Page 50

Sir Brenton gave Preston a warning glance.

“Don’t worry, Lord Asquith. He’s harmless.” That same ghost of a smile hovered on Amelia’s lips. “And Miss Lenora is...”

“Miss Lenora is?” Asquith prompted.

“Entirely too much for a boy like him.”

Lenora pulled away from Preston. She adjusted the seams of her spencer. He knew that stiffened back. He’d seen it before. Just moments ago, in fact.

Preston had offended her, too. Good.

Of course, he’d not done any better. Why had he teased her with the yellowhammer song?

“He’s just proven my point,” Amelia commented dryly. “She’d need your permission to marry, wouldn’t she?”

Asquith glanced askance. “Yes.”

“And you wouldn’t give that permission lightly?”

“You sound as if you’d be against a courtship between your brother and my ward.”

Her mouth flattened. “He’s my brother, and I love him. But he’s got a great deal to learn. And I like her too much to sentence her to life with Preston. At present, at least.” She turned toward Asquith. “I think you like her, too.”

“I like all my wards.”

Amelia made a quiet sound that was a cross between a snort and a hum.

“Lady Amelia—”

Lenora’s interruption startled Asquith. He glanced over his shoulder.

She’d abandoned Preston!

“Do you mind if I take Lord Asquith’s arm?” she finished her question.

“Not in the least,” Amelia replied. “I will collect my wayward brother. He looks as if he could use some soothing.”

Asquith watched Amelia approach her scowling brother. She touched him beneath his chin. He pulled back and scoffed. She fixed him with a no-nonsense look and held out her arm. With a sigh, he took her on to the next exhibit.

“I thought I had offended you,” Asquith said to Lenora.

“You did.” She shrugged. “Lord Preston offended me more.”

Asquith gave in. He smiled again. This time broadly. Genuinely.

Lenora’s gaze dropped to his cheek. “There it is. Your dimple.” For a moment, she appeared stunned. Then, she took his arm. “I plan to document every appearance.”

He glanced down at her hand on his arm, and a warm sense of rightness filled his being.

“Shall we?” he asked.

She fell into step beside him, matching him stride for stride. The heat in his body had nothing to do with the thickness of Millie’s pelisse.

Perhaps he could find more reasons to smile.

For Lenora.

Chapter Six