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Preston leaned forward. “I’m looking forward to seeing Chunee again myself. That elephant is always good for a laugh.”
Asquith forced a smile.
The poor elephant did not belong in London. And he certainly did not belong on the second floor of converted milliners’ shops.
He suspected Lenora would feel the same. In fact, without his mother’s request, he would not have chosen the Exchange for an outing with Lenora.
He would have taken her to the Leverian Museum, or the recently-opened Dulwich Picture Gallery, or even Sir John Soane’s collection at Lincoln’s Inn Fields—something she would enjoy.
He frowned. Had he been considering places she’d like?
“Please,” Lord Hampton said. “Do place your order.”
Lord Hampton had misinterpreted his scowl. No matter. Asquith said his goodbyes.
He ordered a cherry ice because the reddish pink reminded him of Lenora’s lips. He declined a server’s help and carried the dish back to the carriage himself.
Once he’d shut the carriage door behind him, he handed her the treat.
“Cherry!” she exclaimed. “My favorite.”
She smiled broadly. Genuinely. He’d somehow known she would. And yet, her excitement brought a flush to his cheeks.
Had some inner, hidden sense been tracking the things that brought her delight?
She dug into the ice and brought the spoon to her lips. As she tasted the icy sweetness, he couldn’t tear his eyes away. The indistinct sound of pleasure she made caused a tremor in his core.
“Tell me...” Lenora did not quite meet his gaze. “Who was that charming young lady? The one who emerged from the shop shortly after you departed?”
Briefly, his mind went blank. Had there been another lovely young woman nearby?
Then he remembered. “That was Lady Amelia, with her brother Lord Preston, and their father, the Earl of Hampton.”
“What a coincidence!” she exclaimed, peeking out the curtain at a safe distance. “The very people Godmama invited to the Exchange.”
He nodded. She’d been listening closely. Did she have an interest in Preston, then? “They said they were looking forward to the outing.”
“Did they? Well, that is a relief.” She sighed. “She’s very beautiful, isn’t she?”
“Amelia?” He glanced out the window. “Yes.” In a cold, statuesque sort of way.
Lenora sat back and briefly closed her eyes. She took a deep breath.
“I think I’m finished for now.” She met his gaze. “Why don’t you have a bite or two?”
She wanted to share her ice with him? He blinked. “I couldn’t. The ice is yours.”
“I insist! Otherwise, I cannot enjoy any more. Not while you go without.”
“Can’t you?” He half smiled. “I assure you, I accepted long ago that life is not fair.”
“Yes,” she agreed. “Life is not fair, which makes creating fairness a noble endeavor. Go on.” She thrust the dish forward. “Have some.”
He glanced from her eyes to the ice and back. Had he, just now, caught another rare glimpse of the real Lenora?
The real Lenora is fair-minded. He added to his list.
“Very well,” he replied. “But only if it will make you feel noble.”
