerves wire taut. To her surprise, an indefinable look crossed his face.
What was that in his eyes? For a moment, it seemed as though he swayed toward her. But then his features smoothed, and politeness blanketed his expression.
He backed up and made a terse little bow. “Forgive me for intruding upon your space.”
Suddenly uncertain, she nodded a pardon.
“Am I interrupting?” Her brother stood in the doorway, looking displeased. His forehead creased as it was wont to do when he became upset. Deep circles ringed his eyes.
“Not at all.” Smoothly Amelia skirted Lord Ashwhite and went to her brother. She clasped his hands and drew him into the room. “And I do apologize for waking you, but this cannot wait. Is Lady Eversham asleep still?”
“Yes, and not to be disturbed.”
They sat on the couch while Lord Ashwhite continued his elegant stance against the wall shelves. Amelia acutely felt the heat of his gaze upon her but chose to ignore it. She hoped Ev would dismiss his friend, but when her brother called for morning tea, that hope withered.
She took a deep, fortifying breath. Very well. Lord Ashwhite would find out her circumstances soon enough should things not go the way she wished.
“Did Ash come with you, Amelia?” Ev steepled his fingers. She noted the clumsy knot of his cravat and felt a pang of guilt for showing up so early.
“Yes.”
His brows rose, waiting, but she wouldn’t say more. He’d already interfered in her life enough. And she’d let him know that, regardless of Lord Ashwhite’s presence.
“We had business to discuss.” The low rumble of his voice interrupted the tension between her and Eversham.
Amelia gave Lord Ashwhite a warning look before turning to her brother. “I received your note, brother, and am most disturbed. Could we discuss your plans in private?” Perhaps not the politest way of ridding the room of Lord Ashwhite, but she had to at least try. He was distracting in too many ways.
“Ash can hear whatever you have to say. It’s good for him to learn what happens when forced to choose between relatives and a wife.”
Amelia frowned. “But this is family business.”
“Yes, and business is what got you here in the first place. I meant what I said in my letter, Amelia.” He gave her an annoyingly stern glower. She hated that look.
“You’re being insufferable,” she said quietly. Anger was stirring in her belly, hot and viscous. “My life is not yours to dictate.”
A flicker of empathy crossed Ev’s face before being tamped down by an even worse emotion: resolve. “I know you don’t like it, but I have responsibilities now. Four years ago I wouldn’t have cared, but I’ve the properties to look out for as well as my wife. Your ridiculous rants against the prison system, not to mention this...business of finding husbands... It has to stop.”
“But one week—”
“Is more than enough to pack up your house,” he finished for her. “I’m going back to bed unless, Ash, you have something to add?”
“I’ve heard quite enough,” said Lord Ashwhite.
Amelia hardly dared look at him—at anything, really, lest the men see the burning anger that swept through her at the unfairness of it all. A week to move in with her brother and his wife. No choice at all. Even if she stopped all her activities, he would not give her a stipend large enough to rent her own home. What was she going to do?
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