Page 25 of Lord of Fortune
“It’s only dinner.”
“And sleuthing.”
He grinned. “And sleuthing.”
“All right.”
Had she just agreed? He wouldn’t ask for confirmation, lest she change her mind. “Septon House is an hour away, near Bradford on Avon. If you like, you can spend the night as well.”
Her blonde brows arched high enough on her forehead he feared they might fly away. “That is more than abitscandalous.”
“Only if we allow it.” He shouldn’t have said it, but he couldn’t help himself.
“You’re flirting.” Her eyes narrowed. “You must stop. We have a tenuous affiliation and nothing more. Do not make me regret it.”
He held up his hands in surrender. “I promise I won’t.”
She climbed into her coach then, and the coachman closed the door behind her.
Penn watched as they drove away. He’d never looked forward to a dinner more.
* * *
As her coachpulled into the drive leading to Septon House, Amelia wondered for the hundredth time if she hadn’t made a mistake. Because she and Pennwereat cross-purposes. Because she was going to the home of a man who belonged to this mysterious and perhaps dangerous Order. Because she and Penn would bealone.
And she’d packed a bag since it looked as though it might rain. She didn’t want to get stuck in bad weather late at night.
She reminded herself—also for the hundredth time—that Andy, Cassie, and Selina had made a point of praising Penn. She’d gone to their meeting to see if they knew him, and if so, if he could be trusted. She had her answer. At least according to them.
If she were honest with herself, and she really tried to be after what she’d endured, she had to admit he’d demonstrated a keen interest in proving his helpfulness and trustworthiness. He had given her Grandfather’s letter, and he’d invited her here tonight. Hopefully, it would be worth her time and effort.
The coach came to a stop, and her maid jolted instantly awake. She rubbed a hand over one eye and blinked. “We’re here?”
“Yes.”
“Sorry, didn’t mean to fall asleep.” Culley gave Amelia a sheepish smile.
“Don’t apologize. It’s a perfectly good time to nap.”
The door opened, and Horatio helped Amelia step down into the graveled drive. A fat drop of rain landed on her sleeve, causing her to hurry toward the door. The butler welcomed her inside.
“Good evening, Mrs. Forrest. I trust you had a pleasant journey. I can show you to your room, or if you’d like to join Mr. Bowen in the library, I can show you there instead.”
She was anxious to see if her trip had been in vain. “I’ll join Mr. Bowen, thank you, and you can show my maid, Culley, to my room.”
Culley had come in behind her and now rushed forward to help remove Amelia’s pelisse. She also took Amelia’s hat and gloves before the butler motioned for a footman to show her upstairs. The butler then bowed to Amelia. “If you’ll just follow me.”
She trailed him through the entry hall and into perhaps the grandest room she’d ever seen. The large, elegant drawing room contained many antiquities: tapestries, pottery, weapons, and probably many other things she didn’t have time to see.
They moved into an even larger room with wide windows on the opposite side. Bookshelves lined the massive space, and Penn stood on a ladder halfway up one wall, his arm extended as he reached for a book.
“Mrs. Forrest has arrived.”
Penn turned his head and smiled. “Excellent, thank you, Peverell. Do let us know when dinner is served.”
The butler bowed before taking himself off, leaving them precisely as Amelia had both expected and feared: alone. Why was she afraid? Because he flirted with her. No, because shelikedit.
Penn clutched the book in his hand and made his way down the ladder. “I’m so glad you came.” He strode toward her but stopped at a respectable distance. His expression darkened. “Is something amiss?”
