Page 6 of The Ruin of Miss Amelia Burrowes

“There.” She indicated a plump woman with a determined face in a gown of green silk all the way across the room.

“Fortunately, Mr. Burke seems to have dawdled in procuring your lemonade.” Nathan started toward the woman then glanced down at his charge.

Head down, shrinking against him as though to hide herself, Miss Burrowes trembled as she followed him blindly. Was she truly so terrified of being out in company? He did not remember her so. Had isolation in the country brought about such a change? Perhaps he could help remedy that. Carefully, they wound their way around the dance floor until they reached Mrs. Burrowes, who gazed at him in utter shock.

“Lord Ainsley.” After a stunned moment, she curtsied, never taking her gaze from him.

“Mrs. Burrowes. I am honored to meet you again.” Nathan bowed and relinquished Miss Burrowes to her mother.

“How nice to see you, my lord, after all these years.” The lady shifted her gaze from him to her daughter. “Amelia? What has happened? Mr. Burke said you were overcome and would be here directly, but when you did not appear, he went in search of you. I feared you…” She glanced again at Nathan. “I feared you had become indisposed.”

“My fault entirely, Mrs. Burrowes.” Nathan spoke up before Miss Burrowes could put forth any excuse. He wanted his version of the events to be the one she heard first. “I came upon your daughter and Mr. Burke unawares. The shock of both being surprised and seeing me after so many years caused Miss Burrowes to become lightheaded. I suggested Mr. Burke procure her some refreshment and we would meet him here. Unfortunately, your daughter took several more minutes than expected to be restored. But here she is now, and much improved, I believe.”

“Are you quite all right, my dear?” Mrs. Burrowes peered at her daughter, who nodded.

“I am fine, Mama.” Miss Burrowes shot him a look, not quite gratitude but not anger either. “Seeing Lord Ainsley after so many years did give me a bit of a start. But we have been reacquainting ourselves.”

“Thank you, my lord, for looking after her.” The woman’s tone was doubtful but sincere.

“My pleasure entirely, ma’am. I only hope my appearance didn’t cause Miss Burrowes any undue distress.” He raised his eyebrows at the lady in question, who had the grace to blush.

“No, of course it didn’t, my lord.” Mrs. Burrowes looked sharply at her daughter then back at him with a perturbed countenance.

And now for the coup de grace. “Miss Burrowes told me that she is unused to crowded dance floors and ballrooms. So I have suggested she take a ride with me in my curricle early tomorrow afternoon, before the fashionable hour. I am certain the air will do her good. And then she need not worry about too many people being about.”

A furious frown appeared on Miss Burrowes’s face, while her mother became thoughtful.

“I do not think it a good idea, Mama.” With a firm step, Miss Burrowes left his side and flounced over to her mother. “I told Lord Ainsley that earlier when he suggested the outing.”

“I see nothing wrong with a carriage ride with the viscount, Amelia.” The calculating look in the lady’s eyes told Nathan the woman understood well the advantages of her daughter having a titled suitor over an untitled one.

“But Mr. Burke—”

“Mr. Burke must understand that you are not betrothed to him yet, and therefore may accept any invitation your father and I deem appropriate.” Mrs. Burrowes beamed at him. “Lord Ainsley’s suggestion is quite unobjectionable and will likely result in your continued good health as well. I insist that you accept, my dear.”

Opening her mouth, likely to object once more to the invitation, Miss Burrowes caught her mother’s pointed glare and closed it again. She struggled to turn her lips up in a smile as she said, “Thank you, Lord Ainsley. I would be delighted to ride with you tomorrow.”

“Splendid.” Nathan bit back a chuckle as the lady almost gnashed her teeth in frustration. Likely, she was still embarrassed by the scene he’d interrupted with Burke. That mattered little to him. Despite the long gap since they last met, he wanted to renew his acquaintance with Miss Burrowes. If he thought she wouldn’t flee the premises, he’d have asked for the supper dance, although Burke had likely taken that already. Never mind. Tomorrow was his. “I shall look forward to seeing you again most eagerly, Miss Burrowes. We have so much to talk about.”

The lady’s strained look bothered him not at all. Naturally, after such a long time, their sudden reacquaintance might give her pause. But as long as she agreed to accompany him, he had no objection to wooing her affections once more.

“Until then, ladies.” He bowed just as Mr. Burke appeared at the entryway behind them, a glass of lemonade in hand and a scowl on his lips as he glanced about the room.

With a smile, Nathan turned and left. Timing was, as always, everything in a courtship.