Page 36 of The Missing Book
A sad smile touched the corners of Amelia’s lips. “That is my thought, yes. That way, Lord Broughton would be more likely to agree to the marriage. Somehow and in some way, the books were taken deliberately, with Lord Melford involved in the theft.”
“But why pursue them?” Lady Rosalyn asked, frowning. “Why make it appear that he was the one chasing after them and thereafter, returning three?”
Amelia clasped her hands tightly in her lap, aware that she was doing nothing more than speculating. “If it was all planned in advance, then he must have had to make sure that Lord Winslow and the other gentleman, whoever he was, did as was asked. I suspect that the gentlemen who ran were permitted to take a book each whilst Lord Melford took four back with him. The books can be sold for a significant sum and then shared between the three of them. That way, they gain something as does Lord Melford.”
Silence was her response as the other bluestockings all began to consider what she had said. Amelia licked her lips, wondering if she had been foolish in her thinking, only for Lady Isobella and Lady Rosalyn to look back at her and nod.
“I think you are right,” Lady Rosalyn said, speaking slowly. “Though I must wonder what happened to the fourth book. If Lord Melford only returned three, then one was still in his possession somewhere. Where is it gone? And why did he take it? Why not let the other gentlemen have it if they were to sell the other ones regardless?”
“Mayhap so it would not raise suspicion?” Miss Sherwood suggested. “If all three books were sold in different places, then there is only a small chance that they will be discovered.”
“I suppose that is true,” Miss Trentworth mused, her brow furrowed. “I must say, Amelia, it does make sense. Though the only way to discover it is if we ask Lady Gwendoline and Lord Melford.”
Pressing her lips tightly together, Amelia nodded. “I know that.”
“But with your improved connection to Lord Broughton, is that something you want to do?” Miss Trentworth continued, speaking gently now. “It may jeopardize what you have built.”
Swallowing hard, Amelia looked down at her clasped hands. “I have to do what is right,” she said, quietly. “My connectionto Lord Broughton has, as you have all noticed, improved vastly to the point that I am now beginning to find myself fond of him, though that has astonished me as much as I am sure it will astonish you!” Looking up, she saw one or two rueful smiles returned to her. “But that does not matter. What I must do is what is right and that means trying to find out who stole the books and why.” She licked her lips. “Though I may try to soften the blow by speaking with Lord Broughton first about it all.”
“Do you think that wise?” Miss Sherwood sounded doubtful. “He may say something to his brother and then refuse to meet.”
“Then I shall speak with him only a few minutes before the meeting, once it is arranged,” Amelia replied, her heart beginning to pain her at the thought of losing Lord Broughton’s company. She wanted him to trust her, to continue to pull close to her but with this dark truth potentially threatening to cover over his family, she could not imagine how he would respond. “Thishasto be spoken of, wehaveto find the truth.”
Her friends all nodded.
“Then if we are all satisfied, I shall invite them all here for tea tomorrow,” she said, recalling that Lord Broughton had made his intention of calling upon her very soon quite clear. Would he think it strange thatshehad arranged a meeting instead? Her stomach knotted, worry biting down at her as her friends all nodded their agreement. “Then you are all welcome to join me,” she said, pushing aside her anxiety as best she could. “Let us hope that, tomorrow, we find out the truth in all its entirety.”And that Lord Broughton will not, in his upset, turn his back on me either.
16
“It is unusual that we have all been asked to come to call,” Anna reflected, as Leopold waited for one of the footmen to open the door of the carriage to let them out to the house. “Lady Amelia must be eager to see you, Broughton, but she could not simply invite you alone for that would not be in the least bit proper!”
Leopold rolled his eyes but could not hide his smile, though Melford did not respond in any way. Instead, he climbed out first, even before Anna. It was on instinct that Leopold thought to respond, to tell him that he should not have done such a thing, only for him to catch his first word and bite it back. It resulted in a strange guttural sound which made him flush but Anna, to his surprise, touched his arm and smiled.
“You did very well there,” she said, giving him a small nod before making her way out of the carriage. Leopold took a moment, breathing in that small sense of victory – and of happiness – before he too followed his sister.
“My lord.” The butler was ready and waiting, taking hats and gloves and directing Melford and Anna to the drawing-room before turning to Leopold. “Lord Broughton, there has been arequest made that you step into the parlor for a moment. Lady Amelia and one of her friends are hoping you will give them a moment of your time.”
This made Leopold’s heart leap upwards though he schooled his expression into one of outer calm. “But of course.” The butler directed him and Leopold made his way there at once, his pulse racing as he stepped into the room. For a moment, he envisioned Lady Amelia there alone, throwing herself into his arms and whispering in his ear that she had felt such a great desire to be this close to him that she simply could not wait any longer… only for him to take in not only Lady Amelia but also Lady Isobella.
“Thank you for coming to speak with me, Lord Broughton.” Lady Amelia smiled but her eyes held shadows, making him frown. “It will only take a few minutes but there is something I need to tell you. Something that you will not be particularly pleased about, I fear.”
Leopold frowned, watching as Lady Isobella stepped out of the room though the door remained open and he presumed she was now waiting in the hallway. This was not at all what he had hoped for nor what he had anticipated and that sent a slow growing sense of dread into his heart. Was she about to tell him that this had been a mistake? That she ought never to have spoken of her heart in the way she had done? Mayhap that was why his sister and brother had been invited along with him, so that there would not be any strange awkwardness between them thereafter.
“You look uncertain and I cannot blame you for that,” she told him, a light touch of pink in her cheeks. “Truth be told, it is because of my selfishness that I have asked you here.”
“Selfishness?” Leopold repeated, all the more confused. “What do you mean?”
Lady Amelia closed her eyes and let out a small sigh. “I am to speak to your brother and your sister about the books,” shesaid, keeping her eyes closed. “I have a reason for it – all of the bluestockings do – but I am afraid that when I do so, it will drive a wedge between us and push us apart from each other.” When she finally opened her eyes and looked back at him, Leopold could see a glimmer of tears in her eyes and, on instinct, walked closer to her so that he might offer her comfort in some way. Not all she had said made sense and he certainly did not fully understand what she meant about the books, but the only thing that mattered to him in this moment was that her fears were cast aside.
“Nothing that you could say would tear me away from you, I assure you,” he said, gently touching her hand though he did not grasp her fingers for fear that someone would walk into the room and see. “I do not fully understand why you are so afraid, but – ”
“Because if something is said that places blame upon someone in your family, you may very well want nothing more to do with me!”
The fear leaping up into her eyes, the wobble in her voice, and the tremble about her lips forced Leopold to act. Before he had even thought about what he was doing, he slipped one arm about her waist and then, lowering his head, caught her lips with his.
It was a wonderful, frightening, dizzying moment but much to Leopold’s relief, she did not move away. Instead, Lady Amelia softened against him, one hand settling on his shoulder as what felt like a pool of light settled in Leopold’s core. Realizing just how quickly his heart was beginning to race and how much he wanted to linger, Leopold reluctantly pulled back, swallowing hard as he looked down into her face.
“I should not have done that, I know, but I could not help myself.”
