“A pendulum swings in just two directions. It is entirely predictable, Seth,” Amelia replied, levelly.
“But you are not.”
“Was I before?”
Seth thought for a moment. The Willoughbys were drawing further ahead. Phyllis was engaged in conversation with a young gentleman walking with an elderly woman. The younger Willoughbys were looking back at Seth and Amelia, talking among themselves.
Damnation, but the waters have muddied. Has that devil Tharpe Monkton been at her? Persuaded her to go along with the engagement just to try and force me into precipitate action? This was not the plan… Well, I will not be so manipulated.
“I did think so,” Seth replied.
“I would think that predictability would be the very antithesis of a man like you,” Amelia put in.
“A rake, you mean?”
“The kind of man who helps a woman dress whom he is not yet married to. Who presses her against a wall for a stolen kiss. If the cap fits,” Amelia shrugged.
“I fall in love easily,” Seth muttered snidely, exaggerating affection.
“Ah, so that is your idea of love? That is useful to know,” Amelia said with a tinkle of pretty laughter.
Despite himself, Seth was enjoying the badinage. It was a duel, and she was scoring more points than he. Amelia had seemed less sure of herself before, more preoccupied. Seth found himself drawn to this new her, wanting to be alone with her. He resented the Willoughbys and their constant watching. He resented the ladies and gentlemen with whom he shared Hyde Park on this bright, summer day.
I must control myself. She is not a potential conquest but a hindrance that I must rid myself of without her knowing I am deliberately pushing her away.
“And what is yours?” Seth asked, inwardly cursing himself for not giving an answer that would be taken as crass.
“There are many kinds of love after all. I love my family and my friends,” Amelia mused aloud.
“Yourfamily? Does your Aunt not see you as a vehicle for social advancement for herself?” Seth bit out, putting a challenging edge to his voice.
It was time to end the flirtation that would only bring them closer together. Amelia looked at him, stopping in her tracks. He walked on casually for a moment, as though not noticing her reaction. Ahead of them, a young man and an elderly woman were approaching, clearly with a view to an introduction.
“What would make you say such a thing?” Amelia demanded.
“Because I have eyes and ears. It is well known that Lady Prescott covets greater status than her husband’s rank can give. She practically threw you at me when I expressed interest.”
“Would she not rather have secured a Duke for her daughters?”
“Ah, but what kind of Duke?” Seth said with a grin.
“So, we return to your rakish nature again. Something a wife could iron out.”
“Change a man, you mean? I do not think it possible.”
Amelia resumed walking, stepping closer to him.
“I think I may be up to the challenge…”
Seth reached out to take her arm as she walked past, matching her insolent grin with one of his own. He couldn’t help himself. She confused and infuriated him, attracted him, and made him want to run for the hills at the same time. As he touched her, she spun to face him, and suddenly, they were close. Seth found his breath quite taken away as he gazed into her dark, limitless eyes.
“PerhapsIwill be the one to changeyou,” he whispered.
“I guarantee thatIwill change,” she replied cryptically and with a hint of color in her cheeks.
Her lips were parted slightly, and he could see the rise and fall of her bosom increasing. The flower she had held had left a petal in a curl of her hair. Seth reached out to remove it, but a breath of air beat him to it. The delicate petal floated away, dancing ahead of his fingers. Amelia watched it breeze by with an expression of delight on her face. Seth realized that he was standing before her with a hand raised to her face, inches from her smooth, alabaster skin.
Her doe-eyes returned to his, and she glanced at the upraised hand. She raised an eyebrow, saying nothing. The challenge wasall too clear in her expression. ‘Was it your intention to touch me? As a man in love would touch the object of his love?’
