Page 70 of Rakes & Reticules
He chuckled. “I will make a point of showing it to you on our next tour.”
“Thank you, Your Grace,” she said, sounding a little breathless.
Her smile was glorious.
So were her eyes.
How could she doubt that she was anything less than stunning?
Dorothea huffed with impatience when Amelia attempted to explain about Pythagorus and other early mathematicians. “Nobody cares, Amelia. Good grief, what are you going on about? Save it for your circle of spinsters.”
She had the audacity to take Callum’s arm and give it a light tug. “Come, Your Grace. Let me pull you away so you might have some respite from her drivel.”
“You are quite mistaken. I was enjoying my time with Lady Amelia.” Callum eased out of Dorothea’s grasp and took a moment to lock the door behind them now that Amelia had reluctantly followed them out.
He smothered a grin, for Amelia looked adorable in her dismay. Even her little rabbit ears seeming to curl downward in disappointment.
Dorothea stepped between him and Amelia. “I understand we are to have a scavenger hunt tomorrow.”
Callum nodded. “Yes, my uncle enjoys mysteries and puzzles. He will not tell me what he has devised, only that we are to be partnered, and the team gathering the most clues will claim a prize.”
“Partners? Your Grace, does this mean you will be participating?” The girl’s eyes turned beady, and he knew he had to cut her off before he was stuck with her throughout the game.
“I will be participating. Alas, I have already promised the Duchess of Redfern to partner with her niece.” He motioned toward Amelia, who was paying no attention whatsoever to their conversation and instead staring with longing at the now locked door.
Lord, he liked this girl.
Dorothea openly glowered at Amelia. “You must give him up, Amelia. It is not fair of you to take all the duke’s attention. And now he is saddled with you for the scavenger hunt. You must bow out and give another young lady the chance. Amelia, are you listening to me?” She stamped her foot. “Amelia!”
“What?” She turned away from the door that was obviously more fascinating to her than either of them.
Callum laughed. “Come along, Lady Amelia. It is time we joined the others.”
Women were in the habit of hanging upon his every word. Indeed, there were times he was sure the bevy of beauties constantly surrounding him would break into a round of cheers and congratulate him on his brilliance if he so much as sneezed.
That false adulation was insufferable and irritating.
He would have none of that from Amelia, whose mind was still on those ancient treatises.
He took her hand and wrapped it in his arm.
Dorothea immediately grabbed hold of his other arm and began babbling about the evening’s activities. “I must have at least two dances from you, Your Grace. I shall expire from grief if I have less.”
“Perhaps tomorrow night. I am already engaged to play cards this evening.”
“No, no, no! Oh, I know you are a cards player. But you must sit out a few rounds to join those of us who prefer dancing. Say you will. You must. It is too cruel of you if you don’t.”
She kept up her theatrics the entire length of the hall. “Too, too cruel. I shall be in tears the entire weekend if–”
He groaned. “You shall have your two dances tomorrow night, Lady Dorothea. I give you my word. I shall take time out from tomorrow’s card games to partner you. Tonight’s festivities will be quite tame since most of my guests are still exhausted from their travels and will likely retire early.”
“But you are certain about tomorrow?”
“Yes, I’ve given you my word.”
Gad, anything to shut her up.
Callum walked the two ladies onto the terrace where a full tea service had been set out beneath the shade trees. Amelia excused herself to return inside to see to her aunt who had already been served her tea and cake, and now remained in the parlor with her friends to munch and chat.
