“You wouldn’t want to search for items in the wild?”
“No, thank you,” she said primly. “I am more comfortable at home with my books.” Then she scrunched her pert little nose. “Of course, I have never really been on a proper adventure. I have never gone anywhere. Perhaps I would take to it like a duck to water.”
Malcolm tried to picture Adeline Amberley packing all her books to go off adventuring and chuckled at the thought of the petite lady falling over as she tried to heft the pack full of books.
“I am offended by your laughter, sir.” She glared up at him. But the effect was ruined when her lips quirked into a small smile.
“I promise that was not my intention.” He smiled down at her.
They walked in companionable silence for a few moments. Malcolm watched the breeze sway the tree limbs in the park, blowing dry leaves to the ground. Lady Amberley’s expression once again became downcast. The urge to pull her into his arms and kiss her until she forgot whatever was troubling her rolled through him. At a loss for an appropriate way to distract her from her thoughts, he simply squeezed her hand and walked beside her as they made their way around St. James’s Square.
Malcolm was surprised as they arrived back at the Rawlings residence. Their stroll had gone quickly, and he found that he was reluctant to let the lady go. A feeling that seemed to arise each time they met.
She turned to look up at the house, her blue bonnet tipped up. He caught an expression of resignation flitting across her face. “Thank you for suggesting the walk; it did much to improve my spirits.”
Remember your assignment. “Lady Amberley, I hope we have the occasion to meet again soon.”
“I hope so, too.” She fled up the steps to the house.
At the top, she gave a small wave before going inside. Malcolm shouldn’t find her so adorable; she might well be embroiled in her family’s scheme to sell stolen artifacts. But her mix of bookish knowledge and impish innocence was so charming. He doubted she was involved, but his gut said her family certainly was. He just needed to prove it.
Chapter Seven
Once Adeline wasinside, she handed her things to her maid. “Mary, I think I will go up to see my mother.”
“Yes, miss.”
Adeline climbed the stairs to visit her mother’s suite. The third floor was her mother’s domain. She reached the top of the stairs and gave the footman standing sentry a smile. “How is she today, David?”
“Painting mostly. Been quiet,” he replied.
Painting was good. It meant Mother was out of bed. Adeline headed down to the room that served as her mother’s studio. The room was filled with natural sunlight from three large windows and a skylight. The doctor had stressed the importance of sunlight as part of her mother’s treatment. Sunshine was hard to come by during English winters, and her mother’s melancholy was particularly persistent during those months. Today, though, the skies were clear of clouds, and sunlight filled the room.
“Good afternoon, Mother,” Adeline said.
Her mother turned around, her long dark hair swirling around her waist. “Addy, dear! I wondered where you were.”
She brandished a paintbrush in one hand. A smear of cerulean blue paint graced one cheek. She wore a smock over her dress, but her feet were bare.
“I was working in the library on a project for Father this afternoon.”
“Really?” Her mother’s eyebrows rose. “What sort of project did he have you working on?”
“Identifying the age of some Greek artifacts he has come by. A shipment of some sort he invested in.”
“Oh yes, he is always investing in something or another. Were any of the items special?”
“Yes, I think they may be. Definitely very old,” Adeline murmured.
Her mother had already turned back to the painting she was working on. Adeline crossed to stand by her. Swirls of bright-colored paint covered the large canvas. Yellow, green, red, and blue circles layered and overlapped in a wild cacophony. The painting was one of wild joy. Her mother’s art was often a reflection of her moods.
Adeline wrapped an arm around her mother’s shoulder and squeezed. “It makes me happy to look at it.” Today was a good day.
“Thank you, dear. Come sit. Tell me about your plans for this week. Have you looked through our invitations?”
Adeline followed her mother to the window seat. “Well, we have been invited to the Janson fete on Saturday evening. I was going to make George escort me, but if you are up for it, we could attend.”
“Of course, my darling. I am feeling quite well. I will let your father know that we will be going. Now, tell me who is on your list of prospective suitors. Did you like that Hannover boy?”
