“But to host your own event is far different than to attend one, my treasure. Your favorite foods, your choice of guests... it is entirely different indeed. And having such an event is sure to improve our standing in Society just now.”
Amelia opened her mouth to reiterate her complete lack of desire to throw an event of any size but thought better of it. It was clear his mind was made up, and it would not be the first time she was required to do something she did not wish.
And so she simply inclined her head. “Very well.”
“We must invite your family, of course.”
Must they?
“And Lady Cromwell would be a welcome addition, along with her son. I shall leave it up to you whom else to invite. Four or five families at least. Mrs. Huckabee can help you.” He glanced at Amelia, and his lips lifted. “We shall convince you of the advantages of being a hostess, shan’t we, my treasure?”
And then, in a horrifying show of either endearment or belittlement, he leaned forward and tapped her nose with his forefinger.
Good heavens. She felt like a child.
She blinked slowly and attempted to regain some semblance of understanding. The secondmy treasurehad been too much, her brains felt addled, and she was suspended somewhere between laughing and yelling at him for his strange affection. Or running. She could run.
And he just sat there through it all, staring at her with that silly, charming smile that didn’t reach his eyes.
The scales within her mind tilted suddenly toward amusement, and a startled laugh escaped her. She lifted her hand to cover the noise, but it did nothing to help. Her shoulders shook, and another laugh slipped between her lips.
Lord Norwich was staring at her, either horrified or confused. Likely both.Welcome to the land of perplexity, Lord Norwich.Amelia had been making herself comfortable there for quite some time.
“Are you well?”
She laughed again, looking anywhere but his face now. If he were imitating a fish again, with his mouth hanging about in surprise, she didn’t think she would be able to contain her mirth.
“My treasure.” Her thoughts spilled from her mouth without consulting her mind. “That is truly the most horrific pet name I have ever heard.”
A sound came from his general direction: a cross between a cough and a laugh. When he spoke, though, it sounded as if he were clenching his teeth together. “I think it is a perfectly acceptable endearment. Charming even.”
“Oh yes,charming. Is that how you judge a successful interaction? If you are charming enough? Because I think you could do with a bit less charm. Perhaps a carriage-full less. You would be far more charming that way.” Pleased at her wit, she finally glanced up at him.
His look stamped out her amusement instantly. Affront was evident in his slightly ajar mouth and raised eyebrows. Quickly though, he wiped all expression from his face. He cleared his throat, standing
“Well. I suppose I shall have to find another endearment for you, then. If you would please work with Mrs. Huckabee to send out invitations to our dinner, I would be much obliged. I should like to host the event within a fortnight.” Without another look, he left the room.
Amelia came to her feet, shocked at the sudden change in Lord Norwich. It would seem she’d taken his measure quite wrong. She’d assumed a man so capable of jests and frivolouscharmwould be capable of taking such in return.
With unsure steps—for truly, she was feeling unsure about everything in her existence just now—she left the room.
***
He was a glutton for punishment. A lover of suffering. A willing target. That could be the only explanation for why Edward was waiting just inside his bedchamber for any sound that indicated Amelia was leaving her own rooms.
After their interaction two days before, where she’d laughed at hischarm, he’d stewed for at least an hour. But once his defensive anger had melted away after her attack to his pride, he saw he’d reacted impulsively to leave so abruptly, likely taking a step back in the progress he was surely making.
So he’d sent her a handful of poems and bouquets over the last days. And he had determined to find a new term of endearment.
Honestly, settling on an endearment had been the highlight of his last forty-eight hours. He’d narrowed it down todearest,my heart, ormost beloved. They were all ridiculous in their own rights, but that was what women wanted, wasn’t it? A man to shower her in affection both in words and deeds.
Yes.
At least... he thought it was.
His grin slipped. Why had he been cursed with a father inept in anything romantic or thoughtful? Certainly, if the man had possessed a caring bone in his body, Edward would have wooed Amelia by now and been comfortably settled in his new, married life, not desperately trying to build such a life out of thin air.
And for what? The possibility of marriage like his parents?
