His eyes grew large and he choked. His set his cup down on the table beside him with a clatter.
Amelia’s mother leaned in close. “What’s this? Is your betrothed so uncouth that he doesn’t even know the proper etiquette for drinking tea?”
Lady Lofton huffed out a loud breath. “Now see here, my son most certainly does know how to drink tea. He’s been drinking since he… well he’s been drinking it his whole life. How dare you…”
The argument continued but Amelia had stopped listening. She jumped from her seat and crossed the room. Reaching out her hand, she stroked Conrad’s cheek, which had turned bright red. “Are you all right?”
Tears streamed from his eyes, but he nodded.
“Can I get you anything?”
“N-no. Thank you.” He sputtered another cough.
“I’m so sorry. I found it was too hot but didn’t want to cause a stir with…” She darted a glance at her mother. “But I should have let you know somehow so you didn’t burn your…” She lowered her gaze to his lips. “Mouth.”
He leaned forward, into her hand that was still stroking his face. “Amelia…”
“What on earth are you doing to my son?” Lady Lofton’s screech was surely audible to the next county.
Oh… no… Amelia snapped her hand to her side and scurried back to her own seat. Eyes downcast, she didn’t dare look at her mother. But that didn’t stop her from berating Amelia.
“How despicable. To act in such a way… And in front of me. And his mother. Really, Amelia!”
She nodded, but couldn’t respond. Her fingers tightened into fists on her lap.
Lady Lofton sniffed. “I can see now why you had trouble finding a man to marry you, Miss Talbot.”
Mrs. Talbot gasped. “I beg your pardon? Your son is very fortunate to have snagged my daughter.”
“Snagged?” She wagged her finger under the other mother’s nose. “I’ll have you know that my son was coerced into—”
Oh dear. “Uh… Mother… Lady Lofton, perhaps we’ve gotten a bit off the subject here.”
Conrad nodded. “Yes, Amelia is right. Let’s… discuss something else. Anything else.”
The four sat silent, again. Amelia scoured her mind for something benign to discuss, but all she could think about was touching Conrad’s face. And how she’d like to do it again. Now.
Just say something Amelia. Anything… “Um, Mother, how have you been feeling?”
“I beg your pardon?”
“You know… your gums…” Maybe that wasn’t the best thing to bring up. But I’m running out of ideas.
“Amelia, I hardly think this is the time or place…” She glanced at Lady Lofton and shrugged. Did she also not want another argument?
Doubtful.
Still, she continued along the thought. “Yes, well… They’re still feeling dreadful. That surgeon-dentist Mr. Fletcher doesn’t know the difference between my mouth and that of a hedgehog. I think he’s a quack.”
Conrad gasped and coughed. Was he still suffering the effects of the tea? Or was it from what her mother had said. But why would talk of the surgeon-dentist upset him? Was he perhaps upset on Cecilia’s behalf because they spoke of her father?
No Amelia, don’t dwell on their relationship. You promised Conrad you would trust him.
Lady Lofton grabbed her fan from her reticule and swung it to and fro in front of her suddenly perspiring face. “I… That is…”
“Yes… Mother… my thoughts as well.”
Amelia raised both eyebrows. What was going on?
Chapter Twenty-one
Conrad groaned. Yet another outdoor outing. Did Amelia never tire of them? I may as well grow accustomed to them if I wish to spend time with her after we’re wed. He glanced to his left where she walked beside him, holding his arm tight against her breast.
His breath quickened. But I’m fairly sure I will never grow tired of that. Her hair glinted in the sun, which shone brightly for a change. And her eyes, the color of emeralds, always seemed to hold some sort of fascinating secret. One Conrad was certain he wanted to know. Had to know.
Amelia looked behind them. “Come along, Cecilia. You needn’t walk behind us.”
Cecilia blushed, which seemed to come as easily to her as Conrad. “Oh… I thought perhaps you and Lord Lofton would like…” The hue on her cheeks deepened.
With a laugh, Amelia reached back and took Cecilia’s hand, drawing her even with them. “You’re here as our friend.” She leaned toward the younger girl and winked. “But if we do require a few moments of privacy, you’ll not need to ask if that’s the case. I’m sure it will be quite obvious.”
Conrad gasped. Cecilia had done the same. Good heavens, his wife-to-be wasn’t shy.
Amelia tugged on Conrad and Cecilia at the same time. “Let’s go over and see the rose gardens, shall we?” Conrad stumbled. Thankfully, Cecilia did not. Perhaps his sister was more graceful than he.
But then, she’d have to be, as he seemed to have the talent for tripping over air.
A huge area was planted with row after row of roses in yellow, pink, white and red. As they neared the flowers, Conrad sneezed. He sighed and grabbed his handkerchief.
“Bless you.” Amelia smiled. She turned to Cecilia. “I love all of the roses, but my favorites are the—”
A tickle attacked Conrad’s nose and he sneezed again.
“Goodness.” Amelia lowered her eyebrows. “Are you feeling ill?”
He shook his head. “No. I’m f-f-f—” An even louder sneeze erupted, nearly stealing his breath.
Cecilia pointed at a grove of trees a few yards away. “Perhaps we could rest on the bench?”
“Th-thank you I—” A sneeze to rival a boom of thunder overtook him. He bent at the waist, gasping as the sensation bounced around in his chest.
“Come along, dear.” Amelia grabbed his arm tightly and pulled. With her usual lack of gentleness and the fact that he had his handkerchief covering nearly his whole head, his feet tangled with hers.
Down they went.
Conrad peered up at Amelia, who peered right back at him, as she was lying on his chest.
Cecilia crept up beside them. “Would this happen to be one of those… times for… privacy?”
A sigh escaped Amelia’s lips. Lips that under better circumstances he would indeed like to kiss. “No, that’s all right. I accidentally tripped Conrad and we’ve ended up quite close to the lawn.”
Conrad turned his head. A long blade of grass poked him in the eye. Pressure built behind his eyes, travelled down his nose and exploded from his mouth. He covered his lips with his handkerchief a second before his betrothed would have worn his sneeze as an unwelcomed sticky veil.
The sneeze startled several ravens that had been resting in a nearby tree. They cawed and burst from the leaves all at once. Their wings flapped and they darted around haphazardly. All but one flew off. And that one inquisitive bird didn’t seem frightened at all. Instead, it landed a few feet from them and then hopped twice, getting closer.
No… Why do birds hate me so? This one was probably chosen from among the throng to investigate what I’m up to and report back with the juicy gossip to his repulsive little bird friends.
“I wonder why that bird is staring at you, Lord Lofton.” Cecilia looked at them, and then back at the raven.
“It is quite strange.” Amelia stood and reached down her hand to help Conrad from the grass.
Conrad replaced his handkerchief in his pocket and then righted his hat and smoothed his coat. His valet would grumble at those grass stains. But at least he was wise enough not to inquire as to how they might have gotten there.
Cecilia’s blue eyes widened. “Do you suppose the bird… has taken a fancy to you?”
With a sputtered laugh, Conrad shook his head. “I would think not. I’m afraid the opposite may be true.
“But why?” His sister stepped closer to him.
Amelia brushed some grass from
his shoulder. “Yes. Why ever would a bird dislike you?”
“I know not. But enough instances have taken place that have convinced me that birds, all birds, everywhere, do in fact, despise me.”
Amelia laughed. “Oh, Conrad, I’m never so amused as I am when in your company.”
“I’m pleased one of us can find humor in the situation.”
“Let’s go find that bench that Cecilia suggested.”
It was becoming clear that Amelia didn’t understand the depth of his loathing for anything with wings. He spotted a few blades of grass on his glove and shook them off. Or his dislike for anything having to do with the fresh air which she found so appealing.
“Oh my. Look at that.”
Conrad turned. Cecilia was a few paces behind them, pointing at that blasted bird. The crazy creature was following them. Conrad reached back for Cecilia’s hand, took Amelia’s hand in his other. He quickened his steps. “Hurry. Let’s run away.”
A hard tug pulled him back. “What on earth are you doing?”
“I…”
Amelia released his hand and faced Cecilia with a smile. “Now might be a good time for a few moments alone, if you don’t mind.”
A small smile crossed Cecilia’s lips. “Certainly. I’ll go and admire the pretty roses.” She stepped away and headed in the opposite direction, shooing away the raven as she went.
“Now, why don’t you tell me what this is all about?” Amelia placed her hands on the sides of his face. She bit her lip. “You’re paler than usual. Are you feeling ill, my darling?”
Under different circumstances, her hands pressed against his face and the term of endearment would have had his mind conjuring all sorts of pleasant daydreams where the two of them not only had a moment of privacy in a garden, but were alone, with no one around for miles. So he could finally kiss her as he wished, for hours on end.
But his fears had gotten the better of him again. How he longed to overcome them once and for all! He’d made strides. Great strides in his mind. But it wasn’t enough. Amelia deserved a strong man. A brave man.
He was neither.
He placed his hands over hers. “Amelia, I know how you love the outdoors. The trees, the birds. Everything.”
She nodded. “I do.”
He averted his gaze, no longer looking into her eyes, but somewhere in the vicinity of her right ear. She placed a finger beneath his chin and angled his head so she could look into his eyes again.
“Conrad, yes, I do love those things. I’ve always known it’s not your first choice, but…” She looked around them and then back. “But it’s truly difficult for you, isn’t it?”
He shrugged.
“Isn’t it?”
Heat crept up from his cravat to his face. “I… You deserve better.”
“Better than what? Than you?”
Another shrug lifted his shoulders. Could he not even give voice to the words pounding around unhappily in his brain?
“Listen to me, Conrad. I don’t deserve you. You’re too good for the likes of me.”
He gasped. Finally, a sound! “No… No, that’s not true.”
“The way that I… What I’ve done to ensure our marriage…” She spoke quietly even though they were alone.
“But I happen to…”
“You…”
I love you wouldn’t emerge. It sat just inside his lips, teetering on the edge of his tongue. He wanted to. He felt it in his heart, but… “I… care for you. Very much.”
A single tear traveled a course down her cheek and landed just below her neckline. “See. I don’t deserve you.”
“You deserve… everything. The whole world.”
She brushed some lint from his jacket. “Oh, Conrad. You’re the one who deserves the whole world. You’re so, so sweet.”
“Sweet? That’s something of which I’ve never been accused.”
“I’ve said it before.”
“I thought you were having sport with me.”
“Not about that. Never about that.”
Cecilia waved from across the grass. “Come and see. You must come and see!”
Amelia raised one eyebrow and smiled. “Perhaps we should…”
He swallowed. “Yes. Let’s do.”
They walked arm in arm. Conrad stopped a few feet from the roses, afraid he’d start sneezing again. Amelia left him and moved forward. “Oh my, Conrad. Cecilia is right. You must see this.”
What on earth could be so interesting? The two of them were bent over, peering at something on the ground.
Was it a flower of unusual color? A worm? Another bird waiting to ambush him when he got close?
None of those seemed appealing to him in the least.
Amelia turned. The corners of her lovely mouth lifted. She silently mouthed the words, “Trust me.” And held out her hand.
His heartbeat quickened and his mouth went dry. Trust her? So whatever it was that they wanted him to see must be something that he would ordinarily find detestable.
Or frightening.
She continued to hold out her hand. The shape of the word “Please,” formed on her lips.
Decision made, he nodded and swallowed, forcing moisture into his suddenly dry throat. One step, then another, slow but steady, until he stood next to Amelia. She placed her hand in his and angled her head, indicating a cluster of grass, dirt and flowers. Something moved.
He frowned. “What…?”
Cecilia giggled. “Isn’t it wonderful?”
“Isn’t what…?” Movement again, stirring the grass surrounding the mound. But wasn’t that simply due to the light breeze?
“Conrad, do you see them?”
Them? What in the name of heaven was in there? A tribe of very tiny people?
Amelia leaned down a little farther, pulling him, gently this time, as well. She lowered her voice to not much more than a whisper. “If you’ll lean a little in my direction, I think you’ll have a much better angle in which to view them.”
“Amelia, you’re starting to scare me, talking about them.”
She turned and squeezed his hand. “Do you trust me?”
Yes! his heart cried. It found its way to his mouth. “Yes.”
She moved to stand behind him and put her hands on the sides of his head. With slight pressure, she turned and angled him. And then…
Oh my.
A red fox lay on her side, almost hidden from view by her dirt and grass enclosure. Two tiny kits nursed, their squeaks like those of a contented baby. The scene was peaceful. A mother caring for her young.
His heart warmed at the sight. Simply beautiful. Those animals living their lives in the middle of the rows and rows of flowers. The dark, downy fur of the babies pressed against the reddish brown of the mother as her long fluffy tail curled around them.
Cecilia sighed. “I can scarcely believe what I’m seeing. The mother doesn’t seem afraid, though, does she?”
“No. She may be used to people walking nearby.” Amelia stepped next to Conrad for a better look. “And, she’s so intent on taking care of her babies. It would seem her love for them is stronger than her fear of us.”
Conrad blinked. He looked at Amelia, but she was still admiring the foxes. And it’s the same for me. I love you more than I fear them. He pressed her hand between his to gain her attention.
She turned.
He whispered. “Thank you.”
“For what?”
“For giving me… the world.”
Chapter Twenty-two
Conrad hated crowds. And noise. And most people. Everything that had to do with his plans for the evening. But Amelia had her heart set on the annual ball so that is where he would be. At least there wouldn’t be any birds or animals in attendance.
He hoped.
As he gazed out the carriage window at the black night sky, several twinkling stars caught his eye. I never would have noticed that in the past. Wouldn’t have cared. But I’m beginning to care now. Thanks to Am
elia.
A cool breeze blew through the open window. Conrad tugged his coat tighter, pleased that he’d put on enough weight that it no longer hung on him as if he were nothing more than a broom handle. He was still too thin, but his form had much improved. Would Amelia think so?
She seemed to enjoy spending time with him, but was that how she really felt, or was it a farce lasting only until they were legally wed? Would she then ignore him and be only interested in the title of Lady Lofton? It seemed impossible that a woman, especially that woman, could ever be interested in him.
Even his own mother esteemed him not. Maybe that’s why the sight of the mother fox showing love to her kits had resonated with him so. Maternal caring was something he’d never experienced.
He sighed when he noticed his carriage approaching Oliver Shipley’s home. Amelia would already be there with them. Their plans were to ride together to the ball, therefore doing away with the need for a chaperone.
Cecilia’s beautiful smile had faltered a little when he’d told her they hadn’t a need for one, but he’d assured her how much he and Amelia enjoyed her company and would soon again require her presence on an outing.
Perhaps next spring Conrad could sponsor Cecilia with a debut? If he kept telling everyone that she was a distant cousin, it might work. And if she were fortunate enough to meet and marry a rich gentleman, it would not only improve her life, but Andrew’s as well.
No one need know that she was his sister… Or what her father did for a living. Not her father. Their father.
Strange to think of Andrew in those terms, but he seemed a very likeable, kind man. So unlike how Lord Lofton had been, with his excessive drinking and gambling and nothing good to say about or to Conrad. Ever.
If my real father is a good man, could there be hope for me to be as well someday? That is my fervent wish.
The carriage halted, the footman opened the door and Conrad stepped down to the drive. He glanced down to make sure he hadn’t stepped in mud, cringing at the thought of something repulsive stuck to his boot.
Some habits were hard to break.
When he reached the door and was permitted entrance by the butler, he smiled as the warmth from the house enveloped his chilled body. Perhaps he’d have the opportunity to warm up before having to venture out into the chilled air once more.
The Unwanted Earl (The Love Bird Series) Page 16