She was just about to slip upstairs to visit David when Blackbourne intercepted her. He flashed a grin. “As farces go, today’s was rather entertaining, don’t you think, my lady?”
Amanda smiled. “I suspect it’s one of those things I’ll look back on someday and laugh. At the time, however…”
His grin faded. “I hope you weren’t hurt when I so inelegantly knocked you down while attempting to avoid Martin’s right hook.”
“Not at all. I’m just thankful that Uncle Martie didn’t succeed in hitting you, although it was kind of you to allow him to think that he did. I overheard him insisting that you spend the night here, so obviously he has accepted that you are not our enemy.”
Blackbourne’s eyes brightened with good humor. “I feel quite honored now to count Martin as a friend and would not be so foolish as to refuse his invitation.”
She nodded toward the stairs. “Are you going in search of your chamber?”
“Actually, I was hoping to visit with David for a few minutes. One of the maids told me I’d find him upstairs in the schoolroom. Have you located a tutor for him?”
Amanda grimaced. “Unfortunately, no. I’m still giving him reading lessons and Becky spends an hour with him every afternoon on the rudiments of arithmetic and science, but he hasn’t quite forgiven me for taking him away from Thomas. Do you suppose you can talk Thomas into returning to Willow Place?”
“I think so.” He set a foot on the bottom stair. “Would you mind if I go up and renew my acquaintance with David?”
Amanda was perfectly aware that she had no legal authority to deny him permission, but she was pleased that he’d asked. “I was just on my way to see him. Would you object if we talked to him together? I want to ask if he would be content to return to Willow Place with Becky while I go back to London for a few weeks.”
Blackbourne raised his brows. “Alone?”
Amanda forced herself to meet his gaze, which was decidedly speculative. “If I’m not mistaken, you once hoped for just such a situation.”
“Ah, but that was before I knew you well.”
“Perhaps, my lord, you don’t know me all that well now.”
“And perhaps I know you better than you know yourself.”
Amanda merely smiled and shook her head. “Let’s stop talking in circles and go upstairs to see David. He’s probably finished his studies and is growing impatient, waiting for me.”
When Blackbourne offered no further objection, Amanda led the way to the chamber that she had turned into a schoolroom for David. Because his hours of instruction were still few, she’d furnished the chamber with a variety of books, puzzles, games and toys that could help a boy pass the time. She’d known David missed Thomas and she’d felt horribly guilty for taking him away from Willow Place again, so she’d done all in her power to make his stay at Uncle Martie’s country house as comfortable as possible.
When she and Blackbourne entered the room, David looked up from the puzzle he’d been putting together and then jumped to his feet. Although his eyes lit up with delight at seeing Blackbourne, he did not forget his manners. He bowed, then said, “Good afternoon, your lordship. It’s good to see you. Is Thomas with you?”
Blackbourne laughed, then hurried across the room. He ruffled David’s hair before pulling out a chair and seating himself at the table. “I regret to say that Thomas is not with me. However, I suspect I will need to contact him soon. But first I believe your mother wants to ask you something.”
Amanda appreciated Blackbourne allowing her to bring up her proposed plan of returning David to Willow Place. She, too, sat at the table. It occurred to her that the three of them very much resembled a family and for a few seconds, her regret at not being able to accept Blackbourne’s proposal was so great she had to fight back tears.
But David was looking at her expectantly, so she took a deep breath.
“There have been some changes in my plans, dear, and I want to share them with you. I need to return to London for a time, so you’ll be going back to Willow Place. Lord Blackbourne has agreed to see if Thomas is free to return and Miss Thornton will also live with you. I’m even hoping Lady Blackbourne will join you as soon as she’s able. How do you feel about that?”
David grinned. “That sounds like a jolly lot of fun and I really hope Lady Blackbourne can come too. She’s always nice to me and is even making a new sweater for me. I’ll bet she’ll knit me a cap to go with it if she comes to live at Willow Place.”
Amanda stifled her sigh of relief. “I’m sure you’re right, dear. Lady Blackbourne says she enjoys knitting for little boys.”
She glanced at Blackbourne and was surprised to note that his eyes were unusually bright. Obviously there was a story there and someday she hoped he share it with her. But in the meantime, she had a lot of work ahead of her.
By the time the adults gathered for dinner that evening, all of Amanda’s plans had been approved. Blackbourne and his mother were to stay on in the country for a few days so they could spend some time together. Then Blackbourne would return to the city and his mother would join Becky and David at Willow Place.
Martin, of course, would need to return to the city the following morning to get back to his business and Amanda would accompany him. She said she wanted to check on conditions at her town house and would thus be delayed in joining the others at Willow Place.
The only part of the plan Amanda didn’t share with anyone was her intention of using her time alone in the city to initiate a liaison with Blackbourne. She knew he desired her and she was hopeful she could lure him into bed without first having to marry him.
But she doubted that task would be easy.
* * * * *
Blackbourne had summoned his physician from London to examine his mother and had been relieved to hear that her physical condition overall was good. Now that he was back in her life, she appeared to be eating better and growing stronger with each passing day.
Six days later when the doctor declared Lady Blackbourne well enough to travel, Blackbourne sent for his coach and bundled her into it, ensuring that she was comfortable for the trip to Willow Place.
“I’ll visit you just as soon as I’ve completed my business in London,” he assured her as he tucked a shawl around her shoulders. “But if you need me before then, just send word and I’ll come straightaway.”
His mother laid her cheek against his hand for a second and then looked into his eyes. “Don’t worry about me, my dear. Miss Thornton always makes sure that I get my rest and adequate food and she assures me that there’s an excellent doctor in the neighborhood should we have need of one. You just devote yourself to the affairs that demand your attention in London. I shall be praying for your success.”
Blackbourne gave his mother a sharp look. He hadn’t told her that his business involved talking Amanda into marrying him, but he wondered if she’d guessed what he was attempting. She’d looked away from him, however, fiddling with the fringe on her shawl, so he merely wished her a safe trip and said nothing more. Fortunately, he’d formulated a plan that gave him hopes of succeeding when he reached London.
Blackbourne was pleasantly surprised when he arrived at his town house to be greeted almost effusively by Dulaney. The butler, who had previously given the appearance of resenting Blackbourne for having inherited the title, unbent so far as to welcome him home with a half smile and a deep bow. The housekeeper, too, welcomed him back by assuring him that his chamber had been kept ready for his return. Only Stephens gave signs of being disgruntled.
“Ye didn’t have to go without a valet fer so many days, milord. I could have come to ye, if ye’d only sent for me,” Stephens informed him. “I’ve learned a new way of polishing boots that involves a secret ingredient, but I couldn’t try it without you being here.”
“If that secret ingredient is champagne, it’s not much of a secret, nor is it very successful, or so I’ve heard. Anyway, my boots are fine. What I need are some writing mate
rials. I want to compose some missives for you to deliver. And Stephens?”
“Aye, milord?”
“You’re to tell no one where my errands take you.”
Stephens lifted his chin. “I take leave to inform yer lordship that I ain’t never told nobody about nothin’ you’ve asked me to do and I never will.”
“That’s good to know, Stephens. However, if you wish to remain high in my esteem, you’ll hurry and fetch those writing materials.”
“Aye, yer lordship.” Stephens sketched a bow, then ambled from the room in a pace so slow that it clearly illustrated his firm belief that he would never drop far in his master’s esteem.
* * * * *
“More eggs, milady?”
Amanda glanced up, suddenly aware that a footman was holding a serving dish near her elbow as though ready to dish up more victuals at her command.
“No, thank you, Graham.” She looked at the small clock on the wall near the sideboard and realized she’d been sitting at the breakfast table for an hour trying to decide what to do next.
She couldn’t go out. Well, she supposed she could go out, but where would she go? All her acquaintances had fled the city during the summer months, preferring the cooler and healthier climes found at their country estates. Thus, Amanda reflected, she was practically a prisoner in her own home, at least until Blackbourne called on her.
The footman cleared his throat and Amanda jumped to her feet. “I’m sorry, Graham. You would like to clear the dishes, I’m sure. I apologize for having delayed you for so long.”
She hurried from the breakfast parlor and wandered into the drawing room. A small writing desk occupied one corner of the room and a single sheet of paper lay on its surface. For the tenth time in the last four days, Amanda picked up the note and read it again as though hoping some additional information might be lurking between the lines.
My dear Lady Willowvale,
Thank you for caring for my mother for the last few weeks. She is much improved and even as I write this, she is on her way to join Miss Thornton and David at Willow Place. I will be returning to London later today and will call upon you at my earliest convenience.
B
After receiving that note on Monday, she’d expected Blackbourne to show up on her doorstep that evening and she had waited for him with both anticipation and dread. She longed to see him again and yet feared her own ineptness at furthering their physical relationship.
She’d dressed in a gown with a plunging neckline and left her hair down, which was as much seductive behavior as she could manage. Then, nerves jumping at each unexpected noise, she waited alone until bedtime.
The next three evenings had followed much the same procedure until now, on this bright Friday morning, Amanda was left with only one conclusion. For some reason, Blackbourne was in no hurry to see her after all. Perhaps he had changed his mind about marriage and was afraid she now planned to accept his proposal. Or perhaps he’d lost interest altogether, which would make it impossible for her to seduce him.
She sighed and dropped the note back onto the desk. She couldn’t spend another day at home, longing to see Blackbourne, dreaming of losing herself in his embrace. Apparently whatever he had once seen in her, even if it had been only lust, was now in the past. She might as well pack her bags and return to Willow Place.
She’d just stepped out of the drawing room when she heard the front door knocker. She paused in the hallway, waiting for a footman to answer the door.
When she heard Blackbourne ask the footman if the countess was receiving visitors, her heart felt as though it had suddenly swelled and her blood began to race through her veins.
“I’ll see if her ladyship is at home,” the footman responded.
Amanda stepped back into the drawing room where she seated herself and was pretending to read a book when the footman knocked on the door and then asked if she was at home to the Marquess of Blackbourne.
Torn between irritation that he had taken so long to visit her and joy that he was finally here, Amanda sighed. There was no sense in sending him away. She wasn’t dressed for seduction this afternoon, but she wasn’t in the mood to attempt a seduction anyway.
She sighed again. “Yes, I’m at home, Graham. Show Lord Blackbourne in.”
Chapter Twenty-Seven
“Needlework,” Amanda muttered to herself while waiting for Blackbourne. “I must have something to do with my hands.” She tossed her book aside and grabbed her tatting from the table beside her chair.
She picked up her shuttle, arranged the thread over her fingers and passed the shuttle over and under the thread. Then she sighed. “Blast it all. I’ve tied a knot.”
“Excuse me?” Blackbourne stood in the doorway with a half smile lifting the corners of his mouth. He’d dressed in the height of fashion complete with an ornately tied cravat and a shining pair of Hessians. Apparently he’d decided to announce himself because the footman was nowhere to be seen. “Were you just lamenting the fact that you’ve tied a knot?”
Amanda tossed her tatting back onto the table. “It’s of no significance.”
Blackbourne raised one brow. “If you say so,” he murmured, then strolled into the room. He carried a packet of papers in his right hand.
There was something very official looking about those papers Amanda realized. She wasn’t sure what. Perhaps it was the ornate seal that had been pressed into the sealing wax or the precise way in which the papers were folded. All in all, Blackbourne clearly had called merely because he had some legal reason to do so. A boulder settled into her stomach.
But she absolutely refused to let him know how his behavior was affecting her. Forcing a smile, she stood and moved toward him, holding out a hand that he was forced to take or appear rude. He switched the packet to his left hand and took her hand in his right.
“I was delighted to hear that your mother is improving, my lord.” Amanda wrapped her fingers around his hand and held on. “And you will be happy to know that Thomas has agreed to return. I thank you for contacting him so quickly. Becky reports that he is due the day after tomorrow.”
“That’s good news, indeed.” Blackbourne smiled, then gently pulled his hand out of her grasp before walking over to the writing desk and placing his packet on top of his note from four days earlier.
“What do you have there?” Amanda nodded toward the packet.
Blackbourne nodded toward the grouping of chairs near the window. “Do you mind if we sit?”
“Of course not.” She took a seat. As soon as Blackbourne sat down opposite her, she squared her shoulders. “You brought a bundle of papers with you. Do those concern me in some way?”
“In fact, they do. You see, it recently occurred to me that I might not live to fulfill my responsibilities as David’s guardian.”
Amanda felt a chill moving over her. Thoughts of Blackbourne not being there to see David grow up were too horrifying to contemplate. “Don’t speak of such things,” she said.
“But we must be practical, my lady. I would not want you left without someone to help David take his proper place in the world. That’s why I had papers drawn up naming others to replace me in the role should something untoward happen to me.”
Although she did not like to think of it, she had to admit that Blackbourne was right. There was no guarantee that either of them would live to see David grown, and without them, David had no close relatives or legal advisors. He would be alone.
So she nodded. “You make an excellent point, but who have you chosen to serve as David’s guardian?”
A small smile touched Blackbourne’s face, a smile that seemed to reflect a degree of pride for her understanding of the situation. “Actually, I’ve asked two people to share the duties, and both agreed. The papers I brought with me have been signed by Anthony Clemmons and by Martin Mason.”
“Oh my.” Amanda heaved a sigh of relief. “I can’t imagine any more perfect people. Uncle Martie could watch over David’s busine
ss affairs, and Mr. Clemmons could help him take his place in society.”
A tiny grimace flitted across Blackbourne’s face. “You make me feel almost as though I should remove myself from the face of the earth so David could call on my replacements.”
Amanda laughed outright at that. “Do so, and I will personally follow you and make your afterlife a living hell.”
Blackbourne grinned. “I believe if I delved deeply enough into your last statement, I would be able to detect a lack of logic.”
“No doubt.” Amanda stood. What she longed to do was walk up to Blackbourne and wrap her arms around him, but she was no longer certain that’s what he wanted. Where once his every glance had seemed filled with longing and lust, his gaze today appeared detached. Had his desire for her vanished? She did not want to try to seduce a man who didn’t want her in return. Of course she’d never know unless she tried.
Still, she hesitated and when she did, Blackbourne stood, walked to the writing desk and picked up the packet. “Since I know now that you’re pleased with my choices, I’ll take the papers and have them copied so I can bring you a set and leave the other set with the solicitor.”
“Very well.” Amanda blinked. Surely he was not leaving yet.
But he was. He walked to the drawing room door, shot her a quick smile and wished her a pleasant evening before turning and hurrying down the hall.
He hadn’t even told her when he would be returning. Amanda wandered over to the mirror hanging next to the fireplace and gazed at her reflection. “Some seducer you are,” she grumbled. “And now it’s too late in the day to travel to Willow Place.”
She sighed and blinked back a few tears of self-pity. Oh well. Maybe she’d have better luck the next time Blackbourne called. After all, he did say he’d bring a set of the papers back. She’d just have to be prepared the next time.
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