It wasn’t particularly warm, Amelia decided the following day when she entered the tent that had been erected in her garden. The fund-raising event Lady Everly was helping her host was proving to be a remarkable success, however. Most of the people who’d been invited had arrived, many of them providing gift baskets that had been raffled off a few minutes earlier. She would have to count the revenue later, but with several items going for one hundred pounds, she knew she would be pleased with the result.
Shivering in response to a chilly breeze, she drew her shawl tighter around her shoulders. At least the sun was shining, but there was still a brusqueness to the air that made her wish she would have worn a spencer.
She reached for a jug of lemonade.
“Allow me,” a deep voice said at her shoulder.
Turning, she saw it was Mr. Lowell who’d approached. Amelia moved so he could have the honor of pouring. “How have you been?” he asked, handing her a full glass.
She took a sip, then told him about the fire and the accident, which she felt he had a right to know about as an investor.
His face became a mask of concern. “Thankfully you are all right though. It could have been worse.”
“Yes, I suppose that is true.”
An amicable pause followed until he asked, “What about you and Coventry? Are there any developments there?”
She looked away and began regarding the finely dressed people who mixed and mingled on the lawn. Coventry was conversing with his mother. She’d greeted them both upon her arrival, but had quickly excused herself to come here—an easy escape from the man, but not from her feelings.
“No. Not really.”
Lowell stuck one hand in his pocket and looked out over the crowd. “That is a pity.” When she didn’t respond, he said, “I am not the sort of man who would wish you ill because you turned me down. On the contrary, I like both of you well enough to hope that everything works out to your advantage. And Coventry is a good man. He deserves to find happiness.”
She frowned and glanced back at where he stood. Lord and Lady Wilmington had joined him and his mother. He was laughing now in response to something that was being said. “He has never struck me as being particularlyunhappy.”
“That is because you have nothing with which to compare. He used to be far more”—he seemed to struggle with finding the right word, eventually settling on—“light-hearted.”
Amelia shrugged. “Most people change with age.”
“I agree. But Coventry changed overnight. He went from being a carefree friend whose company was always easily available to a man who suddenly chose to avoid Society as much as possible.”
“He lost his sister.” And the mother of his child had died soon after, if Amelia’s calculations were correct. His heartache must have been unbearable.
Lowell expelled a deep breath. “Yes, he did.” Finishing off his drink, he set the glass aside and excused himself, leaving Amelia alone to ponder their exchange.
Allowing her gaze to wander to where her sister stood, she decided to go and join her, since recent events had prevented her from spending much time in her company.
But just as she prepared to do so, she heard a woman say, “He has to be the handsomest man I have ever seen.”
Amelia paused. She glanced around but saw no one, then realized the voice must have come from the other side of the tent canvas. A different voice responded with a girlish giggle. “Can you imagine the coup if either of us were to win him?”
Curious, Amelia sipped her lemonade and stayed where she was, ignoring the rule that said eavesdropping was rude.
“Mama would be thrilled,” the first voice said. “To win a duke...” She sighed as though speaking of a great romance.
Amelia’s ears perked up. They obviously weren’t speaking of her brother, since he was already married, which had to mean that they were referring to Coventry. Who else could it be unless there remained a young and eligible duke whose acquaintance she hadn’t yet made?
“It is unfortunate that looks aren’t everything,” the second voice spoke. “I am not sure I am ready to raise another woman’s child.”
There was a pause. “It certainly is a great responsibility.”
“I rather think it an uncertain bargain since no one I know has ever set eyes on the boy. Coventry keeps him hidden away for some reason.”
Aha!So theyweretalking about Coventry. Amelia’s pulse leaped.
“He is a protective father.” Another pause, and then, “Anyway, it is pointless for either of us to even consider him in earnest since it is highly unlikely that he will ever want to marry. From what I hear, his mistress was a stunning beauty of great intellect. He loved her dearly and was heartbroken when she died. The boy is all he has left of her.”
Amelia’s heart stilled.
