Page 27 of The Missing Book (Bluestocking Book Club #3)

“ I t 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 a request 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,” she said, 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.”

Lady Amelia blinked, her fingers pressing into his shoulder. “For a gentleman who is so concerned with propriety, I am astonished that you would kiss me without any hesitation, Lord Broughton.”

Heat poured into Leopold’s face and he made to drop his hand, only for her to smile up at him.

“I am very glad that you did.”

Leopold was about to drop his head and kiss her again when what she had said about blame made him rear back. “You think that someone in my family might have been involved in the theft of the books?”

Lady Amelia bit her lip. “I do not know for certain,” she said, after a few moments of silence. “But that is what I hope to find out.”

Leopold nodded slowly, a knot of worry tightening in his stomach.

He did not know what to say, thinking to himself that surely there could be no possible reason for either Melford or Anna to take the books!

“Even if that is what comes to light, that will not change how I feel when it comes to you, Amelia,” he said, boldly. “I want you to know that.”

Lifting her hand, she settled it against his cheek, sending fire roaring down into his chest. “I do now,” she said, ever so softly. “In fact, I do not think I should ever doubt it again.”

Leopold ignored the curious looks that were sent to him by both Anna and Melford as he came into the room.

Lady Amelia and Lady Isobella were to join them all a few minutes later to give the impression that they had not been speaking alone together, though Leopold was quite certain everyone would ascertain as to why he was a little later than the rest.

“Lady Gwendoline, good afternoon,” he said, a little surprised to see her there. “Lady Rosalyn, Miss Trentworth, Miss Sherwood.” Bowing, he walked to sit down beside Anna. “I hope you are all well.”

“We are,” Miss Sherwood said, with a smile. “Should you like something to drink? The tea tray has just now been sent up.”

Leopold nodded and soon the room was busy with tea, cake, and conversation, only for that to all fall silent as Lady Amelia and Lady Isobella came into the room.

Lady Amelia smiled though she did, to Leopold’s eyes, appear a little ill at ease.

The way her eyes darted from one face to the next, the way she clasped her hands tightly in her lap once she sat down told him she was a little anxious.

The twisting in his stomach intensified as he caught her gaze, seeing how she licked her lips.

Just what was she going to say?

“Thank you all for coming.” Lady Amelia looked around the room. “I know that we invited you here to take tea with us but the truth is, there is something more important that we wish to discuss.”

“Oh?” Lady Gwendoline’s eyebrows lifted though a light smile graced her lips. “What is it?”

Lady Amelia looked back at her. “It is about the theft of the books from the Temple,” she said clearly, as Lady Gwendoline’s smile began to fade. “I think, though I cannot be sure, that we, the bluestocking book club, have found the culprit responsible for the theft.”

A gasp came from Anna though Leopold, who had already been aware of this, said nothing.

“Do you mean to state that you know who stole the books?” Lord Melford asked as Lady Amelia nodded. “That is wonderful! I am sure Mr. Lackington will be delighted.”

“I am certain he shall be, though we must still recover the books,” Miss Trentworth said, as every eye turned to her. “We do not know where they are gone. Though we do hope that very soon, we will be told.”

Because they think someone here is responsible, Leopold thought to himself, glancing around the room but struggling to come up with any sort of explanation as to why anyone within the room would have done such a thing.

“You think you will be told by someone here,” he heard Anna say, turning his attention towards her and seeing her frown. “You think that one of us here has stolen the books and is involved with the gentlemen who stole them.”

With a small nod, Lady Amelia spread out her hands. “I might well be wrong,” she said, in a calm voice that Leopold was quite sure she had to force. “But let us begin by telling you what we do know.”

“Please do!” Melford said, seemingly interested. “I should be glad to know what you have discovered.”

Lady Amelia’s gaze centered on Lord Melford. “You shall,” she said, ever so quietly. “And we shall have to know all from you.”