Page 17 of The Missing Book
It was as if every single one of her friends leaned forward, eager to hear what she had to say next.
“I do not know if I spoke to him out of a sense of guilt or because I was still frustrated,” Amelia told them, “but I went to him and stated that I found it a truly delightful place. He did seem a little overwhelmed by it, truth be told, but he was not particularly eager to make conversation. Though I should not have been surprised by that.” There came a breath of silence, each one of her friends fixing their gaze to her. “I toldhim…” Amelia sighed. “I told him that I thought the Temple a marvelous place, though I also presumed he would have expected me to think that, given that I am such adreadfulthing as a bluestocking.” She winced. “Yes, I did say it with a great deal of sarcasm in my voice, I admit.”
“What did he say to that?” Lady Isobella asked, a faint smile tracing her lips. “Was he most irritated?”
“I do not know,” Amelia answered, her face heating again. “I walked away without giving him opportunity to respond.”
Miss Sherwood giggled. “I am sorry now that I was not present. I would have very much liked to see his expression when you spoke so.”
Amelia covered her face with her hands for a moment, imagining it. “I am not at all pleased with myself for what I did. I should know better than to be so callous.”
“Oh, but you were not callous,” Miss Sherwood said, hastily. “You were firm and a little sarcastic but I do not think you said anything wrong.”
“No, indeed not,” Miss Trentworth said, with a smile. “He, who is more than a little willing to state outright what he thinks about bluestockings should have no difficulty in hearing what others might think ofhischaracter also. I think you did very well, Amelia.”
I do not think I did well.Despite the reassurance, Amelia could not shake the niggling sense of guilt. Lord Broughton was not a gentleman she thought well of, of course, but she had not needed to speak with him in such a manner. She could easily have avoided him, could have gone to speak with Lady Anna rather than speaking first to Lord Broughton. Reaching for her tea cup, she took a sip and considered all that her friends had said, wondering if she was bearing a burden unnecessarily. Mayhap she had not done anything wrong, mayhap she had spoken fairly… but then why could she not forget the flash ofsurprise that had leaped into his eyes when she had leaned closer to him and spoken of his character? Why could she not set aside the way his shoulders had rounded when she had spoken with such sarcasm? Her heart feeling heavy and weighted, Amelia looked down at her tea cup instead of joining in the conversation again.
It was deeply frustrating that she could not forget him, could not set him aside. She had forgotten all about Lord Trafalgar so why could she not do the same with Lord Broughton?
Humming lightly to herself,Amelia meandered towards the Temple, glad again to be making her way to such an establishment. She had already purchased two books within the last sennight but there was more here for her to explore, she was sure.
Stepping inside, her maid behind her, Amelia paused for just a moment, taking everything in. The Temple was busy but not overwhelmingly so. Taking a few steps forward, she was suddenly alerted to a commotion coming from one of the staircases.
Two gentlemen came barreling towards her, one looking over his shoulder. Another fellow came rushing after them and Amelia had to jump out of the way for fear that she would be knocked over. Her heart hammering, she heard loud voices and a crash, making her skin prickle, eyes flaring wide.
“Good gracious, whatever was that?” one lady said, coming towards Amelia even though they were not acquainted. “Are you quite all right? I thought for certain one of them would knock you to the floor!”
“I am quite well, I assure you,” Amelia said, aware that she was a little breathless now. “I do not know what happened. I must say, I – oh!” Her eyes caught on a familiar face. “Do excuseme, I can see a friend that I must make sure is well.” Hurrying across the room on legs that wobbled a little, Amelia reached for Lady Anna’s hand, seeing her white face. “Lady Anna, are you quite all right?”
“Oh, Lady Amelia!” Lady Anna gripped her hand tightly. “How glad I am to see you.”
“What happened?” Amelia asked, very much confused about what had just taken place and why Lady Anna was so pale. “Are you well?”
Lady Anna nodded, though she swallowed, hard. “I am. My brother has gone in pursuit of two gentlemen! One of them ran into me and I fell backwards though I did not hit the ground.”
Amelia blinked in surprise. “Lord Broughton was the one chasing those two others?”
“No, not he. Melford,” Lady Anna explained, still holding onto Amelia’s hand.
“Are you injured?” Amelia asked, worried when Lady Anna closed her eyes. “Can you stand?”
Lady Anna’s smile was tremulous. “I am a tad overcome with shock, that is all. I fell against some bookshelves so that was better than falling to the floor.” Her smile wobbled all the more. “Gwendoline was with me and my brother near enough threw her his coat as he rushed out after them. No doubt he meant for me to catch it so he could run after them all the more quickly but I had fallen back by that point. I am sure if he had seen, he would not have run.”
“Of course he would not have done,” Amelia said, soothingly, seeing the glimmer of tears in her eyes. “Did Lady Gwendoline help you?”
“There was such a rush that she was swallowed up in it, I do not think she saw either what had happened to me.” Lady Anna sniffed but her gaze, at least, was clear. “Thank goodness you found me.”
The mystery of it all loomed up before Amelia, though she was a good deal more concerned with Lady Anna. “Should you like to sit down? Is your other brother with you also?”
Lady Anna took a moment, closing her eyes and then breathing in deeply. “Yes, he is,” she said, slowly. “I do not know where. He was displeased with the way I spoke to him and strode away from me.”
“Then I shall go and find him,” Amelia said, at once. “Look, there is a chair here. Sit down and I will return just as quickly as I can.”
Much to her relief, Lady Anna made no protest. Instead, she sank down into the chair and closed her eyes, releasing Amelia’s hand. Amelia turned, ready to go through the downstairs of the Temple in search of Lord Broughton, only to almost walk directly into Lady Gwendoline.
“Oh, thank goodness you have found her! I lost her in the commotion! My maid is somewhere, as is my mother and I do not know where either of them have gone!”
Amelia took the lady’s arm gently, leading her to Lady Anna. “You are quite all right, I hope?” She took in the coat that Lady Gwendoline carried. “You have Lord Melford’s coat, I see.”
