Amelia scraped her teeth along her lower lip. “She is a wonderful woman. Very kind.”
“You can tell that already, can you?”
She shrugged. “I have a hunch. First impressions matter, you know.”
Was that too pointed a thing to say? Probably.
The corner of Stephen’s mouth twitched, as though he was considering a smile but suppressed it at the last moment.
“Are you implying that I did not make as fine a first impression as my grandmother? That I’m not as delightful a person as she is?” he remarked sardonically.
“I think we would be in an easier situation if Letitia’s grandson were a little more like her,” Amelia retorted, before she could stop herself.
Quiet, fool! What were you thinking? Your comfort and perhaps your very future rest in this man’s large hands. Perhaps insulting him is notthe most sensible choice.
Stephen only gave a tight, amused smile. At least, itcouldhave been amusing. It seemed just as easily the grin of a hungry wolf, preparing to pounce on its prey.
The prey being, of course, Amelia.
“I will pretend that you did not just insult me to my face,afterhaving invaded my home,” he retorted.
Amelia reddened further. “I did not mean to invade your home. I apologized, did I not? How many apologies will you need?”
“I shall let you know when you reach the required amount,” he said sweetly. “Since tea has been ordered, I shall help myself to a cup, if you’ll allow it.”
He wasn’t really asking, so Amelia stayed silent. He poured himself a cup of tea and drained the whole thing at once, despite the steam rising from the hot liquid.
Silence followed, humid and uncomfortable, and Amelia found herself longing to break it. At last, she cleared her throat awkwardly, twisting her fingers together.
“Is your grandmother really searching for a companion?” she asked.
Stephen raised his thick eyebrows at her over the rim of the cup. “She has mentioned it once or twice, yes. I did not think she was serious. You see, my grandmother has always been a proud woman. She had plenty of friends, and of course, her family. She is old now, but she was once a pillar of Society, if you can imagine that.”
“I can imagine it. She is a force of nature.”
That earned her another twitch of his lips.
“She would never have stooped to pay for company,” he added, setting down the empty cup with a clatter. “But now, her friends call less often than ever before. She is old, tired, and lacks the energy she once had. If she is to hire a companion, I would want to select that woman myself. I would choose very carefully.”
Be quiet now, Amelia. Stay quiet and respectful, and don’t voice any unusual opinions. That is your best bet here.
“I would like to be your grandmother’s companion.”
Bother. I wasn’t supposed to say that.
Facing Stephen head-on, she had the privilege of watching surprise briefly cross his features before the expression was tucked demurely away.
She waited for a bark of laughter, perhaps a roll of his eyes, or maybe for him not to acknowledge her comment altogether. Instead, he folded his arms tightly across his chest, leaned back, and pursed his lips.
“What a fascinating concept. And why would you like that?”
Amelia breathed out slowly. For the first time since she’d arrived at this place, she spotted a glimmer of light at the end of a long, dark tunnel. A spark ofhope. A spark of something.
It was probably silly to hang onto the concept, but she did it anyway. That was the thing about hope, wasn’t it? It persisted, even when it was foolish.
Hope was possibly the stupidest emotion a human could feel. Except for love, of course.
“I think that Her Grace is an interesting woman. She seems kind, and clever, and I… I’d like to be useful to her. And if you intend to keep me here much longer, I will lose my job at the modiste’s. In fact, I will be dismissed if I don’t show up tomorrow. I can barely feed my siblings as it is. Marjory is barely fifteen, and I do not want her to work as a seamstress. Not that she can sew a straight seam as it is. And Nancy is only a little girl, she can’t?—”
