Page 32 of The Missing Book
She pulled herself out of her thoughts, her face hotter than before as she realized she had not heard a word her friend had said. “Forgive me, I was just thinking.”
“Thank you for listening to me. I am sorry that I have taken up so much of your time, especially when you have other friends present.” She rose to her feet though a protest lingered on Amelia’s lips, remaining unspoken. She did not want Lady Anna to feel obliged to leave but on the other hand, she needed to think. She was slowly becoming convinced that Lord Melford was, in some way, involved in the theft of the books.
The only trouble was, she did not know how she could go about proving it.
14
“You dance very well, Lady Amelia.” Leopold’s heart betrayed him as he looked down into Lady Amelia’s smiling face and felt it fill with all manner of emotion. “Thank you for dancing with me.”
“But of course.” The lady took his arm even before he had offered it, making his smile bloom. Ever since he had apologized – evenbeforehe had done so, in fact, things had begun to improve between them. As much as he did not want to admit it, not even to himself, there was an eagerness within him that could not seem to be satisfied, an eagerness to be with her more and more, to know her better, and to improve their connection as much as he could.
“Might you wish for a turn about the room?” he asked, glancing around and choosing not to look into her face for fear that she would be frowning, unwilling to accept his invitation. “Is your father present?”
Lady Amelia waved a hand. “He will not mind. Ever since thetonbegan to speak well of me and my forthright words towards Lord Trafalgar, he has become a good deal easier in his manner. He will be concerned for me, of course, but if he knows I amdancing then he will be quite contented to watch from afar.” She smiled up at him as Leopold caught her eye, relief pooling in his core. “My father too has decided that I am permitted to be a bluestocking without any further complaint from him. So now, it is only my brother who disapproves!”
Leopold chuckled. “Mayhap I could talk to him and convince him of the merits of his sister being a bluestocking,” he said, as Lady Amelia laughed. “I have changed my mind, have I not? I am sure I could be convincing enough.”
“Mayhap you could,” came the soft reply as she leaned into him just a little. “My brother is very stubborn, however.”
“A little like his sister, then?”
This made Lady Amelia throw back her head and laugh aloud, leaving Leopold to grin, feeling as though their connection was growing stronger with every moment. There was such a great change between them, was there not? He could only imagine what might be waiting for them, should he continue to pursue this.
And I do want to pursue it.
“Oh, there you are!”
A sudden interruption by Lady Anna brought an end to the conversation and Leopold tried to hide his irritation, telling himself that there was no need for him to feel such a way when his sister only sought out conversation. Besides, was he not meant to be chaperoning her this evening, along with Melford?
“I thought you were with your brother,” he said, offering his sister his other arm. “Melford is dancing, mayhap?”
“Iwas dancing,” she said, throwing a smile at him and then to Lady Amelia. “But when I was brought back from the dance, I could not see Melford anywhere! You shall have to berate him, Broughton, for being a dreadful chaperone.”
This, despite Leopold’s lingering frustration, made him laugh. “I shall do so, of course,” he said, as Anna chuckled. “The very moment I see him, I shall do so.”
“Good.”
They walked together for a few minutes longer in comfortable conversation and with Leopold feeling more and more joyous with every passing moment, only for Anna’s hand to tighten on his arm. “There is Lady Gwendoline, look. Is that Melford speaking with her?”
“Yes, I think so.” Leopold made to step closer, only to frown. “Wait, no it is not. I thought it was, for they do look similar but I think – ”
He was stopped by Anna’s sudden gasp, her eyes flaring wide as she stared at Lady Gwendoline. Lady Amelia spoke before Leopold could, her voice filled with concern.
“Whatever is the matter? Are you quite well?” She took her hand from his arm and came to stand in front of Anna, though she did not completely block the view of Lady Gwendoline.
“It cannot be,” Anna breathed, her face quite pale but her eyes fixed on Lady Gwendoline. “I am sure… though mayhap I am wrong.” She closed her eyes and then set her other hand on Leopold’s arm, concerning him all the more. “It could not be, for then that would mean – ”
Understanding flew into Lady Amelia’s eyes. “You know the gentleman she is speaking with.”
Anna nodded as Leopold looked back at the fellow, uncertain as to how Anna could know him when he did not.
“You know him from the Temple?” Lady Amelia asked gently as Leopold’s breath hitched, astonished when Anna nodded. How had Lady Amelia been able to decipher such a thing?
“It was one of the gentlemen who took the books,” she whispered, her eyes squeezing closed and then opening again. “I thought I was wrong but now… now I think that I must be right.”
“Took the books?” Leopold repeated as Lady Amelia darted a glance over her shoulder. “You mean the ones that stole them?”
Anna nodded, her fingers digging into Leopold’s arm. “Why would she be talking with him?”
