My Favorite Major (Heroes Returned Book 1) (10 page)

The countess’ hazel eyes widened. “Your father did mention a broken betrothal.”

Amelia wasn’t surprised. Papa wasn’t at all happy about her decision. “Yet you took me in anyway?”

Cordie smiled. “I had a broken betrothal of my own before Clayworth. I’m the very last person who would pass judgment, Amelia. And you are family.”

Distant though it was. Still, Amelia was grateful for the Clayworths’ hospitality, so she thought the better of saying as much. “He arrived so suddenly and he challenged Major Moore right in the middle of the theatre. It still seems a blur.”

The countess nodded. “Yes, my brother told me everything. Tristan,” she added, “not Russell.”

The elusive Lieutenant Avery whom Amelia had yet to meet. Wonderful. Major Moore was right. By morning, everyone would know of their betrothal and of the duel. “Can’t you talk some sense into the major? I couldn’t stand it if he was hurt or worse because of me.”

Cordie squeezed Amelia’s hand. “I’m not sure I can fix this one, but I’ll speak to Russell…”

“
No—” Amelia shook her head “—he said he wouldn’t make the captain his second. He named Lieutenant Avery.”

“
Did he indeed?” Cordie scowled. “Tristan was remiss in mentioning that. Do you know who your Mr. Mason would choose as his second?”

No one in London that Amelia knew. She shook her head. “I’m afraid I don’t know as much about Mr. Mason as I thought.”

“
Then I suppose it is best you broke your engagement. I know I made the right decision when I broke mine.” Then she slid her arm around Amelia’s shoulders. “Chin up. Get some sleep, and we’ll sort everything out in the morning.”

Amelia hugged the countess back. “Thank you.”

“
Just make him happy, Amelia. That’s all the thanks I could ever ask for.”

Guilt swamped Amelia. The countess, the captain, everyone wanted Major Moore to be happy, but she couldn’t give anyone that. “It’s not real,” she blurted out before she could stop herself.

Cordie pulled out of their embrace to stare at her. “What’s not real?”

“
The betrothal,” Amelia whispered. “He only said he was my betrothed to protect me from Mr. Mason. It’s not real.”

A sad smile settled on the countess’ face. “A hero to the very last, isn’t he?” She smoothed a hand across Amelia’s hair.

“
He is,” Amelia agreed as she sat up a little straighter. “And I wish I could bring him the happiness that everyone wishes for him, but I can’t. He still loves your friend. He told me so this very evening.”

“
I know he does,” Cordie sighed. “It nearly breaks my heart.”

“
He said we’d find a solution that didn’t involve a marriage between us. But the only option is for me to cry off. So when all of this is over, what am I going to do, Cordie? If Papa finds out I’ve jilted another fiancé, he’ll be furious. I’ll have a terrible reputation. And—”

“
Shh.” The countess placed her finger over Amelia’s lip. “We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it.” Then she heaved another sigh. “May I ask you a question?”

“
Of course.”

“
You said you wished you could bring him happiness?”

Amelia nodded. “I truly do.”

“
And why is that? You’ve not known him very long.”

The question nearly knocked Amelia from the bed. Why, indeed? She wasn’t sure. “He seems a wonderful man, an honorable one.” And there were too few of those in the world, in Amelia’s opinion.

“
Is that all?”

Amelia blinked at Cordie. “I don’t think I understand what you’re asking me.”

“
You haven’t fallen for him, have you?”

A nervous laugh escaped Amelia as the memory of their kiss flashed in her mind. “Fallen for him?” What a mistake that would be, since he openly admitted to still loving his former fiancée. “As you said, I haven’t known him all that long.”

“
Sometimes it only takes one meeting.”

Amelia shook her head. “He is the sort of man I want to fall for – honest and honorable. But more than anything I want what you and Clayworth have, Cordie. I want a husband who is all those things, but one who is capable of loving me.”

“
But if he could…”

“
You know as well as I do that he can’t.”

Finally, Cordie agreed with a nod of her head. “Try to get some sleep and we’ll reconvene in the morning.” The countess started for the door, then turned back and smiled one last time at Amelia. “I think you’re the sort for him, too, if that makes you feel any better.”

How could it, when a death sentence had been placed on his head because of her? “I can’t have his death on my conscience, Cordie. We have to do something.”

Her friend nodded in understanding. “Men and their foolishness. I thought I’d pulled off a miracle the last time, but Philip seems bound and determined to see a blasted duel all the way through.”

Amelia’s mouth fell open. “A miracle? Did you have something to do with the previous outcome?”

An instant blush stained Cordie’s cheeks and she shook her head. “I should never have said that. Russell and Lord Haversham would both kill me if word about that got out.”

“
Lord Haversham?” Amelia scrambled off the bed and rushed to the countess’ side. Was he someone who could help?

“
The Duke of Kelfield’s second,” Cordie explained. “Fortunately I happened to be on friendly terms with Haversham, and Russell can be manipulated.”

The first ray of hope had sprung in Amelia’s heart. “What did you do, Cordie? Please tell me.” If the countess’ previous actions could be duplicated…

Cordie’s brow furrowed. “It doesn’t matter what I did before. The same thing wouldn’t work again. Philip will ensure any arrangement Tristan makes will be to the death. And we don’t have any idea who your Mr. Mason would choose as his second. The two would have to be in agreement. I don’t see that happening this time.”

Neither did Amelia. So she’d have to figure something else out, and without the luxury of a lot of time. “Do you employ someone you think could locate Mr. Mason for me?”

Cordie nodded. “I do have a reliable footman or two.”

Amelia heaved a sigh. “I think I should get word to him. Maybe I can convince him to give up this foolishness. Major Moore did allow him the day to reconsider.”

“
Do you think that wise?”

Amelia shrugged. “What other choice do I have?”

Philip dropped into a seat at the breakfast table and rested his cane against the arm of his chair. A footman poured a bit of black coffee in his cup and placed a slice of toast in front of Philip. Even though his stomach rumbled a bit from hunger, the idea of actually eating was not a welcome one. What the devil had he done the night before?

Betrothed. Dear God.

His sudden plan had seemed like such a good idea at the time. But after tossing and turning all night long, replaying Amelia’s kiss in his mind, Philip was seriously judging his own sanity.

“
Scowling so early in the morning?” Russell bounded through the door and dropped into the seat across from Philip. Then he nodded for the footman to pour him a cup of coffee. “I would think—” he turned his attention back to Philip”—that a fellow in your spot should be wearing a grin.”

Damn Russell and his cheerful morning disposition. “My spot?” Philip grumbled.

“
Newly betrothed,” his friend clarified with a grin of his own.

Bloody hell. Everyone did already know. “A very sudden thing,” he muttered.

“
I’ll say. No wonder you were so adamant about escorting her home last night.”

Philip glared at his old friend instead of actually replying, but doing so only made Russell’s smile grow even wider.

“
I’ll have to have a talk with her today. A newly betrothed man shouldn’t be so surly. Girl must be doing something wrong. Perhaps a few pointers…”

“
So help me God, if you mutter the words substandard kisser I’ll remove your head from your shoulders.” Besides, it wasn’t even true. Her kiss was delightful and sensual and… Damn it all to hell. The last thing Philip needed was to think about that kiss again.

“
Ah,” Tristan grumbled from the doorway. “You’re both here, I see.”

“
Good morning, little brother.”

Tristan ignored Russell’s greeting and nodded at Philip. “We have been summoned to Clayworth House this morning.” He waved a note in the air.

Philip somehow kept from groaning. What would he say to Clayworth? To Cordie? To Amelia? Oh, Amelia. Her image flashed in his mind, and his heart squeezed a bit. How was she handling all the questions that must be buzzing around her at Clayworth House? Cordie was most likely making a nuisance of herself, begging for details of the non-existent courtship. The faster he got there to rescue Amelia, the better.

His chair scraped against the floor as he pushed back to stand up. His leg throbbed, and he reached for his cane. “I was just headed there.”

“
You haven’t had even a crumb to eat,” Russell complained.

“
Have you given any thought to resigning your commission and becoming a nursemaid?” Philip scowled.

Russell shook his head. “I can’t imagine I’d meet too many ladies in that line of work. No, I think I’ll hang on to my uniform a bit longer, thank you.”

“
You can tell my sister I’ll be around shortly,” Tristan grumbled as he turned tail and stalked from the room.

Russell looked after his brother in confusion. “Two of you in rotten moods in the morning. It’s like Toulouse all over again.”

“
Perhaps he’s just tired of
you
,” Philip remarked as he started for the threshold, leaning heavily on his cane.

Russell chuckled from his spot at the table. “I hardly think that’s the case.”

After taking a steadying breath, Philip stepped over the threshold into Cordie Clayworth’s green parlor.

The countess looked up from a note she was perusing and folded it quickly when she spotted him. She rose from the settee and greeted him with a smile. “So good of you to come so early, Philip.”