An Unexpected Earl (Lords of the Armory #2) - Anna Harrington Page 0,48
crush around them, her concern rang clear. “He’s having difficulty adjusting to being a peer.”
“Oh?” Amelia couldn’t have told that from the way he looked tonight. Just as handsome in his evening finery as the other gentlemen filling the room, his presence just as commanding and confident. As if he’d never belonged anywhere else.
“He’s restless.” Danielle’s pretty brow creased. “He’s having trouble with being thrust back into London life. Even being responsible for the earldom isn’t enough, not when he has an army of accountants, solicitors, and servants to run it for him.” Her frown deepened. “Marcus went through that at first, too, when he was granted the dukedom.”
“Yes, but Marcus had you,” Claudia reminded the duchess. “You gave him new purpose.” An overlong, intentional pause… “Where will Pearce find his purpose, do you think?”
With that, the fog vanished. Amelia’s mouth twisted. Clearly, the two ladies already had an answer in mind.
“Pearce and I haven’t seen each other in years,” she clarified. “We’re barely friends anymore. What you’re suggesting is…” Ludicrous. Preposterous. Outlandish.
Impossible.
A piercing thud jarred along her spine. Amelia raised her glass to her lips, to hide whatever stray emotions might be visible on her face. And her pain.
“Oh, no! We’re not suggesting anything of the sort,” Danielle protested quickly.
“Nothing at all like that,” Claudia agreed. Then another long pause… “But would it be so terrible if we did?”
Amelia choked on her champagne.
“I mean, just look at the man.” Claudia gestured at Pearce with her wineglass, not attempting to hide that the three women were obviously talking about him. “He’s been captivated by you since the moment you walked into the ballroom.”
Amelia’s face flushed in embarrassment. How on earth had she gotten into this peculiarly personal conversation with these two women whom she barely knew? “That isn’t—”
“He hasn’t been able to drag his eyes away from you for a moment.” Claudia cast her a knowing look. “And he isn’t at all looking at you as someone he once knew as a childhood friend and now holds in fond affection.”
“No,” she had to agree, with full chagrin, or risk being called out for a liar. “He isn’t.” He stared at her as if he were a wolf who wanted to devour her. And shamelessly, she very much wanted to let him.
“Now, Claudia,” the duchess scolded lightly, “you know we shouldn’t play at matchmaking.”
Yet something told Amelia that the two women planned on doing exactly that.
“If Miss Howard says they’re only acquaintances, then we have to respect that.”
Relief surged through Amelia. “Thank you, Your—”
The duchess added beneath her breath, “It doesn’t mean we have to like it, however.”
Oh bother. Amelia rolled her eyes—
Just in time to see Freddie return to the ballroom in his hunt for Pearce.
“But making certain Pearce has an old friend in town—a dear friend,” Danielle continued, although Amelia only half paid attention, “well, there’s no fault in that, is there?”
“None,” Amelia murmured, distracted.
She watched as her brother stopped and scanned his gaze around the ballroom. He knew Pearce was here, and it was only a matter of time until he found him. After all, Pearce wasn’t exactly inconspicuous in the crush, towering a good half-foot over the rest of the men. And judging from the resolute expression on Freddie’s face, he planned to force Pearce into making a decision about the trust tonight, potentially ruining her plans for delay if he agreed or forcing the blackmailer into going to Varnham if he refused.
Icy dread chilled her. Both outcomes would destroy her.
“And if you two happened to be able to spend more time together—say, at small private outings and dinners—wouldn’t that be best for him? And for you?”
Amelia mumbled some sort of preoccupied agreement and caught her breath when Freddie spotted Pearce, then made his way toward him in a beeline. There was nothing she could do to stop him.
“After all,” Claudia added, “you two are dear, old friends. There’s no harm in two friends spending time together and getting to know each other again. Perhaps walks through the park or carriage rides…”
Amelia winced as Freddie interrupted Pearce’s conversation with the Duke of Hampton and another gentleman flanking his other side whom Amelia didn’t recognize. Oh, so rude! Made worse by the way he stuck out his hand in eager greeting to Pearce and largely ignored the duke and his friend.
Pearce smiled wryly and shook his hand anyway, letting Freddie’s discourtesy pass unacknowledged. But she also noticed that Pearce didn’t introduce her brother to his friends.