Page 37 of The Missing Book
Lady Amelia blinked, her fingers pressing into his shoulder. “For a gentleman who is so concerned with propriety, I am astonished that you would kiss me without any hesitation, Lord Broughton.”
Heat poured into Leopold’s face and he made to drop his hand, only for her to smile up at him.
“I am very glad that you did.”
Leopold was about to drop his head and kiss her again when what she had said about blame made him rear back. “You think that someone in my family might have been involved in the theft of the books?”
Lady Amelia bit her lip. “I do not know for certain,” she said, after a few moments of silence. “But that is what I hope to find out.”
Leopold nodded slowly, a knot of worry tightening in his stomach. He did not know what to say, thinking to himself that surely there could be no possible reason for either Melford or Anna to take the books! “Even if that is what comes to light, that will not change how I feel when it comes to you, Amelia,” he said, boldly. “I want you to know that.”
Lifting her hand, she settled it against his cheek, sending fire roaring down into his chest. “I do now,” she said, ever so softly. “In fact, I do not think I should ever doubt it again.”
Leopold ignoredthe curious looks that were sent to him by both Anna and Melford as he came into the room. Lady Amelia and Lady Isobella were to join them all a few minutes later to give the impression that they had not been speaking alone together, though Leopold was quite certain everyone would ascertain as to why he was a little later than the rest.
“Lady Gwendoline, good afternoon,” he said, a little surprised to see her there. “Lady Rosalyn, Miss Trentworth, Miss Sherwood.” Bowing, he walked to sit down beside Anna. “I hope you are all well.”
“We are,” Miss Sherwood said, with a smile. “Should you like something to drink? The tea tray has just now been sent up.”
Leopold nodded and soon the room was busy with tea, cake, and conversation, only for that to all fall silent as Lady Amelia and Lady Isobella came into the room. Lady Amelia smiled though she did, to Leopold’s eyes, appear a little ill at ease. The way her eyes darted from one face to the next, the way she clasped her hands tightly in her lap once she sat down told him she was a little anxious. The twisting in his stomach intensified as he caught her gaze, seeing how she licked her lips.
Just what was she going to say?
“Thank you all for coming.” Lady Amelia looked around the room. “I know that we invited you here to take tea with us but the truth is, there is something more important that we wish to discuss.”
“Oh?” Lady Gwendoline’s eyebrows lifted though a light smile graced her lips. “What is it?”
Lady Amelia looked back at her. “It is about the theft of the books from the Temple,” she said clearly, as Lady Gwendoline’s smile began to fade. “I think, though I cannot be sure, that we, the bluestocking book club, have found the culprit responsible for the theft.”
A gasp came from Anna though Leopold, who had already been aware of this, said nothing.
“Do you mean to state that you know who stole the books?” Lord Melford asked as Lady Amelia nodded. “That is wonderful! I am sure Mr. Lackington will be delighted.”
“I am certain he shall be, though we must still recover the books,” Miss Trentworth said, as every eye turned to her. “Wedo not know where they are gone. Though we do hope that very soon, we will be told.”
Because they think someone here is responsible,Leopold thought to himself, glancing around the room but struggling to come up with any sort of explanation as to why anyone within the room would have done such a thing.
“You think you will be told by someone here,” he heard Anna say, turning his attention towards her and seeing her frown. “You think that one of us here has stolen the books and is involved with the gentlemen who stole them.”
With a small nod, Lady Amelia spread out her hands. “I might well be wrong,” she said, in a calm voice that Leopold was quite sure she had to force. “But let us begin by telling you what wedoknow.”
“Please do!” Melford said, seemingly interested. “I should be glad to know what you have discovered.”
Lady Amelia’s gaze centered on Lord Melford. “You shall,” she said, ever so quietly. “And we shall have to know all from you.”
17
Amelia’s hands were clammy as she began to speak, fully aware that what she was about to say could put everything awry. Yes, Lord Broughton’s reassurance had been wonderful but it did not take away from the difficulty that could soon be brought.
“When we first spoke to Mr. Lackington, he told us that three books had been returned to him out of the six, for which he was very grateful. However, when I spoke to you, Lord Melford, you told me you had returned four.”
There was a brief silence, only for Lord Melford to shrug. “I must have miscounted. I was, as you recall, a little dazed given that I had injured my head during the commotion.”
Pressing her hands even more tightly together to contain her worry, Amelia glanced toward Lady Isobella, who caught her gaze and nodded just a little.
“Of course,” Lady Isobella said kindly, giving Amelia a chance to regain her courage. “We quite recall that. Lady Amelia told us as much.”
“It does seem strange, however.” Miss Templeton shrugged lightly. “Yes, we agree that you could have been a little confusedafter your fall and might well have forgotten but there is also another explanation.”
