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“Go on then and look,” Amber suggested.

Felicity didn’t need to be told twice. Amber couldn’t bring herself to watch their reactions. She stared at the wall and waited.

When they didn’t say anything after a few minutes, she couldn’t take it anymore. “Well?” she demanded. “Say something?”

Felicity shook her head. “Forgive me, Amber. I wasn’t expecting this. These are incredible.”

“What?” She looked over in shock at Felicity’s words.

“I mean it. I don’t think I’ve seen anything like these before. Where did you learn this?”

“I don’t know—I mean no one taught me if that’s what you’re asking. My mother taught me the basics of embroidery, but most of it was a long process of trial and error.”

“It’s incredible that you were able to come up with all of this on your own!”

She ducked her head. “It’s nothing, really.”

“You’re being too humble. Christopher, tell her!”

Amber’s eyes flew to the man who up until now had been silent. He had one of her pieces held in his hands, looking down on it with an unreadable expression. “It is unlike anything I’ve ever seen before, that’s for sure.”

“I can’t tell if I should thank you or be offended.”

“He means it as a compliment,” Felicity glared. “Don’t you.”

“Of course,” he said in a tone that made her no less sure of his sincerity.

“Lady Felicity,” a voice called from the other side of the room.

She turned with a sigh. “I promised Rebecca I would go for a walk with her. Don’t worry, we can catch up more when I get back. I shouldn’t be too long.”

Amber nodded. “Of course. Enjoy your walk.”

She turned to go. Amber turned to Chistopher, but he was already getting to his feet.

As he stood, he leaned in close.

“Come to the study in ten minutes. We need to talk.”

Then he was gone.

CHAPTER6

Christopher made his way through the crowded parlor with succinct purpose. He’d asked Amber to meet him, so he knew he needed to move fast, but he couldn’t afford to alert anyone who might notice that he was up to something. Still, he needed to ensure he got there before her. The last thing he wanted was for her to think he had stood her up, not when he needed to talk to her sooner rather than later.

He needed to be quick.

But as he made his way through the room, he bumped into Felicity. Well, that wasn’t quite right.

Saying he bumped into her implied it was an accident or coincidental, but that wasn’t entirely true. When she saw how determinedly he was walking, she couldn’t resist. A grin appeared on her face as she made her way over to him. She knew he was up to something, and she was like a bloodhound when it came to gossip.

“I thought you were going on a walk,” he said, trying to move past her.

She stopped him, moving to block his way. “We were, and we will be in a moment, but she forgot her parasol, so I’m waiting for her to get it.”

“Of course, I hope you enjoy yourself.”

“Wait!” she called, stopping him before he could try for another escape. “Where are you off to?”