Lady Cromwell eyed him. “Oh yes, even more than I, who was happily married for many years.”
“You must trust me on this. I already believe I have made great headway. We grew... quite close just the other night.” Because his hand was caught in her hair, but he would not mention that part.
“Truly? Well, that is something.”
“Yes, it is. And I shall continue to make headway. I shall be the perfect husband, and she will have no choice but to fall in love with me.”
“But what of you, Edward? If you are so intent on being perfect, I cannot expect you will be happy—to say nothing of you being truly yourself. How can you fall in love with the girl if you are not even acting like yourself? How can you be sure of her love when you are not being genuine? Authentic connection is nothing to be frightened of. Why not show her your true self and give each of you an equal chance at lovetogether?”
Edward laughed. “I do not need to love her; I only need her to love me. Then we will get along famously, and my marriage will be far better than my parents’.”
Her face softened into something far too resembling pity. “I think I see. You wish to control this situation so as to have your preferred outcome. But you cannot control love, Edward. And you are not your father.”
Edward swallowed. This conversation was growing too personal, and he did not wish to speak on the topic any longer, no matter how well Lady Cromwell had known his mother. “You are mistaken, Lady Cromwell. I simply want—I only—I shall be fine. I am wooing my wife, and that cannot be frowned upon. Now, I shall apprise you of my success in due time, but just now, I have someplace I need to be.”
“Oh, good heavens, of all the foolhardy ideas,” Lady Cromwell muttered, but Edward pretended not to hear.
“I will send Mrs. Huckabee with tea for you. You will be well on your own, I assume?”
Lady Cromwell dropped all pretense of pleasantries. “Edward, listen to yourself—this is ridiculous.”
He stopped his pacing toward the door and pierced her with a look that froze her on the spot. “It is not ridiculous at all, Lady Cromwell. I have two options—allow my marriage to mimic that of my parents or convince Lady Norwich to fall in love with me. You yourself just called me abhorrent—”
“I did not—”
He held up a hand to stop her retort.
“And so I am becoming less abhorrent. You ought to be happy just now,” he said, softening his tone. “It is far more than my father would have done in my position.”
“You arenotyour father, Edward,” Lady Cromwell repeated with her customary grumpiness, but he detected earnestness in her words.
“I certainly shall not appear so to Lady Norwich.”
She sighed and waved her hand dismissively. “Never you mind. I find I have a headache. I shall show myself out.”
Edward was surprised she gave in so easily but nodded crisply and bowed. “Very well. Good day to you.” Then he saw her to the door of his study and watched her depart. Before he could close the door, however, there came the distinct sound of adifferentdoor closing on the floor above. Stepping further into the corridor, he heard footfalls on the stairs. By the time he came into the hall, Amelia was on the fourth stair from the bottom in another of her highly flounced, high-necked dresses.
“Amelia,” he greeted her.
She startled, missing a step and falling against the banister. Cursing himself, he jumped up the stairs to her side. “I apologize. I did not mean to startle you. Are you well?” His hands came to her arm, hoping to steady her.
Amelia straightened. “I am fine.” A look of amusement crossed her face. “You are far more solicitous than you were that day at the lake when you knocked me into the water.”
He released her, still looking her up and down as if he might see physical evidence of any damage to her person. “Yes, well, I did not intend to knock you into the water.”
“But I imagine you did not intend to startle me just now either.” Her eyes were nearly as perceptive as Lady Cromwell’s. The thought of Lady Cromwell brought to mind his plans and how she had not believed them well thought out. But he knew they were. They were brilliant, and he would show Lady Cromwell. Just now, even.
“Would you care to take a ride in Hyde Park?” It occurred to him that perhaps he was not so polished in his introduction of new topics.
Amelia took a step up the stairs, her lower lip catching between her teeth in apparent consideration. Her hands pulled together in front of her dress, clasping tightly. “If you wish it.”
He nodded twice. “Perfect. I shall have the phaeton pulled around.”
She took another step up. “I will go and change for the outing.”
“I’ll await you here.”
***
