“Because if I hadn’t, I would have lost the building. I’m certain of it.”
“To whom?” His words came out louder than he’d intended because of his frustration, so he drew a fortifying breath and ran his hand through his hair before addressing her once again. “I do not believe Mr. Gorrell had another buyer. He tricked you, Lady Amelia, forcing you to pay much more than that hovel is worth.”
“It is not a hovel,” she said with a glare. “It is an opportunity to do something more important than parade about in silk gowns and dance at balls.” Her hands were suddenly clasping his. “Don’t you see? This is a chance to do something significant.”
As he gazed down into her upturned face, he could feel her energy seeping from her hands and straight into his. It flowed up his arms and filled his chest with a new awareness, as if he’d lived in a world of grays and whites and she had shown him the color. Disturbed by the powerful effect she was having, he snatched his hands away and stepped back quickly. What was she thinking to touch him with such familiarity? Had it even occurred to her she’d done so or had she merely been propelled by the fire that blazed in her eyes? Surely, it must have affected her soul.
With a glance toward the terrace, he ensured no one had noticed the gesture, and breathed a sigh of relief. The last thing he needed right now was for his mother to suspect his interest in Lady Amelia went beyond his duty toward Huntley. Which it didn’t. To suppose such a thing would be madness, even if he might be able to lose himself in her eyes and her mouth made him think of ripe strawberries served on a hot afternoon.
“Very well,” he said, if for no other reason than to stop thinking about her in tantalizing terms. “What do you propose?”
Her lips parted and she stared straight back at him with no small degree of stupefaction. “What do I propose?”
“Yes.”
She stared at him some more, then gathered herself and asked, “Will you give me a loan?”
He should have expected the question, all things considered. Later that day, he would certainly wonder why he hadn’t. For now, he simply tried to process her request. “You want to borrow two thousand five hundred pounds from me?”
“I don’t know who else to ask. Raphe—I mean, Huntley—won’t be back in time to help me, and if I don’t pay what is owed, Mr. Gorrell will call a debt collector.”
“Such a man can be turned away for a while, perhaps long enough to allow for Huntley’s return.” Inhaling deeply, he pushed air back out through his nose. “There’s no guarantee that Mr. Gorrell will not use such a delay against you, however. All he would have to do is let everyone know you broke your promise—that you cannot be trusted—that Huntley’s sister cannot make good on her word—and the scandal will ruin any chance you have of finding a husband.”
Closing her eyes against the harsh reality he painted, she bowed her head. “Then help me. Please.”
“Give me a couple of days in which to think about it, and I will let you know what I decide.” It was the best he could do at the moment, at least if he was to use his common sense, that was. Because the alternative would be to make a hasty decision based solely on some new, inexplicable desire he had to save her from the mess she’d created. And that was something he simply couldn’t allow himself to do.
Chapter 8
“I feel as though I’m caught in a dream,” Amelia whispered to her sister when they climbed the steps to Elmwood House Friday evening. A long parade of carriages pulled by magnificent horses rolled by behind them in the street. “Being a guest and arriving with all of this showiness is something of an experience.”
“I’m just glad our gowns managed to arrive on time,” Juliette said. “It’s nice to enjoy the evening with something new to wear.”
Amelia chose not to mention that her sister had several other gowns in her wardrobe that she’d never worn before. At least two of them would have been appropriate for this evening’s event. Still, she had to concede that she was a bit pleased with the prospect herself. After taking a close look at each of the gowns the dressmaker had delivered, she’d settled on a pretty creation of gold silk gauze. It had been meticulously stitched in layers of breezy skirts that billowed behind her as she walked. The bodice, cut lower than she’d expected, was accentuated with a pretty row of shimmering beads while a wide satin sash cut beneath her breasts to tie at the back in a bow.
Arriving at the entrance, she felt her stomach tighten with anticipation, because although she’d decided to forget about trying to win Coventry’s affection—not that she wanted it any longer since she’d fallen out of love with him—she couldn’t help but hope for him to be a bit taken with her this evening. It was an innate longing for him to be drawn to her femininity, to look at her with masculine appreciation glowing in his eyes and... Well, she simply wanted him to find her attractive. What harm was there in that?
Lady Everly introduced her and Juliette to their host and hostess, the Earl and Countess of Elmwood. Amelia managed to complete an acceptable curtsey before continuing through to the dazzling display of light reflecting off three crystal chandeliers and countless gemstones.
Accompanying her chaperones, she made brief and polite conversation with those who approached and asked for introductions. Her dance card was pulled from her reticule and soon contained the names of three partners with whom she would be dancing. She recalled two of the names from the list prepared by Lady Everly, but couldn’t remember the third, though she believed he was a baron. His title had been lost amid all the compliments he’d been bestowing.
“Ladies...”
The deep timbre of Coventry’s voice drew her attention as he came up behind them.
With her heart pattering so rapidly against her chest that she started to fear for her stays, Amelia took a deep breath and turned slowly toward him, catching him right in the middle of his elegant bow. Their eyes met and for a second he seemed to go utterly still. Blinking, he straightened to his full height and allowed his gaze to wander from Amelia to Juliette to Lady Everly and then back to Amelia once more before saying, “You must be the loveliest ladies here, besides my own mother.”
From her position to his right, the dowager duchess chuckled before moving toward Lady Everly and whispering something in her ear. The countess nodded and replied with an equally incoherent answer. Coventry turned toward Juliette. “I was hoping to dance with you if your card has not yet been filled.”
Juliette grinned. “Indeed it has not been. I’d be delighted to partner with you this evening, Your Grace.” She handed him her card and Amelia watched while he scribbled his name.
He turned to her next and for one fleeting second—just long enough for her skin to grow hot beneath the intensity of his regard—he lowered his gaze to the wide expanse of skin her gown revealed. “And you, my lady?” he inquired, his eyes meeting hers once again. “Would you be kind enough to partner with me, as well?”
Unable to get a single word past the dryness in her throat, Amelia nodded and handed him her card. He studied it so long she began to grow anxious. A frown appeared on the bridge of his nose. Looking up, he gave her an assessing look, considered the card once more and proceeded to write.
Amelia almost snatched the card from between his fingers when he finally held it toward her, her eyes flying across the various names until she encountered his. “The waltz?” She raised her head with a jerk and stared at him in confusion.
“Since your brother did task me with protecting you, I think I ought to prevent another gentleman from claiming it.”
