Madeline nodded thoughtfully, chewing on her lower lip. “Stephen’s choice to come back to London and host a party is… out of character. It’ssudden. Tristan is surprised and a little concerned. But I can’t help but wonder if it’s…” She paused, glancing at her again. “If it’s because of you.”
Amelia absorbed that, swallowing hard.
“It is,” she confessed. “But not for the reason you think.”
She had already decided not to tell Madeline about her brother and the old Viscount. Perhaps Madeline and Tristan could be trusted. Perhaps Stephen trusted them. But in that case, he could tell them himself.
If this secret gets out, I will be the one who is hurt, not him.
That was something she hadto keep at the forefront of her mind. If all of this went wrong, then she would suffer. Stephen, a rich duke with a good family and friends around him, would be just fine. A penniless bastard seamstress, however? That was another matter entirely.
I would make a most convenient scapegoat.
Swallowing, she turned away from Madeline’s incisive gaze.
“Will you attend the party?” Madeline asked suddenly.
“I… I don’t know. I believe I will. They’re making a dress. Marjory and Nancy will be there, too. No doubt our presence will raise many questions.”
Our presence will draw much attention. My brother’s attention, specifically. And that is exactly what Stephen wants. I am the bait he needs to draw out his enemy.
She still had no idea what Stephen’s plan was, or even whether he had a fully formed one. He hadn’t seen fit to trust her, whichshould have shown her exactly what he thought of her and helped her fit her fancies accordingly. He did not care about her.
Even if his kisses make me burn.
She put that thought aside and met Madeline’s gaze squarely. “If you don’t mind, I’d like to return to the terrace. I want to check on my sisters.”
Perhaps it was her imagination, but she was sure she saw a flash of sympathy in Madeline’s eyes.
“Of course,” Madeline murmured.
CHAPTER 20
Letitia glanced anxiously at the clock. Nearly five o’clock. Not ideal. She’d waited too long to put her plan into motion, which was, of course, her own fault. Tristan and Madeline, the dear creatures, had retired to their rooms.
It was fairly plain that Madeline and Tristan had seen at once that there was something between Stephen and Amelia. Tristan had known Stephen for years, and Madeline was a sweet, clever woman. Tristan, however, would never overstep, and Madeline was too shy to do so.
Fortunately, Letitia was neither shy nor afraid of overstepping. So, as always, it would be up to her.
She found Nancy in the foyer, crouched on the floor between Tiny and Dust. Both animals seemed to have appointed themselves as protectors. Tiny, no doubt, had been her protector for years, but had accepted Dust into their ranks without complaint.
Nancy glanced up as Letitia approached, her face lighting up. “Is it time to get ready for dinner?”
“Very nearly, but I have a little errand I would like you to help me with first. Can you do that, Nancy? Can you help me?”
Nancy nodded eagerly, scrambling to her feet. “Shall I fetch Marjory? She’s in the library. Or Amelia?”
“Not just yet. I want you to promise, Nancy, if you can, that you won’t tell anybody about what I’m going to ask you to do.”
That gave the girl pause.
Good, Letitia thought approvingly.A girl should never uncomplainingly do what she is asked to do. She should always ask questions.
“I’m not good at keeping secrets,” Nancy admitted. “Amelia doesn’t like me to keep secrets.”
“And she is right to do so. But this is a very important secret, and I won’t ask you to keep it for longer than today. It will do a great deal of good in the end, I think. You see, Nancy, I am an old woman. At my age, one is not content to sit back and let others manage things on their own. Sometimes a little interference is needed, and I am very, very good at it. I am not, however, good at running up and down the stairs. And that, my dear, is where you come in.”
“You want me to go upstairs?”
