“Yes,” Charlotte piped up, eager to chime in and speak with the two eligible men. “Our father owns it.”
Lord Ridley’s attention returned to their little group. “Your familyownsa confectioner’s shop?”
“My sister is our chocolatier,” Charlotte said and gestured to her, as if there was any question to whom she referred. “Amity is very talented. She slaves away for hours in the back room and comes out with the most delectable creations.”
The gazes of both the wealthy, titled gentlemen turned to her, examining her as if she were another species, and Amity wanted to sink beneath the richly carpeted floor and hide.
Chapter Eight
Oblivious to theirreactions, Charlotte continued, “We brought some chocolates with us. Obviously, we didn’t bring them willy-nilly. Lady Peabody ordered them, and my clever sister created them. Thus, you shall taste our confections after dinner.”
Amity was happy her sister was proud of her. Nonetheless, at that moment, she would rather Charlotte had not referred to her asslaving in a back room. She might as well be dressed in her chocolate-smeared apron with her hair under a kerchief.
“Fascinating,” said Lord Ridley again, sounding even less impressed. Clearly, he wanted to be partnered with anyone else in the group than the lowly Rare-Foure shopgirls.
“I can hardly wait to tasteyourchocolate,” Lord Greenley said to Charlotte, arching the sculpted brow over one eye and winking the other.
Charlotte shrugged slightly, missing any innuendo, and Amity wanted to slap his face.
Thankfully, Lady Peabody announced dinner. As Amity turned, she found Lord Pelham staring directly at her even while he was taking Lady Madeleine’s arm.
He smiled, and she smiled back, glad he was there. He might not truly be her friend, and he was evidently smitten with his beautiful lady, yet they had shared a few pleasant interactions. She couldn’t help but consider him an ally among London’s elite. Hopefully, he would be seated close by at dinner.
Even though it had seemed as if Lady Peabody had presented her to Lord Greenley, that man took Charlotte’s arm, forcing Lord Ridley, with his palpable air of ennui, to take Amity’s.
Their host and hostess went first, followed by Lady Madeleine and the Duke of Pelham, indubitably the most important guests in the room, and everyone else made their way after.
The dining room was decorated with lavish reds and golds, both in the wallpaper and the fabrics, mirroring the current craze for everything oriental. The long table was festooned with a pretty lace cloth, barely visible under the array of candlesticks, plates, flowered centerpieces, multiple forks, spoons, and knives at every place setting, each containing a massive plate with a smaller plate and a bowl on top, along with glasses of every size and shape.
How many courses and how long this meal would go on for, Amity could hardly imagine. The guests milled about, looking for their names on small white cards.
“Look,” Charlotte exclaimed, “we have place cards. How clever for Lady Peabody to make them up for us after we arrived.”
DespiteFourebeing spelled incorrectly, Amity agreed it was kind of their hostess. When seated, she found herself directly across the table from Lord Pelham. She doubted they would be able to converse, however, what with the forest of vases full of roses and candelabra between them. There was even a whole pineapple displayed, which reminded her of the chocolates she’d brought. Apparently, Lady Peabody liked to show off her wealth, and pineapple was her luxury of choice.
Sending her a companionable look, the duke shrugged, and she smiled again. Then Lady Madeleine took his attention and the dinner began.
