Authors: Ruth J. Hartman
“
Now you can meet him.”
“
Him?” A squint didn’t produce any more results to the area to which she pulled him. Perhaps his eyes were failing him. He was too young for that. If that were the case, however, he’d make sure the last thing he ever saw was Amelia’s face.
May as well start now
. He turned and stared at her eyes, nose and mouth. Trying to memorize them.
“
What are you doing?” Amelia reached to her cheek. “Do I have something on my face?”
“
What? Oh—”
“
I suppose it could be some asparagus from dinner.”
“
But—”
“
Don’t you hate when you wear part of your meal?”
Annie stepped forward. “Miss Amelia, have some decorum.” She shook her head so quickly that her hat wobbled.
Amelia glared at her maid. “Annie, don’t forget your
place
.
”
Annie sputtered out some unintelligible words. Were the two women always at such odds?
“
Come, Conrad, you still need to meet Sunny.”
“
Sunny?”
“
Of course, he’s right over there.”
He lowered his eyebrows. “I’m afraid I don’t see anyone.”
“
He’s on the bench.”
Conrad stared at the wrought iron garden bench and blinked. The only thing on it was a…
Oh no
. A fat ginger-colored cat lay on its back, its green eyes wide and unblinking.
And… Conrad took a better look. The vile rodent was smiling at
him
.
“
Come over and meet him, won’t you?”
He stared at Amelia. Meet him? She must be daft. All that sun and outdoor air had addled her brain.
She tugged on his arm so hard he stumbled. “Amelia, I thought you were going to let me take the lead, remember?”
Crimson spread from her collar to her face. “Pardon.”
“
Never mind. I’m coming to see it’s just who you are.”
Her smile could have outrivaled the too-bright sun. “Why thank you. That’s so sweet.” She gave a mightier jerk on his arm that propelled him forward, nearly to his knees.
“
When I said that, I didn’t think you’d be separating my arm from the rest of my person.”
With a giggle, Amelia shrugged. “Ready to say hello?”
To you? Any time.
She turned to the bench. And that cat.
Drat
. It seemed his betrothed wouldn’t rest until he was properly introduced to her animal. May as well get the unpleasantness behind him.
Amelia let go of Conrad’s arm, instead grabbing his hand. She bent forward and got very close to the cat, that blinked its eyes at her and… Conrad leaned forward as well. The blasted thing winked.
“
Conrad.” Amelia pulled him down to his knees at the same time she knelt by the bench. “This is Sunny.”
Conrad stared at the animal, which stared right back. A shudder ran through Conrad.
How revolting
. Everything in him wanted to not only stand but turn and run far away from the furry beast.
But he stayed.
Again, it was Amelia’s influence that caused him to do things he never would have considered in the past. If she wanted him to meet her cat then meet it he would. He gritted his teeth against the unpleasantness that was sure to follow.
How does one address a smiling vermin?
Conrad turned his head toward Amelia, hoping for some instruction. None came.
I cannot believe I’m doing this.
Conrad forced a smile he was sure resembled a grimace. “Good day, Sunny. I’m… pleased to… meet you.”
A loud rattle emerged from somewhere deep inside Sunny’s innards.
Conrad gasped. “What is wrong with it?”
“
Wrong? Why nothing. Why do you ask?”
“
It’s… he’s… There’s a sound coming from…” Conrad pointed to the cat.
“
Oh that. He’s just purring.”
What a horrid noise
. “Ah.”
Please make it stop.
“
Sunny purrs when he’s happy.”
I’d hate to hear him when he’s vexed.
“How nice.”
She glanced from Conrad to her cat and back. “I think he likes you.”
Splendid.
“Oh?”
“
He usually only purrs for me. That he would do it for someone else, someone of whom he’s just made their acquaintance, is extraordinary.”
More like ghastly
. “Indeed.”
“
Perhaps you’d like to hold him?”
“
I… you see… there isn’t… I can’t—”
Suddenly, Amelia thrust Sunny into Conrad’s arms.
Oh the humanity
.
“
Isn’t he soft?”
Conrad endured the silent scream that echoed in his head.
Why? Why does she
have to love cats? Birds? Nature?
Why couldn’t Amelia like to sit inside and view the awful trees, dirt and wildlife through the safety of window glass?
“
Conrad? You’ve gone quite pale.”
He closed his eyes briefly and took a deep, relaxing breath.
I must do this. I have to make friends with the furry beast who is at this moment
staring at me. I’ll accomplish the barbaric task… for Amelia.
“
Are you ill?” Amelia placed her hand on his forehead. Warmth enveloped his face and neck. Wonderful, beautiful, comforting warmth.
Conrad fixed his gaze on hers. Her green eyes rivaled Sunny’s in intensity and fire. Did she even realize that she had a trait in common with her cat? “I… I’m fine, Amelia.”
“
You’re certain? You looked as if you were close to fainting.”
Wouldn’t that be perfect? It would be the humiliation of being in the surgeon-dentist’s room all over again. “I wasn’t expecting to actually…”
“
Actually, what?”
“
Hold
him.”
“
Why ever not? Haven’t you ever had a pet?”
He shrugged. “I’m afraid not.”
Moisture formed around her lower eyelids. “How sad.”
“
I’ve never known any different, so it mattered not to me growing up.”
She smiled, her plump lips stretching wide. “Once we’re wed, you can share Sunny with me.”
Another silent scream tried to force its way out of his mouth. Sunny would live with them? With
him?
Amelia reached out her hand and stroked the cat’s long fur. “You see, Sunny has always been my best friend. I couldn’t bear to leave him when I move out of my parents’ estate. You don’t mind, do you?”
She leaned closer and blinked. Her long eyelashes swept across the freckles scattered just below her eyes. Her breath, warm with the scent of something minty, fanned across his nose and mouth.
How in heaven’s name was he supposed to deny her such a request? Everything in him wanted to yell,
“No!”
But when she looked at him with those green eyes, all reason fled from his mind. His head may as well have been filled with swamp water.
The words danced across his tongue and sprung from his lips before they could be reined in. “Of course you can bring Sunny.”
Amelia threw her arms around his neck. Sunny howled and dug his claws into Conrad’s arm. Thankfully, the claws disengaged just as quickly.
Rapid footsteps approached from behind them. “Miss Amelia! Lord Lofton! Please show some restraint.”
Ah, Annie… the ever-watchful garden pest.
The carriage ride
from Amelia’s father’s house to Conrad’s was short. He squinted against bright rays of sunlight that seemed intent on nearly blinding him every time he leaned too close to the window. Enough of that. He edged over to the middle of the seat so the light only reached the knee of his black breeches.
Although he had enjoyed his time with Amelia, despite her
cat
, memories of what Mr. Fletcher and his daughter had said the day before wouldn’t go away. Had Mr. Fletcher really known Conrad’s mother years ago? To be honest, she never spoke of her upbringing or family. He didn’t know his maternal grandparents. Had no clue about what her father did for a living or where she’d grown up. So, as strange as it might seem from her reactions now to anyone of a lower class, it was conceivable that she had known Mr. Fletcher in some capacity. Had she ever had a tooth removed? Or had their families been acquaintances?
But the surgeon-dentist had intimated that he and Mother had been…
No
. It wasn’t possible. That Mother would have had any kind of relationship with a commoner? She abhorred them. Had always forbidden Conrad from having anything to do with them, to the point of being rude when in the company of someone of the lower class. Had instructed him from his earliest memory to treat them as less than mud on his boot.
But what if Mother had been a commoner, too? Hadn’t she used her wiles and liquor to trap Lord Lofton? Why would she have done that? If she’d resorted to those measures, perhaps she hadn’t had any family money of her own.
But Amelia is blackmailing you into marriage and she does have a rich father
.
His shoulders slumped. Whenever he was reminded of what Amelia was doing, he didn’t want to admit it was real. Rather, he entertained fantasies where she loved him for him, not because she needed to marry someone. Not because he happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time.
If he let himself dwell on the truth, then that pointed to the fact that Amelia didn’t really care for him, didn’t have feelings for him… couldn’t ever… love him. But how could he expect her to? She was beautiful and full of life. And he was… just boring, rude, uppity Conrad. The earl no one wanted. No… the
nobody
no one wanted.
Pain lanced through his chest. He was coming to care for Amelia. Very much. Why couldn’t it be the same for her? Would it always be a one-sided relationship for them? With Conrad longing for her, and Amelia only doing her duty as his wife?
The carriage pulled up to the front door. Conrad alighted and stepped onto the walk. Would there ever be a time when he’d feel comfortable walking a longer distance to his door? Allowing his boots to get soiled from the dirt?
Think of all you’ve done in Amelia’s company. The Bird Sanctuary, holding her cat…
He shrugged. Perhaps that was nothing more than trying to impress his future wife. After they were married and the newness had worn off, would he stop trying new things even when in Amelia’s presence? Would they be like so many other London elite, hardly speaking to one another, or spending time together?
Conrad walked the few steps between his carriage and the house. The wheels of the carriage squeaked slightly behind him as the groom took the horses around back to the stable.
Giles opened the door as Conrad reached for it. “Good day, Lord Lofton.”
Close scrutiny showed the butler’s shirt to be incorrectly buttoned. And it hadn’t been that way that morning, he was sure. Amusement softened his earlier thoughts. “Giles. Having a good day, are we?”
“
Why certainly, my lord.”
Conrad’s gaze slipped to Giles’s shirtfront. “As I can see.”
Giles glanced down as well. Two spots of red blossomed on his cheeks.
Conrad patted his butler on the shoulder in passing. “Glad one of us is successful with the fairer sex.” He bit back a smile when Giles sputtered out something unintelligible. Conrad continued down the hallway. Sometimes it was necessary to find amusement where one could, as the opportunities were rare. At least for him.
His mother bellowed from the library. Probably scolding one of the maids, as usual.
I’m determined not to be like her, not anymore.
When he reached the open doorway, he nearly collided with a tearful young maid. It was that Susan, or whatever her name was, that Giles had been with in the closet the other day, doing… Well never mind what Giles was doing. Conrad had a pretty good idea.
Images of that nature did him no good at present. It would only lead to more thoughts. Thoughts about Amelia, her red hair, those green eyes and pale skin…
“
Conrad. There you are.” Mother sat on the settee, surrounded by brightly colored fabric and spools of thread.
He turned off his desirous longings for Amelia and stepped into the room. “Yes, you’ve found me. Hoorah.”
“
Stop being droll, Conrad. It’s so beneath you.”
“
Is it?”
“
What are you blathering on about?”
“
How could I possibly know what is or isn’t beneath me when I don’t know where I came from?”
“
Why do you insist on dragging this tired old subject out again? We’ve already established that it’s the sole reason Miss Talbot is marrying you.”
Conrad gritted his teeth. It was one thing to think it, but to have his mother put it into words was infuriating. “Believe it or not, there’s someone else who comes into play.”
She glanced down at her needlepoint. “And who might that be?”
Conrad ignored her question and crossed the room. He took a seat opposite her in a straight-backed chair. “I happened to be at Mr. Fletcher’s office again today.”
“
Who?” She may have feigned innocence but her pale cheeks said otherwise.
“
You remember.
Mr. Fletcher
. The man who removed my tooth.”
“
Ah yes. Him. Well what of it?”
“
I was in some pain, so I needed him to re-examine my mouth.”
“
Did that no-good commoner try to get more money from you, Conrad?”
“
Actually no. He said the bone sliver he removed was included in the original fee.” He held up his hand. “Please, don’t be
concerned
. He assured me it was a common occurrence.”
“
I… I would have asked… If you’d given me a chance.”