“Hmm.” Lady Amelia tapped a fingernail on the wood top of the drink cabinet then she turned and came to sit beside Felicity.
“But you’d rather marry Mr. Chase, correct? Has he made his intentions clear?”
Felicity coughed. She’d meant to gasp, but her spit went into her lung.
“I beg your pardon, was that too brash of me? Apologies.” She didn’t look the least apologetic, more amused.
“I don’t know why you would think that.”
“He was rather obvious when he was bringing you back and forth. Always checking on you, asking after you when you weren’t where he left you.”
“That was his job,” Felicity argued.
“I was his job, and yet he was never under my skirts like he is yours.”
Felicity covered her flaming cheeks and looked away.
“Oh,” Lady Amelia said with surprise. “I was using metaphor, but I see this is much more serious. Oh dear, that rascal. He better have proposed to you.”
Felicity shook her head. “It is not like that. He can’t marry me. Hehas... reasons.”
“Reasons mean nothing to love. If he doesn’t claim to love you, he’s a lying fool trying to be noble and whatnot.”
Felicity faced her, blushing be damned. “He does love me, but he has valid reasons for not marrying. I will not stand in the way of his goals.”
Lady Amelia folded her hands as she studied Felicity. “Very well. What is your plan?”
“I have to think about whether I can stand to marry Lord Hugstead. Do you know him?”
“No, but my brother might. Does he frequent the Den?”
“From what I am told, no. He’s a serious fellow who involves himself in charity and politics.”
Lady Amelia wrinkled her nose. “He sounds dull. Can I ask you something?”
Felicity shrugged. “Why not? All my secrets are out.”
“Why didn’t you want to marry my brother?”
Felicity blinked in surprise. “He was in love with Miss Blakewood.”
“Yes, but that happened weeks after you arrived.”
Felicity chewed her lip. “He’s a nice fellow, but I did not feel anything for him accept sympathy for his injury. When it became obvious that he and Miss Blakewood were falling in love, it was the only right thing to do.”
“So, you think love is important?”
Felicity wanted to sag into the sofa as the exhaustion of the day caught up to her. “Isn’t it? Some of us are not lucky enough to have it, but if we can protect it for others...”
Lady Amelia patted her knee. “That’s enough interrogation for now. Off to bed with you.”
She stood and Felicity followed. The maid waited by the door.
“Don’t feel like you have to breakfast with us in the morning,” Lady Amelia said. “Rest, think about what is important to you, andfeel free to summon me if you need anything.”
Felicity paused at the door. “How is your brother?”
“Virile and stubborn, as usual. He is escorting Daisy to the theater tonight with her parents.”
