“Good evening, Lady Garmoyle. It is a pleasure to see you again.” She smiled sweetly, not sure if the woman had been looking for her or Mariel.
“Hmph, you could have seen me earlier, but you have been dancing most every dance.”
“I do love to dance.”
At the woman’s scowl, Mariel broke in. “Were you looking for us for a reason?”
The woman’s face changed from irritated to friendly in an instant, causing the hair on the back of Amelia’s neck to rise. “Yes, I was. Dear Lady Enderly tasked me with asking Lady Amelia to take a few moments, if she would, to look at a painting in the library. Lady Enderly says it has become scratched, and she was wondering if it could be repaired.”
That was odd. Lady Enderly had not mentioned it to her. “I’m sure I would be happy to take a look, though I have little experience with art repair.”
Lady Garmoyle smiled. “Wonderful.”
Mariel, always her champion, couldn’t let her comment go. “Amelia is far too modest. She is truly talented and if anyone can repair the painting, I’m sure it is her. I have a beautiful painting she created for me of my horse. Do you enjoy art?”
Lady Garmoyle fidgeted with her skirts. “Not particularly. I only offered to take care of this task because Lady Enderly worried she’d forget with so much to do in preparation for the ball. I do want to please my hostess.”
Feeling the necessity of adding to the conversation, she lied. “How nice of you.”
“Yes, well, I do wish to be helpful. Shall we?”
Surprised, she lifted her brows. “Now? In the middle of the ball?”
“If you would? I’d like to let Lady Enderly know the outcome tonight.”
She glanced at her sister then lifted her shoulder. “Very well.” Rising, she was just in time to hear a waltz called and glanced across the room. Joanna eagerly spoke to her husband, if her gesturing hands meant anything. When he gave a short nod, the two turned toward the room.
Grinning, she looked at Mariel. “Be prepared to be scandalized.”
“What?” Lady Garmoyle’s eyes rounded. “Why?”
She waved the lady off. “Nothing. It was a private conversation I had with my sister.”
“Very well.” Lady Garmoyle began moving through the crowd, looking to see if she followed every few steps.
The Enderlys were circumspect in their invitation list, so there were enough guests to make the event a success, but not so many that it was difficult to move about or sit for the midnight meal. In no time, they had reached the large opening of the ballroom.
“You know where the library is, correct? I only ask because your mother is such a good friend to Lucinda.”
She blinked at what she was sure was a slight sneer, but Lady Garmoyle smiled at her as if it was wonderful that the two women were friends. “Are you not coming to the library?”
“I would very much like to, but I have two more tasks I need to complete.” The lady’s smile widened. “As soon as I finish those, I can then enjoy the evening.”
Understanding how much went into the evening and how Lady Enderly must be pleased by Lady Garmoyle’s help, she nodded. “Don’t let me keep you then. I will take a look and find you later.”
The woman waved her hand. “Don’t worry. I’ll find you.” Then she turned on her heel and scurried back into the ballroom.
There was something about lady Garmoyle that reminded her of a mouse, but she couldn’t quite figure out what it was. Not wanting to miss another dance, she started down the corridor toward the library. All the doors had been thrown open and each room decorated for the season. Candles burned brightly, inviting guests to mill about, but the library doors were closed.
She smirked. Lord Enderly did not open his library to female activity very often. No doubt that was why the room’s double doors were not open and welcoming like the rest of the house.
Turning the knob of one, she strode in. “Oh, I didn’t realize you were in here.”
—
He should ask another lady to dance, but after Amelia’s revelation regarding the painting, Andrew didn’t wish to converse with anyone else. She said he’d be standing and looking powerful. With a lion? The image in his mind had him straightening his shoulders. He could see himself standing next to a fountain with water coming from a statue of a lion. Or did she mean a live animal? Maybe standing in a garden with a lion lying before him?
He fervently wished to discuss her vision for the final painting, but he needed to avoid her for the rest of the evening. He didn’t want to. His body tensed and he examined why. It wasn’t that she had been dancing with other men. He felt no jealousy at all. He was well aware that her interest in men was not strong. Then why did he wish to monopolize her time?
