Page 3

A melia hadn’t wanted to come to Lady Nosegay’s ball tonight. Reading a book quietly in the window embrasure of the townhouse her mother had leased for the season was her idea of an entertaining evening out; not music and dancing.

However, as her younger brother Edward had declared he wished to find himself a wife, their mama had insisted he needed a chaperone as much as any delicately reared debutante.

And a chaperone for Edward meant Amelia.

With a sigh, Amelia ignored the smile of a passing gentleman. She was not quite at the age where she could refuse to dance when it was requested, but she was certainly not going to encourage familiarity.

So far, her stony face had been sufficiently discouraging.

Just six more weeks, she reminded herself, pretending to study the weave of the heavy brocade curtains behind which she was trying to remain unobtrusive.

Six more weeks to endure all this…

She struggled to find the word to describe what it was she disliked so much and settled upon “gaiety”. Gaiety and hedonism. How could people pursue pleasure when there were so many more admirable pursuits?

Like acquiring knowledge.

She sighed again and reminded herself that in six weeks, she could pursue all the knowledge she desired.

Yes, the moment Amelia turned twenty-five, she would come into the small inheritance that had been set aside for her.

Finally, she could withdraw from the marriage mart and retire to the country where her inheritance would enable her to live modestly, no longer subject to the ridiculous hopes of her deluded mama who believed that if Amelia could lose her heart once, she could lose it again.

Nor, as an independent spinster, would she be subject to the dictates of her foolish brother who had come into his majority at twenty-one and thus, as the man of the family, made the decisions that affected Amelia and their mama.

Not that Edward was unkind and dictatorial. On the contrary, he was as soft as butter, which was why he needed careful managing.

Amelia turned her head quickly to avoid the gaze of that reprobate Sir Frederick, whose reckless antics on the Continent where he’d disappeared five years before had set tongues wagging.

Oh, she knew him well from her first season out and no greater contrast was there between pleasure-loving Sir Frederick and Amelia’s brave and noble Thomas.

Thomas had answered the call to protect his country and paid the ultimate price.

But what had Sir Frederick done other than carouse and take his pleasures as he chose?

Amelia leaned back in her chair and stared at the gilt work on the ceiling. She’d grow maudlin if she thought of Thomas, so long in the ground.

But her darling brother Edward had his future ahead of him and Amelia was pleased he was suddenly so eager to settle down to comfortable domesticity.

Nevertheless, his good nature made him susceptible to the influence of others.

He really needed a practical wife to counter his sentimental heart, which was why their mama had insisted Amelia keep a sisterly eye on him.

It had not been easy for Amelia to persuade Edward that she had no wish to marry and that no man could live up to the heroism of her faithful, honorable, and beloved Thomas.

But when Edward finally understood that spinsterhood and a quiet country life would make Amelia happy, her brother had shown the extent of his tender-heartedness.

Not only had he agreed to no longer pressure Amelia to find a husband, he’d even vowed that, as he wished so greatly for his sister’s happiness, he would do whatever necessary to facilitate her desires.

“If my sister wants to knit socks for one-legged returned soldiers, rather than gad about London ballrooms, she should be allowed to do it,” he’d loyally declared only hours before as they’d settled themselves in the carriage that was to take them to Lady Nosegay’s ball tonight.

Edward might not be the brightest star in the firmament, but he was loyal, and Amelia loved him for it.

*

So, having decided that Edward seemed disinterested in any of the pretty debutantes here tonight, Amelia felt she could relax; especially when she saw him advancing towards her from the card room, a very pleased grin upon his face.

“I take it luck was on your side.” Amelia matched his smile, for she liked to see him enjoy himself. When he found the right young lady, he’d make a doting husband, and Amelia would enjoy playing aunt to the nieces and nephews that, she hoped, would follow.

“Chance played right into my lap, sister dear.” He puffed out his chest.

“I am pleased! How much did you win?”

“Patience, Amelia, my most im patient one. My winnings will be delivered in a few short weeks.” He plucked a glass from the tray of a passing footman and handed it to his sister.

“You made a wager?”

“No need to sound so suspicious. I only make wagers when it’s a sure thing.”

“No wager is a sure thing, Edward.” Amelia was needled by the faintest alarm.

Edward looked a little too cocksure and a little too in his cups.

“You haven’t wagered what you can’t afford to lose, have you?

” Edward had little in the way of capital.

Though Amelia had argued that the townhouse they’d leased for the season was larger and in a more fashionable area than they could afford, Edward and their mama maintained it was necessary to keep up appearances if he was to find the sufficiently dowered young lady with whom he wished to fall in love.

Amelia’s arguments had fallen on deaf ears. Edward controlled the family finances.

“We won’t be rolling up the carpets, if that’s what you mean, Amelia.

” Edward seemed unperturbed by her concern.

“And I disagree with your observation. A wager is a sure thing when, for example—” He touched the side of his nose and winked.

“—a fellow overhears Sir Frederick speak of marriage to a golden-haired nymph.”

Edward had made a wager on this ? Amelia’s alarm ratcheted up to monumental proportions. “Speak plainly, Edward!” she snapped. “What, exactly, are the terms of your wager? What have you wagered?”

Edward took a sip of his champagne, and his happy, inebriated smile broadened. Amelia followed his gaze, which narrowed in on the far corner where Sir Frederick continued in close conversation with his fair companion.

“I wagered that nothing could be more of a sure thing than Sir Frederick walking down the aisle with a tiny, golden-haired nymph before the season is ended,” he said, pointing. “And, having just overheard the happy pair over yonder speak of marriage, I knew when a wager was a sure thing.”

“No, Edward!”

“Yes, indeed.” Edward remained unruffled by his sister’s alarm.

“I told you, I overheard the happy couple speak of marriage with my very own ears. And if Sir Frederick is a happy man right now for ensuring his future, I am even happier because I’ve been able to secure your future, Amelia.

That small inheritance of yours which would only allow you to live modestly?

Why, I’ve doubled it. In a few short weeks—”

Amelia’s horror culminated with an enraged gasp. “You’ve wagered my inheritance ?” She began to tremble. “On the fact Sir Frederick will marry in six weeks—?”

“Exactly. A golden-haired siren , I believe, was the term since it was based on the description of the young lady to whom I overheard him speak of marriage.”

“But Edward—”

“Calm down, sis. It’s a sure bet, I tell you, and in fact I’m very sorry to hear that you think I’ve lost your inheritance when in fact I’ve ensured—”

“You haven’t! And my inheritance was yours to hold in trust until my twenty-fifty birthday, Edward! And that’s only six weeks away. Please don’t tell me you’ve wagered it all on a bet you are about to lose .”

Edward patted her shoulder with that same fond, frighteningly inebriated smile upon his face and said, reassuringly, “I’ve just returned from writing it up in White’s Betting Book—”

“No, Edward!”

“Indeed, I have. You see, it’s like legal insider trading. I saw with my own eyes Sir Frederick disappear into a dark corner with that engaging little blonde chit—just the kind I’ve heard he’s partial to—and when I followed them, I heard him very distinctly, speak of marriage—”

“But Edward—”

“My dear Amelia, when Sir Frederick announces his betrothal to a golden-haired maiden within days—though I’ve been cautious and allowed six weeks—Roger Morley will have to hand over twice the size of your inheritance.

And, just so you can buy as many books as you like, and to prove how fond a brother I am, I shall give it all to you.

In six weeks, when Sir Frederick walks down the aisle with his diverting blonde, you will be able to retire to the country a rich woman. ”

“No, Edward!” Amelia clapped her hands to her mouth. “I can’t believe what you’re saying!” She pointed to the couple her brother had indicated. “There is Sir Frederick, but if that is the blonde young lady to whom you heard him speak of marriage, then Hell will freeze over before he weds her!”

“Amelia!” He was shocked. “It is unlike you to blaspheme and certainly not in public. How can you possibly know—”

“Because she’s his sister !”

There was no satisfaction in seeing the dismay on her brother’s face. Amelia knew Edward had acted with the best of intentions. It’s what made matters worse.

“But, sis, I really thought—I mean, I was so sure I was doing you a favor—”

“Yes, Edward, I know—”

“Sir Frederick has only been back in the country a couple of months and there’s been no mention of a sister.”