“Now, don’t you be filling this nice young man’s head with your nonsense, Archie.” Mrs. Robinson bustled into the room. “Commander Iveson, this just came for you.” She passed him a letter. “The boy who delivered it was dressed in some fancy livery.”
“Thank you.” Malcolm took the folded note. Flipping it over, he saw that it was sealed with wax and stamped with the Duke of Hartwick’s insignia. He took his knife and slit it open. Inside, in neat feminine scrawl, was an invitation from Lady Hartwick to dine.Please join us and a few good friends for dinner Thursday evening at eight o’clock.
Mrs. Robinson practically bounced on her toes, trying to peer over his shoulder. Could you even have the title of boarding house proprietress if you weren’t nosy? He folded the note in half and tucked it into his coat pocket.
Malcolm almost laughed out loud at the lady’s sigh as she stepped back, so he took pity on her. “It is a dinner invitation.”
She nodded sagely. “To the home of the young lady mentioned in the paper?”
“No. But I think she might be there.” He finished his tea, stood, and gave the proprietress a broad wink.
He whistled as he walked down the street to a morning meeting with his solicitors. It was not a meeting he was looking forward to, but one that was necessary.
He needed to stop ignoring his duties as Kingsbury, which had been so easy to do during his years at sea. Admiral Daniels had encouraged him to start thinking of himself as the Marquess of Kingsbury, and along with the name came the responsibility of the estate lands. He hadn’t been back to the wild, craggy coast of Dorset where his family was from, since the funerals for his parents and younger siblings. The memories so bleak that he had never wanted to return. Malcolm put a hand to the brim of his hat as a brisk wind threatened to blow it away when he turned the corner.
He needn’t have to step foot on the estate, but he did need to pay better attention to the reports from the land manager and from the solicitors. It was time to act as an adult, not a scared adolescent. This evening, he had plans to play cards at Fenwick’s house. The invitation had been a pleasant surprise and an opportunity to investigate. Tomorrow evening, he would get a chance to dine with Middleton’s daughter and her husband. And possibly, get to flirt with the pretty Adeline Amberley and see if she would tell him any more about what sort of auction her father and brother were planning.
*
Adeline paced backand forth across the plush carpet of Lucy’s drawing room. She smoothed her hand down the violet-colored satin of her gown. Inside her white gloves, her palms were sweaty. She simply must put the information she had overheard out of her head or she would never make it through the evening. No one had to know the awful truth. If she told Hartwick and Lucy, they would undoubtedly destroy her family. She flicked a glance over to where her brother spoke with Lord Hartwick. She would dare say that they were becoming friends. No, it was for the best not to tell, she assured herself, even as her conscience poked at her.
“Adeline, I am so glad you could come.” Lucy entered the room and crossed to buss her cheek. “Lord Kingsbury accepted my invitation to dine,” she whispered.
Adeline gripped her friend’s hand. “Were you behind the tidbit about the two of us in the paper?”
Lucy shook her head. “No, just good luck, I guess. But who cares about the rumors anymore when you have a perfect candidate right before you? Don’t you find him handsome?”
“Yes, of course. But we have only spoken a few times.” She shook her head. “What would he find alluring about me?”
“You must stop that. You are beautiful and far more interesting than all the insipid debutantes out there.”
Over her friend’s shoulder, Adeline saw Kingsbury walk into the room. He was dashing in his black evening wear, and his blond hair gleamed gold in the candlelight. Hartwick walked over to greet him. Kingsbury’s gaze swept the room, and as though he had been searching for her, his eyes locked with hers. The corners crinkled as he smiled. Adeline forgot her nerves—she forgot her name even—as his perusal warmed her cheeks.
Lucy turned her head to see what had caught Adeline’s attention. “Oh, he is a handsome one, isn’t he?” She grabbed Adeline’s hand and glided toward the two men.
Adeline stumbled in surprise. Lucy was quite strong, and Adeline tried to keep up as Lucy dragged her across the room to Lord Kingsbury. A wild giggle escaped at the picture she must make, being pulled along like a rag doll. Truly, Lucy’s enthusiasm was the worst—and best—thing about her friend.
“Lord Kingsbury, we are so glad you could join us this evening,” Lucy greeted him.
“Thank you for inviting me, Your Grace.” He bowed over her hand. “A pleasure to see you, Lady Amberley. I hoped you would be in attendance tonight.”
“Good evening, Lord Kingsbury.” Adeline offered him a smile.
George came over and greeted Lord Kingsbury enthusiastically. Hartwick offered him a drink, and before she could decide what to say next, Kingsbury was whisked away by the two men. Another couple and their daughter arrived, and Lucy excused herself to greet them. Left standing in the middle of the room by herself, Adeline wandered over to the window to look out at the moon. It was a waxing gibbous tonight, three-quarters full and shining bright in a clear sky.
She wished that her thoughts were as clear as the night sky tonight. What should she do about the artifacts? Certainly, objects of that nature were meant for a museum. Had her father stolen them off that ship? Should she tell George about the men who had threatened their father? Was George involved in the theft?
“It seems to me that no one should look so distressed staring at such a lovely moon,” a deep voice commented.
Adeline whirled around to find Kingsbury directly behind her.
“Champagne?” He held out a glass.
“I’m not distressed. Merely thinking.” Adeline took a gulp of wine and immediately regretted it when the bubbles tickled her nose.
“Cheers.” Kingsbury clinked his glass against hers. He stepped closer to the window. “The man in the moon is missing an eye tonight.”
Adeline rolled her eyes at his jest. She turned to look out again. “And a bit of his mouth as well. Don’t worry, his smile will be complete in three days.”
