He could not respond, as Lady Edith approached them at that moment.
“Lord Norwich, how fine it is to see you again.”
He smiled and bowed amiably, unable to do more than default to his usual ways of conversation. “You are looking well this evening, Lady Edith.”
She smiled, lowering her head and batting her lashes. “How very kind of you to say.”
He became aware of the many eyes in the room fixed on them and cleared his throat. “It is my pleasure.”
The other sister—Lady Henrietta, if Edward recalled correctly—joined their little group. Edward offered her a compliment as well, something about her gloves, he believed, but the flattery was so well rehearsed that he immediately forgot what he had praised only moments after the words left his mouth.
Only once they had thoroughly completed the niceties to Edward did Lady Edith look to Amelia. Her mouth tightened slightly. “Mellie.” She curtsied but only barely.
Amelia curtsied in return.
Dread over meeting the rest of the guests caused an excess of energy in him that needed release. He turned to his wife. “Might I introduce you to the Cromwells?”
Amelia looked beyond him to where the dowager sat with her son. “Certainly.”
They took their leave of Lady Edith and Lady Henrietta, and Edward performed the introductions for the trio that had taken up residence near the north window. Amelia was subdued throughout the entirety of it but smiled prettily and curtsied steadily regardless. As Edward complimented Lady Cromwell’s hairpiece, Edward doubted anyone else noticed Amelia’s lack ofspark. Truly, he was surprised he noticed. Did most men pay such close attention to their wives’ moods?
“You look a great deal like your mother, Lady Norwich,” the dowager said.
“You knew my mother?”
“Oh, very well. We were dear friends. We came out for our first Season together.”
Edward could hardly keep a grasp on the conversation, and then the moment was upon them. Lord Bowcott and his wife stood before them. Edward bowed stiffly, as did Lord Bowcott.
Lady Bowcott, however, smiled easily at Amelia. “Lady Norwich, I am happy to make your acquaintance. I have heard much about you.”
Amelia offered a wobbly curtsy and an even less sure smile. “I am certain that does not bode well for me, then.” Amelia seemed shocked at her admission, but surprisingly, Lady Bowcott’s eyebrows only raised slightly before her mouth broke into a large smile. She glanced at her husband, who was watching their exchange silently, his jaw tight.
“I look forward to getting to know you myself, Lady Norwich.”
Edward shifted his weight awkwardly.
“You have a fine home, Lord Norwich,” Lady Bowcott allowed, with no hint of the malice her husband had. Then again, Edward had tried to assure her he was no villain when last they met at her wedding ball.
He could not get any words out, so great was his discomfort. What must Amelia think of him?
“Thank you for joining us,” Amelia said, her hands still clasped tightly.
Lord Bowcott nodded. “We are happy to make your acquaintance, Lady Norwich.” Then he took his wife’s arm, and steered her away. Truly, that had gone better than expected.
Amelia would not meet his eyes after that. He introduced Amelia to the other families there but was grateful when he saw Coombs enter the room. “Ah, here is Coombs to announce dinner.”
As Lady Edith was the highest-ranking female in the room, Edward took her in. The shock at seeing the Bowcotts in his home had begun to melt, and honestly, he should be grateful for the opportunity to show the couple he held no ill feelings toward them. And he didn’t. In fact, hewasthankful to Lord Bowcott for marrying Katherine Cartwright. If Edward had married Miss Cartwright, he’d never have met Amelia.
He must show Amelia, though, that he was recovered from his earlier shock. He had been out of sorts for the start of the evening, and with her so far from him now—on the complete opposite end of the table—he had no way to do so beyond interacting pleasantly with his guests.
“Lady Edith, how have you passed your time as of late?”
Amelia’s sister brightened at the question. “Oh, I have been abominably busy. My Season was meant to be focused on taking Amelia here and there, introducing her to every person worth knowing, and downright boring myself into a dither. But since I’ve no need of that now, I have been utterly hounded by friends to come to their soirees and balls.”
“We are fortunate you were able to attend our dinner, then.”
“Oh, indeed you are.” Lady Edith smiled with a glint in her eye. “I was required to miss a musicale, but I wanted to ensure my dear sister was settling in well.” Her voice lowered as she leaned closer, her wrists resting on the edge of the table as she held her cutlery. “She has had rather a difficult upbringing, and I was not certain she would be up to the task of hosting an event.”
