He advanced on them. He bowed. He even smiled. She just stared at him.
Up close he could see the bulge that revealed her pregnancy, even though the style of dress disguised it well. He made a point of noticing it in a way she could not ignore.
Caroline began offering a story about his arrival that made it appear he had come of his own accord. He would have none of it.
“Your sister is dissembling. In truth she and Jason abducted me, so you and I could marry. That is why I am here.”
Amelia looked ready to faint. She even swooned a bit. A figure rushed out from a corner. Jason. Adam had not even seen him there, sitting to the side. Now Jason hovered over Amelia, worried. He glared back at Adam. “She’s a delicate sort and the journey was long. You should be more careful with her and not give her shocks like that.”
“She is fine. Aren’t you, Amelia? Thank you for bringing her home, Jason. Miss Dunham, perhaps I could have a little time alone with my intended? She and I have much to discuss.”
Caroline rose. “Of course. Come with me, Jason. Give them some privacy. Perhaps you would take care of the horses we were riding, while you deal with your own.”
Jason left grudgingly, with many dark looks over his shoulder. The door closed on them both.
Adam gazed down on Amelia. She in turn gazed down at her gloves.
“Look at me, please.”
She slowly raised her head.
“There was always the slightest chance that your accusation against me was true. Now that I see you, I know it is not. You and I have never spoken before, nor even been in this close proximity. While we may have attended the same fete, we had nothing to do with each other. I know it, and you know it. So please explain to me why you told your sister that I am the father of your child.”
She finally blinked. Long dark lashes fluttered over her robin’s-egg blue eyes. “Well, you are the sort to do such a thing, aren’t you? And as you are a peer, and usually in London, and not known for constancy, no one would expect you to do the right thing by me.”
“You lied so that you would have a story regarding a man whom no one would openly accuse. Why not just name the real father?”
“I couldn’t do that. No one would believe me, and even if they did nothing would be done about it. He is married, you see.”
Ah.Caroline demanded a name, and the real name not only was of no use but also compounded the sin. So “Lord Thornhill” was a convenient lie with, to Amelia’s mind, no consequences. Amelia did not know her sister nearly well enough.
“Give me his name now and I will see what I can do to make sure there is at least a settlement to care for the child.”
She cocked her head. “I don’t think that will happen. He is not the sort to be impressed by such as you. Your being a baron would be of no consequence.”
This man had truly turned her head if he had her believing that. There were few men who were not impressed by a lord.
“His name, Amelia. I must insist that you share it, for the good of you, your child, and your family.”
* * *
Caroline kept her ear to the keyhole, for all the good it did. A muffled conversation reached her, but not the words. At least they both were talking, and she could not hear Amelia crying, so it must be going well.
Thornhill had appeared more lordly than normal when he entered that room. His frock coat and waistcoat had been brushed at some point, by himself she assumed. She had no idea where he procured the clean and starched cravat. She had noticed none of this while they rode back.
His manner had been less than gentle with Amelia, but then he would not be happy under the circumstances. Still, with time, they might make a good marriage. If that notion left her hollow, that was her own fault for allowing herself to think of him as something other than her own sister’s intended.
The door abruptly opened. She almost fell forward. She looked up to see Thornhill gazing down.
“Did you hear?”
“I tried but could not make out the words. You should have spoken louder.”
He smiled vaguely and stood aside. “Your sister has something to say to you.”
She did not have to enter the room far to encounter Amelia. Subdued and docile, she met her sister a few feet from the door. “I made a mistake,” Amelia murmured. “It is not Lord Thornhill. I am going up to my chamber to rest now.”
With that Amelia rushed past her.
