Page 14 of Look at Her Duke
Kipling exhaled.
“I’ve no’ dallied with her, nae matter how much Iwishedto. I’d rather court her. Proper, like. As she deserves.”
“Nae need,” croaked Alistair. Then, grinning, he wrote, “Amelia has always fancied ye. Come to dinner tomorrow evening, and plead your case there.”
The thought was terrifying and exciting and incredibly arousing, all at once.
Could he do it? Could he convince Amelia to marry him? She said, the other night at the ball, that she’d cared for him before he’d run away. It had been two years, two years apart, perhaps two years wasted. Kip had had no idea, but now that he was here, andshewas here…could they start a future together?
With no secrets?
But then reality began to drizzle on his excitement.
His shoulders slumped. “I—I cannae. Mother has been talking about a dinner tomorrow evening with Lady Stallings and her daughter. I’m supposed to escort all three of them out to a fine meal somewhere where we can all be seen.”
Alistair frowned but Fawkes just grinned. “I can think of nae place finer than Effinghell House. Why no’ bring them too?”
“Because, ye great git, Alistair doesnae like too much company,” Kip shot back.
But Alistair shrugged. “Perhaps…worth it.” When they turned their attention to him, he shrugged again and wrote,“Stallings would not pass up an invitation to my house. I would not mind meeting the woman you are throwing over my sister for.”
“I—I’m no’—” sputtered Kip, but when Alistair began to grin, it was obvious he was teasing.Teasing? Marriage certainly had mellowed this friend of his.
“Look, Alistair, Emma was my mother’s choice. I care nothing for the lass, but I dinnae want to hurt my mother, or her friendship with Lady Stallings. Or Emma herself, I s’pose. Perhaps this is a bad idea, to have them all together when I set out to woo Amelia.”
“Or—hear me out—it’s a brilliant idea,” Fawkes grinned lazily. “Get it all out in the open. Clear the air. Cause a scene.”
“I had nae idea ye were such a fan of chaos and drama,” muttered Kip.
His friend shrugged. “I’m bored. And I’m going to invite myself, if ye dinnae.”
“Ye’re invited,” croaked Alistair.
“Excellent.”
Kip’s gaze swung from one friend to the other. “We’re really doing this? Inviting my almost-fiancée and her family to the dinner where I hope to woo yer sister? It sounds like a bad dime novel, or one of those torrid romances ye used to read, Alistair.”
Instead of being insulted, Alistair’s grin grew. “Still read. So…eight tomorrow?”
Kipling blew out a breath.
The thought of being able to finally confess his feelings for Amelia, histruefeelings, and doing it with her brother’s blessing…aye, that was exciting. But doing it in front of Mother and her friend—and Lady Emma…was daunting. He had no wish to hurt any of them.
But he couldn’t pass up the opportunity.
“Aye,” he sighed, his heart already pounding. “Aye, dinner tomorrow.”
One way or the other, his life would change shortly after eight the following evening.
Amelia wasn’tcertain if she was giddy with excitement, or on the verge of vomiting. Perhaps both.
Kipling would be joining them for dinner! Tonight! Mother had announced it that morning, and Alistair had confirmed it.
But he’d also said the Earl of Stallings’ family would be joining them. Which meant Kipling was bringing his betrothed.
Almost betrothed.
The distinction didn’t exactly help.
