“Yes, I do, and you must hurry, because timing is everything. Perhaps you won’t understand it, but I think you will soon. In short, I must ask you to trust me, Nancy.”
Nancy weighed the facts in her head, and Letitia waited patiently for the little girl to decide. Could she manage her plan without Nancy? Possibly, but probably not.
At last, Nancy gave a slow, tentative nod. “Very well. I will help.”
Letitia smiled. “That’s my girl. Now, here is what I want you to do…”
After she had parted ways with Nancy, Letitia made her way down the corridor to the parlor. As expected, Amelia sat inside, thumbing through a book in the window seat.
“Amelia, my dear, there you are.”
Amelia glanced up from her book and smiled to see Letitia. Carefully marking the page, she set the book aside. “Letitia. Is it time to change for dinner already? I must warn you that I don’t have anything better to change into.”
Letitia chuckled. “Well, not yet, you don’t. That reminds me, I thought we could look through the rest of the fabrics from Mrs. Potts’. There are a few colors and materials I haven’t quitedecided what to do with, and you’ll need more than a handful of dresses.”
Amelia laughed awkwardly. She always seemed uncomfortable when others discussed dresses or other accessories. Perhaps she was simply not very interested in gowns—Letitia had yet to meet a woman who was not at least alittleinterested in gowns—or perhaps she disliked having so much money spent on her. Letitia thought it might be the latter.
Well, she’ll have to get over that, won’t she?
“I won’t need more than one gown,” Amelia said, swinging her legs down from the window seat. “You are kind, so kind, but so much money…”
“I am already making gowns for your sisters, and I insist onthat,” Letitia answered firmly. “Let me make some for you. Now, go to my private parlor and take a look at the fabrics, and I shall join you shortly. We’ll look through them before dinner, what do you say?”
“If that’s what you want, Letitia, of course.”
“It is. Off you go, I’ll see you soon.”
Amelia scuttled off obediently.
Letitia watched her go with a small smile.
Perfect.
Somebody tapped on the door to Stephen’s parlor. He froze, nearly dropping his book.
His first thought was that it might be Amelia. But why would she return to his chambers at such an hour?
Rationality surged to the forefront of his mind then, scolding him. It was not Amelia. Of course, it was not. Why would she risk returning to his room? She had already told him in no uncertain terms that their ‘mistake’ could not be repeated, and that she had no intention of becoming his mistress or anything similar. She was unwilling to risk her future or that of her sisters.
He believed her. Perhaps she was drawn to him, but she was, above all else, a practical woman. So, whoever was at the door could not be Amelia.
He marked the page and then closed the book with a snap.
“Who is it?” he called.
The door creaked open, and Nancy peered around the door. Stephen relaxed a little.
“Little one. What brings you up here?”
“I heard a noise from Letitia’s parlor,” Nancy mumbled shyly. “It was loud. A crash, like something had fallen.”
Or someone,Stephen thought, his eyes sharpening.
He leaned forward, setting aside his book. “Did you hear anything else? Did you go in?”
She shook her head. “I didn’t see a footman, so I came straight here.”
“You did well, Nancy. I shall investigate at once.”
