Scandalous Endeavors (Ladies and Scoundrels Book 1) (16 page)

“Lady Amelia, I am so pleased you are joining Jane and me on our journey back to civilization.” He offered his arm. “Come enjoy a meal before we depart.”

Amelia smiled halfheartedly out of obligation and took his arm, allowing him to guide her to the table. As they walked, she scanned the main room desperately hoping to spot Richard. Alas, with the entire room accounted for, she abandoned her search. She should have gone after him last night. With a heavy heart, she allowed Lord Shillington to pull out a chair for her, and then took her seat.

“Good morning, Lady Amelia,” Jane said in her always cheerful voice.

Amelia returned her smile, but wished she were anywhere else in England. “Good morning, Lady Jane.”

She glanced at the always eccentric Lord Shillington decorated in all of his fineries. “Have you spoken with the Duke of Goldstone this morning? I would like to thank him for his care and protection before we depart.”

“I am afraid you are too late. He took his leave at sunrise. By now, he is well on his way to Leeds. In fact, he told me he plans to reach Scotland in two days’ time.” Amelia’s heart sank as Lord Shillington rambled on. “I told him it simply wasn’t possible, that a ride like that required three days minimum. Regrettably, the duke would hear none of it. He insisted he could reduce the time.” Lord Shillington looked back and forth between Amelia and Jane. “Can you imagine?”

Lady Jane answered, “I certainly cannot, but he is familiar with the route, so perhaps it is possible.” She turned her attention on Amelia, reaching out a hand and resting it on top of hers. “Lady Amelia, are you all right? You seem to be a million miles away.”

Amelia forced another smile. “Just eager to break my fast is all.”

Lord Shillington’s voice filled the space. “Of course you are. My apologies, Amelia, let us get you some sustenance.”

Lady Jane nodded as she removed her hand from Amelia’s.

Lord Shillington waved his arm, signaling for a waiter, and knocked over his drink in the process. Water flooded across the table and cascaded over the edge, making a splash on the dark wood floor.

Lady Jane abruptly abandoned her seat to get out of the cool liquid’s way. Her hand flew to her chest. “Dear me. Quick! Someone bring a rag over and mop up this mess.”

All eyes turned toward them as loud gasps filled the quaint space. Amelia’s cheeks burned under the patrons stares. This must be her punishment for acting like a harlot, conspiring against the lords of London. Thank God she never gave any serious thought to scandalizing Lord Shillington. Becoming his wife would without a doubt be a worse fate than consenting to an extended stay in America. His appearance was pleasant enough and he always behaved like a perfect gentleman, but she would never be able to get past his clumsiness, nor his ornate way of dressing.

With the spill tended to, Amelia took her seat as they returned to the meal. She sat absorbed in her thoughts, pushing food around on her plate while pretending to eat. Before long, the familiar weight of grief pressed down on her. Not for the death of her father, but for the loss of Richard. How perfectly fitting he had procured a drab black mourning gown for her.

Heaven help her, she loved him and found herself remorseful over how their story ended. If only he would have allowed her to explain, maybe he would have understood. Perhaps he could have loved her in return.

“Lady Amelia.” Lord Shillington held out his hand to help her into the carriage. Amelia took it then settled against the plush leather seat. He handed Lady Jane up next before climbing in and positioning himself across from her.

“I simply cannot wait to arrive back in London. It is a pity it takes three days.” Lady Jane folded her hands in her lap.

“Lord Shillington, where is my horse? I cannot leave her here.” Panic filled Amelia’s voice; she had already lost too much, she would not lose her Ruby as well. She prepared to jump from the carriage if necessary.

“Worry not, Lady Amelia, the duke hired a groom to follow behind with your beast.” Lord Shillington knocked on the carriage roof, signaling the footman to set the carriage into motion.

Lady Jane beamed as she folded her hands on her lap. “Despite the long ride, I do so love gazing at the English countryside. I find the quaint villages, rolling hills, dense forests, and wildflowers as far as the eye can see to be rather breathtaking. The sights fill me with a sense of serenity and awe. Don’t you agree?” She looked at Amelia with bright green eyes and a grin plastered on her thin lips, obviously waiting for confirmation.

Amelia nodded her agreement, then turned to gaze out the window, hopeful the siblings would leave her to her own devices.

“If the Duke of Goldstone can shorten his journey by a day, why can’t we?” Lady Jane asked her brother.

“As I said before, it is not possible. We would have to spend all night in the carriage and switch out horses every fifty or so miles to even have a chance. Not to ignore the fact that Lady Amelia’s beast is following behind the carriage. No horse can go straight through without dropping dead.”

Lady Jane gasped. “You needn’t be so crude about it, brother. A simple it cannot be done would have sufficed.”

“Well then, dear sister, it cannot be done, it simply is not possible.”

Lady Jane giggled most girlishly before turning her attention back to Amelia. “How is it you came to be in Sheffield and under the duke’s protection?”

Amelia turned her gaze on Lady Jane, struggling for words capable of explaining the previous three days’ events. “I...it is truly a rather long, tiresome tale. I would rather not bore you with the details.” She smiled at her before redirecting her attention to the small window.

“I fail to see how traveling across England with the Duke of Goldstone could make for a boring story. Please reconsider--”

“Amelia already said there is no story to tell. Frankly, I find the man quite dull and cannot imagine anything out of the ordinary happened. Just remember our meeting with him last night. After a standard ‘how do you do,’ he explained his need to return to Scotland and how he needed to procure a chaperone to see Amelia back to London. He appeared rather put out and seemed desperate to find her a suitable escort.”

Amelia’s heart ached at Lord Shillington’s words. Had Richard saw her as little more than unwanted baggage?

Lady Jane bobbed her head. “That he did. Of course you are right. My apologies, Lady Amelia. I should not have pressed for a tale I knew did not exist.”

Amelia glanced up from her lap. “If it is all the same to you both, I am feeling rather tired and would like to rest.”

“Of course, dear. Do not let us bother you,” Lord Shillington replied.

Amelia laid her head on the side of the carriage as brother and sister resumed their conversation. What an utter fool she had been, thinking for even one moment that Richard might care for her when he clearly despised her.

Lord Shillington’s words rang in her head. The duke could not wait to get rid of her. A piece of Amelia’s heart shattered deep within her chest and became a physical ache as tears threatened to spill from her eyes. Why had she allowed this to happen?

She sulked in her depression for the remainder of the day, not interacting with her escorts at all until they reached the inn where they would be spending the night. As the carriage creaked to a stop, she sat upright and pretended to rub the sleep from her eyes.

Lord Shillington cleared his throat. “Are you feeling better, Lady Amelia? You must be famished from skipping the midday meal.” He jumped down from the carriage and extended his hand to help Lady Jane and then Amelia down.

She pushed through her heartache and fibbed, “Yes, I feel a mite better and certainly a bit famished as well.”

He tucked her hand inside of his arm and led her into the main room of the inn. “Let us get you some nourishment then before you and Jane retire.”

Jane smiled sweetly. “I do not see how Lady Amelia will be able to sleep tonight after napping the day away.”

Amelia sat at the table and smoothed her skirts before placing her hands in her lap. A robust lady in an apron and cap scurried over filling their water glasses before taking their order and bustling away.

Lord Shillington agreed. “Perhaps a walk after the meal will aid you in both feeling better and sleeping well?” He regarded her, and something akin to hope welled in his eyes. It was no secret he had fancied her for years.

Amelia reached for her glass. “Yes, a walk sounds nice. I am sure the fresh air will do wonders for me.” She turned to face his sister. “And Lady Jane, you will join us, won’t you? Surely you need to stretch your legs after spending the day in a carriage.”

Lady Jane lifted her napkin. “A walk sounds delightful.”

Amelia had no interest in a future with Lord Shillington. It would do her no good at all to have him thinking otherwise. Lady Jane’s presence would prevent any opportunity for him to make a romantic overture. Not that she believed he would. After all, it would not be gentlemanlike. Alas, she saw no reason to take any chances. No need to risk complicating her life further.

Her stomach grumbled when the savory scents of the night’s meal drifted to her. The mutton with roasted potatoes and carrots looked marvelous. She ate her fill, and finished the meal with delectable hot pudding. Lord Shillington and Lady Jane talked of their visit to Sheffield and their excitement at returning to London. Amelia welcomed the distraction after spending so many hours stewing in her own misery. How had she become such a fool?

After finishing the meal, Lord Shillington escorted Lady Jane and Amelia outside. The night air wrapped her in warmth as she meandered along the path carved through the inn’s garden. The moon cast a welcoming glow and invited her to continue along as she did her best to engage in small talk with her companions. Lady Jane shared London gossip, while Lord Shillington scolded her for telling the tales.

As hard as Amelia tried not to think about Richard, memories of their time together kept creeping back into her mind. Recollections of his arms wrapped around her and the pleasure she had found in his touch flooded her with sadness. She shook her head, gently urging the thoughts to go away. Nothing could be done about it now. She had to forget and move forward, she had no other option. Amelia turned her attention back to the conversation at hand.

Lady Jane’s voice filled the air around her. “Did you hear tell of Lady Vivian’s blunder at her coming out? The poor dear.”

“No, I cannot say that I have. Do tell,” Amelia urged, sure the gossip would not be worth listening to, but desperate for the distraction.

“Her coming out occurred the night before we left London. I happened to be in attendance so I saw it with my own eyes.” Laughter floated from Lady Jane’s lips and she swept her arm out away from her body. “Lady Vivian tripped on her way off the dance floor, falling into the Marchioness of Hillerton and sending them both crashing to the floor.”

Lord Shillington interjected, “I find little humor in it myself. Why, the poor girl may never recover from the incident. Shame on you, Jane, laughing at her when you should be supporting her. Lady Vivian is a close friend of our family.”

Lady Jane wrapped her arms around her waist. “Yes, of course. I am sorry, but even you must admit she made quite a stir.”

“I am feeling rather tired all of a sudden. Might we return to the inn?” Amelia feigned a small yawn. In truth, she agreed with Lord Shillington and did not care to hear anymore about Lady Vivian’s faux pas.

Lord Shillington turned his gaze on her. “Certainly, Lady Amelia. The rooms should be ready for us by now. You and Lady Jane will share a room. Mine is directly across the hall should you ladies need me.”

She wanted desperately to sleep through her heartache, and prayed Richard would appear in her dreams. More than that, she wanted to escape from the endless chatter of her companions.

SCANDALOUS ENDEAVORS