Amity turned, smiling ruefully. “Mr. Stanbridge possesses many sterling qualities, but in my experience he is rather oblivious to fashion. Will you join Mr. Nash and me in the parlor?”
Penny studied her with a shrewd expression. “Do you want me to join you?”
Amity considered the question for a moment. “He will likely be more honest about his reasons for calling on me if there are just the two of us.”
“I agree. I cannot help but remember what Mr. Stanbridge said last night. He is convinced that Humphrey Nash wants something from you.”
“The thing is, I can’t imagine what I have that Humphrey might want.”
“Perhaps he will tell you that he made a mistake all those years ago when he left you behind to travel the world.”
“I must admit that would be rather gratifying,” Amity said. She smiled. “Not that I’m the vengeful sort.”
Penny laughed. “Of course not.” She paused, her amusement fading. “Perhaps I should accompany you.”
“I appreciate your concern but there is no need to worry about me. One thing is certain. Mr. Nash cannot break my heart again—assuming that is what happened when I was nineteen. I have recovered quite nicely, I believe.”
“I am aware of that,” Penny said. “But you are the only family I have left in the world. It is only natural that I wish to protect you.”
Amity went back across the room and touched Penny’s hand. “And you are all the family that I possess. We will take care of each other. I will never leave you alone again, Penny. I swear it.”
“That is very kind of you, but you were born for a life of travel and adventure. I would not dream of tying you to London.”
Amity shook her head. “I meant it. I will not leave you alone. But we will discuss our future some other time. Now I must see if Mr. Nash does, indeed, want anything more from me than a lively discussion of ancient monuments and foreign landscapes.”
She whisked up her skirts and went along the hall to the door of the drawing room. Humphrey was standing at the window looking out at the small park across the street. He turned when he heard her approach. His smile was warm and friendly. So were his eyes. He was, Amity reflected, just as handsome and just as charming today as he had been last night.
He crossed the room and bowed low over her hand.
“Amity, thank you so much for seeing me today.”
“I must say I am rather surprised by this visit.” She retrieved her hand and indicated a chair. “Please, won’t you sit down?”
“Thank you.”
Humphrey lowered himself into one of the formal chairs. Mrs. Houston appeared with the tea tray. She set it on the table.
“Shall I pour, Miss Amity?” she asked.
“I will take care of the tea,” Amity said coolly. She decided that it was not the time to inform Mrs. Houston that tea had not been ordered. The housekeeper was only doing what was expected of her.
Mrs. Houston retreated but she left the door open. Amity picked up the pot, poured a cup of tea and handed the cup and saucer to Humphrey. He took it with well-bred grace.
“Before we begin I must ask if the police have made any progress in finding the monster that attacked you,” Humphrey said.
“I am told that they are searching for him day and night,” Amity said.
“The fact that his body has not turned up is a rather ominous sign, don’t you think?” Humphrey swallowed some tea and lowered the cup. “It indicates he may have survived.”
Amity wondered if the conversation was destined to take the same unpleasant turn that it had taken with Arthur Kelbrook. She did not intend to regale Humphrey with the details of her escape from the killer’s carriage.
“That is a distinct possibility,” she said. “But I am sure it is only a matter of time before the police find him or his body.”
“I certainly hope so. It is a sad day when a respectable lady who has traveled safely to the far corners of the globe cannot walk the streets of London in the middle of the day without being assaulted.”
“Indeed.”
Humphrey smiled approvingly. “But the Bridegroom certainly picked the wrong victim when he attacked you. I congratulate you on your amazing escape, my dear.”
