Page 30 of The Missing Book
“It is Melford.” Anna’s jaw tightened, a flash in her eyes. “He did not tell me that he was going to call on Gwendoline and I am upset that he went without including me.”
A small frown danced across Leopold’s face. “I am sure he did not mean to do so. It may have been a little inconsiderate but that does not mean he wanted to hurt you.”
“Oh, but it is not the first time,” Anna told him, making Leopold frown. “Evidently, he has been calling on her fairly regularly and all without my knowledge! And she did not tell meeither, which makes me all the more upset. I thought we were good friends and now – ”
“And now she has kept this from you without explanation,” Leopold interrupted, albeit gently. “That must be very painful indeed. Is he… is heinterestedin her company?”
Anna shrugged. “I do not know and truth be told, nor do I care. This has hurt me greatly and I must try and find a way to overcome it.”
“What did Lady Gwendoline say when you asked her about it?”
His sister shook her head. “I have not asked her, not as yet. I only discovered this connection this afternoon, when Melford was on his way to the carriage and I asked him where he was going! He did not tell me willingly, not at first. Instead, I demanded it from him when I saw there was something he refused to tell me. I am so very upset, Broughton! I thought Lady Gwendoline was my friend.”
“Sheisyour friend,” Leopold said, as reassuringly as he could. “She may have felt shy or unsure about it all. Mayhap there is only a friendship between them and nothing more. I think you are becoming upset for no good reason, Anna.”
Her eyes snapped back to his. “Then why did our brother continue to go and see her if there was only friendship there?”
“Why did he not mention his interest in her to us if there was something more?” Leopold challenged, as carefully and as gently as he could.
Anna rolled her eyes. “Do you not recall? Melford told me that you made your feelings on Lady Gwendolineveryclear to himandyou have mentioned, on more than one occasion to me, that her family is not as high in their standing as ours. Your evident dislike of her is not likely to have Melford telling you of any sort of interest, is it?”
Shame began to burn its way up Leopold’s spine once more. “No,” he admitted, softly. “No, I suppose it does not. I had not considered such a thing but that is not important at the present moment. Whatisimportant is the pain you feel and how I can help you with it.”
For the first time since the beginning of the conversation, Anna smiled at him and it was with such warmth, that Leopold’s heart filled up with genuine affection for his sister.
“A tea tray would help, I think.”
At her words, there came a knock at the door, and Leopold, grinning, rose to his feet and went to open it. “As requested.”
That made Anna laugh, startling the maid who clearly wondered whether she had done something wrong. Leopold ushered her in and then told Anna thathewould pour the tea rather than having her do it. In the ongoing conversation and the resulting lifting of Anna’s spirits, Leopold too found himself happier with the connection between them. It was only the beginning, he knew, but he was committed to making a profound change if only she would give him opportunity. Though the seeming interest between Melford and Lady Gwendoline…well, that required further consideration and, mayhap, some questions asked of his brother.
13
“It has been a fortnight since we last sat down together.”
Amelia nodded as Miss Sherwood glanced at her, continuing to speak.
“I know we have all been to various places in search of these missing books. You, Amelia, have also spoken to Lord Melford, Lady Anna, and Lady Gwendoline, I understand?”
Amelia nodded yes, glancing toward Lady Isobella. “There is something I need to say about that. Something I think is significant.”
“Oh?” Every head turned towards her, with Miss Trentworth leaning forward in her chair. “What is it?”
“It is something Lord Melford said.” Amelia had been considering this for a few days now, trying to make sense of it, to find some sort of explanation before she shared it with her friends but she had gotten no further with her thinking. The last thing she wanted to do was to suggest that Lord Melford was guilty of something without any real proof. “When we spoke to Mr. Lackington, he told us that there were three books returned, yes?”
All the bluestockings nodded.
“But Lord Melford told me that he had picked upfourbooks,” Amelia continued, her heart beating a little faster now. “I spoke with him upon his return but I cannot be certain how many he held in his hands, much to my frustration! I do not know what happened or how he could have picked up four but then only returned three and neither did I want to suggest that he is guilty of something when he is not… but there is something very strange going on here, I am sure of that.”
“Indeed, it does sound like it.” Miss Sherwood glanced around the room. “We have all managed to make our way to the various establishments, have we not? And have any of our enquiries been in any way successful?”
Amelia looked at each friend in turn as they all shook their heads.
“So we do not know where any of the books have gone?” she asked, as the confirming looks of frustration were returned to her. “These two gentlemen, whoever they were, took the most expensive books with them from the Temple and then ran from it. Only three were returned though Lord Melford stated he collected four.” Her lips pursed. “Could he just have been mistaken?”
Lady Isobella nodded. “I did consider that, given how clouded his thoughts were as he said, he might well have made a mistake.”
“He fell,” Amelia said, by way of explanation, “or was pushed, I think. He hit his head on one of the many shelves of books but it was not until he returned home that he realized he was injured.”
