Page 26 of The Earl's Bluestocking Bride
“The Earl of Longley.”
Amelia’s hands stilled. The earl had come?
She didn’t have time to gather her thoughts before Mr. Grant was showing him in. Longley grinned at them with that same mischievous smile he’d worn yesterday. His hazel eyes twinkled as if he knew something they didn’t, and his thick auburn hair was slightly tousled.Her stomach fluttered. He was awfully good-looking, and she liked that despite his attractiveness, he didn’t seem unapproachable.
“My lord.” Her mother looked utterly delighted as she placed her needlepoint in a basket near her feet and rose. “We so hoped you would grace us with your presence.”
Longley held his palms up. “Please don’t get up on my account.”
He bowed to her and then to Amelia, one side of his mouth curled as if he found the world incredibly amusing.
“B-but we must,” Mrs. Hart sputtered, thrown off by his casual demeanor. “It is only proper.”
“Do as you wish, my good lady.” He strode farther into the room, glancing about and studying one of the paintings with interest.
“Would you like tea and scones?” Amelia asked, eagerly dropping her own needlepoint into the basket too.
His gaze followed the movement, and he smirked. “Tea and scones would be welcome, Miss Hart.”
She gestured for the earl to sit while she went to the tables. “How do you prefer your tea?”
“With two spoons of sugar, please. Both jam and cream on the scone.”
He waited while she poured a drink, stirred in sugar, and prepared a scone for him. When she’d passed them over, he blew across the top of the teacup and placed it back on the table to cool.
The earl bit into his scone, careful not to smear any cream on his face. “You have a lovely home,” he said after swallowing his mouthful. “Who is the art aficionado in the family?”
“We all appreciate the arts,” Mrs. Hart hedged. “But it was I who selected the paintings for our walls.”
“You have excellent taste.”
Amelia watched the interplay, baffled. When he’d said he would call today, she’d assumed it was a polite overture that would not be followed up on. Yet here he was.
She didn’t understand. What possible interest could a rich, charming, and titled man have with a plain merchant’s daughter he’d found hiding behind a plant?
Mrs. Hart preened and sent Amelia another pointed look. She reminded Amelia of a cat with a mouse in its sights.
“We need more tea,” she said, standing and brushing off her skirt. “I will speak to Mrs. White. I’ll be just a moment.” She widened her eyes meaningfully and sashayed out of the drawing room.
Amelia cocked her head, confused. Her mother could just as easily have called for Mrs. White to come to her. It was unlike her to go in search of the servants herself. She considered that kind of behavior beneath her.Not to mention the fact that she was leaving them alone together, which was most improper.
Then it struck her. Mrs. Hart must have realized that Amelia wasn’t as repulsed by him as she had been by the others, and that therefore the earl was her best chance thus far of marrying into the aristocracy.Perhaps she hoped that something scandalous might occur between them while she was gone to force the issue.
Amelia looked at the earl.
He looked back.
She pursed her lips, uncertain what to say. She decided the direct approach would be best. “What is it that brings you to our home this morning?”
His forehead crinkled. “The pleasure of your company. It is rare that I find a woman who sparkles the way you do.”
She narrowed her eyes. Was that supposed to be a reference to her looks? Her clothing? Or perhaps the expensive jewelry her mother insisted on dressing her in.
“Whatever do you mean?” she asked.
He tilted his head and eyed her quizzically, then changed tack. “In all honesty, I found you to be the most interesting woman I was lucky enough to meet yesterday. I’m not one to deny myself that which interests me, so here I am, eager for more of your company.”
Against her better judgment, she smiled. Consideringhow they had met and the unconventional encounter that had followed, she could believe he’d found her interesting more easily than that he had been struck senseless by her beauty.
