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“Ah...” she said again. “It’s fine.”

“How is that possible?” Lord Malnor knelt beside her to check the ankle. “Are you sure?”

“What is going on?” her father demanded, still atop his horse. “Lord Malnor said you twisted your ankle. But now you’re walking alone. And where is His Grace?!”

“I thought I had.” Amelia gave her head a shake, forcing herself to concentrate. “But it was not as bad as it seemed. And His Grace... he ran into someone he knew, so I left him.”

“Really?” Lord Malnor frowned.

“Really?” Martha’s eyes flashed over the Marquess’ shoulder.

“What are you doing here, Martha?” Amelia accused. “I thought you were with your father.”

“I was,” she shrugged. “But I bumped into Lord Malnor, and he told me what had happened. So, I thought I’d come along for the ride, so to speak.” She winked, and Amelia frowned, no idea what she meant by that.

“I’m sorry to cause such a fuss,” Amelia said. She was very aware of her father watching her, and so, even though she didn’t want to, she committed herself back to the ruse. “And I’m sorry to cut our walk so short.”

“It’s fine, really.” Lord Malnor stood. “I’m just glad you’re all right.”

“But if you would like...” Her words caught in her throat, guilt over what had just happened, what she knew to be true in her heart, how terrible a person she was... “We can continue now? There’s no reason that —”

“I’m afraid that won’t be possible,” Lord Malnor grimaced. “I promised to give Miss Forbes a ride home. Her father made me swear it.”

“Oh, he did not!” Martha cried.

He chuckled. “Either way, it is the right thing to do. So, we’re going to have to take that walk another time.”

Any chance of feeling positively overwhelmed with joy at the prospect of not having to commit herself to trying to seduce Lord Malnor today was impossible to express because her father glared down at her like he meant to climb from the horse and demand that Lord Malnor finish their walk. And Amelia shuddered to think of the conversation they’d be having when they arrived home, how she was to blame for all of this, how she wasn’t taking it seriously, how her very livelihood depended on her seducing the poor man.

But then her father spoke, and everything changed.

“It’s perfectly fine, Lord Malnor. I’m sure there will be ample time to accompany my daughter for a walk this weekend.”

“Ah, yes. Good point.”

“This weekend?” Amelia looked confusedly at her father.

Her father grinned. “It was Lord Malnor’s idea, in fact. What, with the Season being in full swing and everything, he suggested that we throw a party. Or that somebody should. Not a ball, for those are a trifling thing to organize, but a weekend among friends and contemporaries. Dinners. Drinks. Perhaps some hunting if we find the time.”

“I do hope so,” Lord Malnor agreed. “It’s been a while since my last hunt.”

“You hunt?” Martha giggled. “I don’t believe it.”

“How dare you!” He pretended to act insulted. “I will have you know that I am an exquisite hunter. And now that I have a point to prove...” He raised both eyebrows warningly at Martha.

Lord Lindstone glared at the riposte and cleared his throat. “Be that as it may, we’ll be seeing you this weekend, Lord Malnor?”

“I’m already looking forward to it,” he agreed. “And Madam...” He turned back to Amelia and held his hand out for her, to which she gave her own. “It was a pleasure seeing you today, and I’m already looking forward to this weekend.” A kiss on the back of the hand.

“As am I, My Lord.” She curtsied and did her best to produce a sincere smile.

“I’ll see you then also,” Martha announced as she moved to Lord Malnor’s horse. “Fare thee well!” she exclaimed with exaggeration as she climbed atop the horse and waved her goodbyes.

Lord Malnor grinned as he joined her, gave a shake of the head, and then fixed Amelia and her father with a friendly smile before kicking his feet into his mount and steering it back down the path.

A brief moment passed as Amelia and her father watched him go. Just long enough to ensure that Lord Malnor was out of ear shot...

“This is your last chance, Amelia.”