Amelia winced at the words as she called for a servant. Hopefully Edith was only exaggerating the extent of the gossip—her eldest sister was inclined to do that.
Her sisters brushed past, Edith stalking and Henrietta hurrying after her.
“Thank you both for coming,” Amelia managed. Edith speared her with a glare, but Henrietta hesitated a moment.
“Thank you for the tea. I hope you—”
“Henrietta! We are leaving!” Edith snapped, cutting off whatever Henrietta was about to say.
“Yes, yes of course. Goodbye, Mellie.” And Henrietta followed Edith out the door.
“Is everything all right?”
Amelia jumped at the masculine voice behind her. She spun about, shocked to see Lord Norwich in the corridor. But her shock melted to weariness at the sight of him.
Edith had claimed to be abandoned, but Amelia had never felt so alone in her life. Sisters who blamed her for their believed misfortune, a father who had gotten rid of her at his first chance, and a husband who seemed interested only in her outward appearance when he was not gallivanting who knew where. And now, all of London was whispering about her.
She met his gaze. “No. I do not believe it is.”
And then she swept past him, seeking the security of the music room.
Chapter Nine
Amelia’s form retreated down thehallway, and Edward immediately followed. She seemed distressed, and a lady in distress was the best sort for rescuing.
And should he rescue her, it would certainly help his case in making her fall in love with him. With a grin tugging at his lips, he followed her around the corner. It faltered, however, when she slipped into the music room. He came up short, staring at the closing door. Of all the rooms, she had to go tothisone? Was it on purpose, to ensure he did not follow? Had she somehow discovered the story of his past and his mother’s love of music?
He clenched his jaw; this was no time to shrink in the face of memories. Before he could change his mind, he pushed into the room.
Amelia sat at the pianoforte, staring at him with surprise. When she pulled her hands back from the instrument, he had a stray thought regarding whether or not she played. But then the door closed behind him, the latch clicking with finality, and his attention moved to the room in general. Just as the last time, recollections threatened to overcome him. His mother’s music mixing with her cries. He had to blink twice to reorient himself.
“Did you need something, my lord?” Amelia’s cold tone broke through his reminiscences.
Edward frowned. What would a romantic say in such a situation?
“You look particularly handsome this morning.” There. That was a good start.
Amelia’s eyes narrowed.
Okay, sonotgood? He tried again.
“That dress is quite becoming.” Really it appeared to be a confectioner’s creation, with layers upon layers of silk ribbons and flounces. Several lacy edges tickled the bottom of her chin. But she managed to look well in it regardless, so it was still partially true.
She laughed. That had to be a good sign.
Except she wasn’t smiling. Odd, that.
He cleared his throat, stepping closer. “Might I ask what happened with your sisters?”
Confusion crossed her face. He didn’t blame her; he was confusing himself with this conversation.
“Why do you care?”
“Curiosity?”
Her lips pursed, eyes narrowing. Wrong answer again, it would seem.
Devil take it, he was supposed to be good at this sort of thing.
