“Oh, come now, I was trying to help. The water is only a foot deep. Plus, you likely would have fallen in on your own with the way you were reaching. You can hardly blame me.”
Of all the impolite things to say. “Oh, you are a pleasant man, aren’t you? While I am incredibly grateful to have met you, you’ll excuse me if I take my leave.” She bobbed half a hurried curtsy and scrambled as quickly up the hill as she could manage with water pouring from her skirt with each step.
But he did not let her leave. She heard his long stride moments before he caught up to her.
“It is hardly my fault you startle so easily. I could not have known.”
She reached the top of the hill and took a long breath before turning to face him again. Home was still far, and apparently fleeing was not an option. She needed to make it clear he was to leave her be. “You are correct,” she said.
A smug look began to cross his face.
She put an end to that with a haughty glare, mimicking the ones she’d seen Edith bestow. “You donotknow me and therefore should never have approached me in the first place. You are entirely out of line, sir, and I would appreciate it if you would leave me alone. I’ve somewhere to be.”Home. Away fromyou.
Suddenly, the man blinked, some sort ofsomethingregistering to him.
“Why do you not have a maid with you?” he hissed.
She threw her hands in the air. “Again, with overstepping! I concede. Good day, sir.”
“Lord Norwich.” He supplied his name, taking hold of her arm.
Amelia stared at his hand on her wrist, her eyebrows raised. Her heart bounded dangerously in her chest.Thiswas why a lady did not leave her home without a maid. She was an imbecile for thinking she could behave in London as she had in the country. And she was an imbecile for letting her fear and anger overcome her instead of simply hurrying away the moment that man essentially dumped her in the lake.
She tried to pull her hand free, but either he did not notice or he did not care. She swallowed. His name registered somewhere in her mind; she was certain she had heard of him before. Perhaps she ought to have paid closer attention to her sister’s recitations of their fellow lords and ladies. Or opened her copy ofDebrett’sas she was meant to.
“Unhand me at once.” She spoke with faltering confidence.
“I am afraid I cannot do that just yet.”
Amelia resisted the urge to kick him. Though as her fear mounted, she began to think that was the only thing shecoulddo.
“For one thing, you left this.” With his free hand, he lifted her ruined bonnet into the air and set it atop her head. Water leaked in warm droplets down her neck. She gasped and prepared to wrench her hand from his with every ounce of strength she possessed.
“And for another, I do not yet know your name, and I would very much like to.” He gave her a lopsided smile, likely meant to charm her into submission. He seemed to be a man used to charming his way through many things; every part of his person reeked of wealth and privilege, from his chiseled features and golden hair to his Hessians.WetHessians. His pants and shirt front were wet as well, though not anywhere near the state Amelia’s clothing was in. This brought her frustrations back full force.
She pulled against his arm, only serving to pullherselfcloser to him. He must finally have seen his error, for he abruptly let go of her.
Amelia rushed to put space between them but slipped on the muddy, uneven ground.
And, charming man that he was, he grabbed her wrist again, pulling her close to steady her. She pushed against him, feet attempting to make purchase on some bit of dry earth, but instead of gaining her balance, they both went down to the ground.
“Good heavens!” A shrill voice broke the air.
Amelia scrambled to her feet, a difficult feat with how sodden her skirts were, and groaned. A woman and her maid stood on the path not ten paces away, staring at them incredulously. She heard her captor—Lord Norwich—swear in an undertone. Amelia rather wished she could utter the same unsavory word.
“Lady Amelia, can that be you? Whatever are you doing with Lord Norwich... and... good heavens, what has happened to you?”
Belatedly, Amelia recognized Mrs. Wadham, a wealthy merchant’s wife who lived near her father’s country estate.
A wealthy merchant’s wife with a tongue that wagged faster than an excited dog’s tail.
The sound of hooves preceded the arrival of yet another individual, and Amelia grit her teeth. Who else would enjoy the opportunity to witness her humiliation?
The horse and rider turned the bend. It was a man this time—a member of thetonfrom the looks of his highly starched shirt and glistening knee boots. He took in the scene with narrowed eyes before dismounting and crossing to them. Amelia wondered how far she could run with the weight of her ruined dress. Or perhaps she could simply slink back to the lake and submerge herself.
“Norwich.” The man’s voice carried an accusatory edge. He exchanged heated stares with Lord Norwich before turning his furrowed brow and unhappy gaze onto Amelia and then Mrs. Wadham. “Mrs. Wadham, just what is going on here?”
The heavyset woman fanned herself. “Oh, Mr. Weston, I haven’t a clue! I only just arrived on this—this scene! Lord Norwich, you ought to be ashamed of yourself! And with Lady Amelia—this is too far indeed!”
