“I am curious how you came to be Lady Amelia’s chaperone.” He studied his aunt as he waited for her answer.
“Lady Amelia is a lovely girl who has unfortunately experienced a loss. Her father passed away leaving her under the guardianship of her American uncle. A splendid gentleman, but he wishes for her to move there. The poor dear needed more time here in London to get her affairs in order. I offered to help is all.” Aunt Grace smiled sweetly.
He arched a brow, not at all convinced she had told him the entire truth. “When do your duties to Lady Amelia cease?”
“Her uncle has granted her one month to settle her affairs after which she will sail to America.” Aunt Grace tipped her head to the side, studding him in an unsettling way.
He brought the tumbler to his lips, draining the remainder of his whisky.
“You should take the time to get to know her. She truly is a lovely lady.”
“So you have said.” He rose to retrieve the decanter.
“Because it is the truth and I believe the two of you would get on well with each other.”
What had begun as a pleasant enough conversation had somehow turned into a rather unsettling one. He swallowed hard. “I am not in the market for female companionship, Aunt Grace. Promise me you are not turning into one of those tiresome matchmaking dowagers?”
She chuckled. “Of course not dear, but we are all living under the same roof. Would it harm you to befriend her?”
The very idea sent a chill through his marrow. Getting to know her could do far more than harm. The lady was a stunning slip of a thing with sea green eyes and dark curly hair he would love to run his fingers through. Her plump lips were made for kissing… He shook the thoughts away. “Let us talk of something else. Tell me, how you have been keeping busy since my last visit?”
He settled in, content to listen to her prattle on about anything other than Lady Amelia. She was a subject he no longer wished to explore.
SCANDALOUS ENDEAVORS
CHAPTER FIVE
Amelia’s horse shiftedunder her to nibble at the grass as she admired the park’s vegetation. Lush greenery surrounded her, speckled with bits of color where flowering bushes bloomed.
Grace agreed to allow one of her footman to chaperone Amelia on a morning ride. But only after Amelia told her it would do her good to get on a horse again. Riding had been such a big part of her life before Papa’s death. She hadn’t ridden in over a fortnight, and desperately missed it.
The only thing she enjoyed more than nature was sitting atop a fine muscular beast. Papa bought Amelia her first horse at the age of three. And Mama gave her lessons daily, ensuring she became an accomplished horsewoman. Ever since girlhood, she had enjoyed a daily ride. As a result, she became overjoyed when Grace ordered Ruby brought to Abernathy House and placed in the stables.
Amelia caught sight of Sarah riding toward her. She tapped her heel on Ruby’s side, urging her into a gentle canter. Sarah waved before pushing her own mount into a faster walk. As they approached one another, they pulled their reins, slowing their horses.
Sarah tipped her head at Amelia.
“Good day, Lady Sarah,” Amelia said, greeting her with proper etiquette in case anyone should overhear.
Sarah smiled. “Good day, Lady Amelia. It’s good to see you out enjoying a ride.”
“It is a beautiful morning for it, and I have missed being on Ruby. Would you care to join me, Lady Sarah?” Amelia asked, with the required formality.
Sarah gazed at her with a crooked grin. “I would be happy to join you.”
Amelia nodded at Sarah and turned Ruby toward a more secluded area. She wanted a bit of privacy.
Sarah rode next to her and guided her own mount to keep pace with Ruby. “How is everything at Abernathy House?”
“I am getting on just fine. It is a splendid home, and her grace is the perfect hostess.” Amelia glanced about surreptitiously to see if they had managed to find the privacy they sought. The trail they entered was not as popular with riders as the one they were leaving behind. It was much narrower and quite outside of the landscaped boundaries favored by most.
Amelia loosened the reins so Ruby could chew the long, lush grass while they conversed. “The Duke of Goldstone is quite a surprise. I had no idea her grace had a nephew from Scotland.” She moved one hand from the saddle to her lap. “I cannot imagine why she did not tell me about him before.” Amelia shook her head slightly, and hoped Sarah would engage in her chosen subject.
“Nor can I.” Sarah shook her head. “But she must have had her reasons. Perhaps it simply never occurred to her with everything else going on. It is likely the ball and your coming to stay with her made her forget to mention it.”
Sarah’s horse sidestepped, causing her to grab the reins. “Has an opportunity arisen for you to become better acquainted with him?”
Amelia slid further into her saddle. “As a matter of fact, I have hardly seen him since the day he arrived. I spend most of my time either in the library or promenading through the gardens. The duchess and I only enjoy each other’s company at tea and meal times, and she hasn’t mentioned much about his grace.” Her pulse quickened at the mere thought of the duke.
