The Colonel’s brow formed into ridges and furrows. “Did I hear wrongly? Mr Wells, you say? My girl, this is Major Adam Wellworth.”
“Arthur!” Lady Lavinia emitted a strangled reproach.
Aghast at Colonel Landon’s blunder, Adam’s stomach dropped to the floor as though he again faced Bonaparte’sgrande batterie. The Colonel’s words felt like treachery worse than friendly fire!
“That cannot be. Major Wellworth is an older man, an invalid.” Amelia’s words were a hoarse whisper.
Lady Lavinia rapped her fan on the table, but ignoring his lady love, the Colonel ploughed on. “Don’t be silly, m’dear. Major Wellworth is this handsome young man, and if anyone called him an invalid or some such, they would be very much mistaken. I have seen him ride to hounds in the morning, drive his curricle twenty miles to Bath in the afternoon, and dance the whole evening afterwards, and I’m sure he will again after he recovers from the wound old Bony’s Imperial Guard gave him.”
Amelia looked from the Colonel to Adam. A crease blemished the space above the bridge of her nose. “How could that be?”
Still unaware of his blunder, the Colonel smiled at them both. “I’ve had plenty of time to observe him. Wellworth spent last January and February in Bath.”
Amelia turned her troubled eyes to Adam and asked in an aghast voice. “Is this true? Are you really Major Wellworth?”
His throat constricted worse than on that harrowing day last June when he had stood with the rest of Wellington’s army, stoically enduring the relentless pounding of Napoleon’s cannon and the repeated charges of his cavalry. His world, his hopes, his dreams exploded with every word spoken. Adam’s sweaty hands clenched into fists. His eyes met the stricken ones of Amelia. His words pushed past unwilling lips. “Yes, I’m Wellworth.”
“Amelia, I’m sure the Major had his reasons for not revealing himself,” her great-aunt said.
Amelia’s gaze snapped to her relative. “You knew!” She shook her head. “Of course you did. Mr Wells,Major Wellworth, spent time in Bath last season.”
Lady Lavinia leaned forward, her hand outstretched to tap her great-niece’s arm. “Consider, Amelia! The Major was put in a very untenable position when you criticised him to his face!Andby your parents’ interfering ways. Surely you can understand why he might wish to disguise his identity until you had got to know him and his true nature?”
Amelia’s flushed face reddened further. She swallowed. “His true nature? She shot the words back at her great-aunt. “Wouldn’t an honest man find the opportunity to reveal himself soon afterwards?”
Adam interrupted the brewing argument. “You’re right. I ought to have told you.”
She turned to him again. Her voice was a whisper of hurt, the pain of his deception palpable in her words. “How could you mislead me? An honourable man, a gentleman, would not have done so.”
His heartbeat slowed to a sluggish ache. He looked deep into her eyes and saw bewilderment, hurt, and humiliation. What could he say to make her look at him again with admiration?
Nothing.
Aunt Lavinia’s voice broke into his pain. “We will leave you to decide how you will proceed.” He was vaguely aware of her grasping the Colonel’s arm and hauling him from the room.
“But our dinner, Lavinia!” the Colonel said.
“Come, Arthur. Symes will serve us in the parlour. I have a few words to say to you.” She turned to Adam. “Major Wellworth, I would be glad if you would join us for dinner tomorrow.”
With his gaze still on Amelia’s face, he nodded.
Amelia betrayed no response.
