Tewkesbury seemed taken aback, searching for words. Seth clapped him on the back with a laugh.
“Must keep women in their place, you know?” he smirked, playing the careless rogue to the hilt.
Tewkesbury smiled weakly, glancing at his mother, who was glaring disapprovingly at Seth.
“I do so admire your candor, Your Grace. I must confess that one of the reasons I was so keen to move to London and become immersed in the ton was to learn something about women. I come from a rather sheltered country estate, you see.”
His look of hopeful eagerness flattered Seth. The man clearly viewed him as a role model.
“Forget the ton, Tewkesbury. Allow me to sign you into my club, Catesby’s; the women there are far freer with their affection than any of the stuffyle bon ton,” Seth sneered.
At that moment, a servant announced the arrival of Lady Amelia Nightingale. Seth looked around to see the woman in question stalking into the room. She fell into a curtsy by the Dowager Countess before turning to Seth and Tewkesbury.
“May I be allowed a word with His Grace alone, Lord Tewkesbury?” she asked in an icy tone.
Tewkesbury excused himself, leaving Seth and Amelia alone at one end of the room. He smiled at her. She glared at him.
“You refused to call for me, forcing me to arrive alone. Why would you do that?” she demanded.
“I did not wish to attend.Youforced my hand,” Seth pointed out.
“Did I force you to propose marriage?” Amelia demanded, barely keeping her voice under control, “why do you offer such insult to your betrothed?”
Seth opened his mouth to say that he did not want to be betrothed to her, but knew it would be fatal. If no one overheard, it would be his word against hers, but who knew what criteria Tharpe Monkton would regard as a failure to meet the terms of his father’s will? He was not willing to give the man any opportunity to deny him his birthright.
Then there is the problem of those gorgeous eyes. They challenge and provoke me so. I find myself wanting to do things to make her angry.
“Well?” Amelia demanded.
“I am sorry. I just did not think,” Seth replied, attempting just enough placation to keep from seeming that he was the one looking to break off the engagement.
“Youdidthink, though. You sent me a message demanding that I meet you here,” Amelia said hotly.
Seth raised an eyebrow, both attracted by her anger and intrigued.
“Amelia, I have never known you to be so angry and to show it so visibly. Itrulyam seeing a different side to you these days. Shall we join the rest of the company?”
But Amelia would not be deterred. As Seth took her arm, she pulled free, stepping closer to him and holding his gaze. Her beauty was distracting, making it difficult to think of plans to present himself as cool toward her. Part of him wanted to seduce her, champing at the bit to attempt it.
She would surely be my greatest conquest. How have I never seen it before?
“I willnotbe taken for granted,” she muttered in a quiet but resolute voice. “I see how things have been, and they must change.”
Seth frowned at her choice of words. Before he could speak, Amelia had flushed bright red, suddenly flustered.
“I mean... oh, botheration, I am quite sure you know what I mean!” she said in vexation.
“I am… not so sure that I do. I don’t believe I have taken you for granted,” Seth insisted, knowing that he had done so deliberately and deciding that complete denial would be the fastest way to convince her that he was not a suitable husband.
“I will not allow it,” she reiterated, regaining a measure of composure.
She glared at him fiercely until a diffident voice came from behind them.
“Would you care to join us?” said Tewkesbury.
“Yes, old chap, we would,” Seth answered brightly.
He offered his arm to Amelia, who finally took it. Seth led her to the group, noting the pointed look he received from the Baroness of Eastwick. She had fiery red hair and a beauty spot on her right cheek. Seth remembered their brief liaison and wondered if she still harbored hard feelings toward him for being cast aside.
