Chapter Nineteen
Amanda silently bit the inside of her lip and waited. Oliva and Lady Weston were enjoying their time talking. Discussing the ins and outs of who did what to embarrass themselves in the ton.
None of it seemed important to her. All she wanted was to see Lord Warwick again. To talk to him in private. To share a moment alone.
It had been nine days and no word from him. Had he made progress on his mission? What about her? Was she to be nothing more than a forgotten moment?
He looked well, barely any limp at all. She had watched him closely. If she had not known of his injuries she would never suspect the man had come so close to death only a month earlier.
“What do you think Amanda?” Olivia asked her, studying her closely.
Amanda scrambled to remember what they had been talking about as her stomach turned cartwheels. She must be careful. She already believed Olivia suspected something. She had been studying her ever since she had returned to town and surprisingly had asked several times about Lord Warwick and if she had run into him over the summer.
She shrugged her shoulders and said, “I really haven’t a thought on the matter,” desperately hoping it was an appropriate response.
Olivia seemed to accept it and moved on to discuss Lady Hamilton’s due date.
Amanda sighed internally. Why did he want to see her? Surely he knew that they would have but a moment together.
As the other ladies talked, she quietly waited. At last, the tea came to an end. Lady Weston indicating she was getting tired and they should probably allow Lady Warwick to return to her day.
As they exited the parlor, Amanda excused herself.
“I need to retrieve that book from His Lordship. I’ll be right back.”
Both Olivia and Lady Weston nodded absently. Her shoulders relaxed slightly, they were not suspicious. There had been no knowing looks. No secret smiles.
She quickly ran a hand down the front of her dress and then touched her hair in back to make sure she was as presentable as possible. Don’t be ridiculous, she told herself. He probably just wanted to check on her. Do not make too much of this.
Hurrying across the entranceway, she knocked on his study door.
“Come in,” he said from the other side and her stomach clenched up into a tight ball as she opened the door and stepped in.
He looked up at her from behind his desk. His smile melting her heart in an instant.
“You wished to see me,” she was able to say, pleased with herself that she could talk at all.
He continued to smile and said, “I wish for a lot of things. Unfortunately, we have but a moment.”
Her heart pounded in her chest. The hungry look in his eyes told her exactly what he wanted. A need that she shared.
“I assume the invitation for Lord Hicks is related to your mission. You hope to learn something.”
He grimaced slightly as he nodded. “Yes, I have learned almost nothing since Barclay’s. I must shake things up and hope something falls out.”
She studied him for a long moment. Could she help? She desperately wanted to help. Every part of her being wanted to be involved with this. Her life had become so boring. So meaningless. Only with Lord Warwick did she feel truly alive.
“I have been studying my copy of the list I retrieved from Lord Hicks. Something about it bothers me. I do not know what. I can’t put my finger on it.
“Meet me tonight,” he said as he got up from his chair. “I need to talk to you.”
She froze, as her insides turned soft and needy. Tonight? Where? How? The answer was yes, of course. But the logistics. Under no circumstances could anyone learn of their liaison.
As if reading her mind, he stepped around from behind the desk and took both of her hands in his. A sharp charge of energy spread out from his touch.
“Tonight, at six, go to the corner of your street, the north corner. A cab will be waiting. My man will be driving. He will bring you to me.”
She looked up at him, unable to believe what she was hearing. He wanted her. A feeling of feminine power flowed through her, making her smile.
He caught her happiness and relaxed. As if he had been worried she might say no. How was that possible. Surely the man knew she would do whatever he asked. Anything for one more opportunity to be with him.
“You must hurry, Olivia and Lady Weston will be waiting. Six, remember. And have your new footman escort you to the corner.”
She frowned, her footman. “Why?”
“So the man I have watching your house knows who he is. I haven’t received a report about him. Which I find disconcerting. I don’t want there to be any more such mistakes.”
She continued to frown. “You have a man watching my house?”
Now he frowned. “Of course,” he said as if it would be preposterous for him not to do so.
“Because you are worried about Lord Hicks knowing of my involvement,” she asked as her mind whirled.
“Yes,” he replied. “That and the fact that I needed to know that you were well.”
She pulled her hands out of his. “Really My Lord, you take liberties. I do not know if I like the idea of my house being watched.”
He laughed and slowly shook his head. “If you had more staff I would be able to plant a spy inside. But since that is impossible, the best I can do is have you watched over.”
“Lord Warwick,” she exclaimed. “I will not be treated this way.” A sick feeling of outrage was beginning to build inside of her.
He studied her for a moment, his head tilting to the side as if he was trying to understand an unusually difficult puzzle.
“Amanda,” he began. “You must understand. I am not doing this out of some sense of possessive need. Well, not much. No, I am doing this because I am unable to rest unless I know you are well.”
“Isn’t that the same thing?” she asked.
He shook her off, “Besides. If Lord Hicks were to make a move against you, my men would be there to stop it. It could very well lead us back to him.”
Her eyebrows rose sharply. “So I am bait.”
He sighed heavily. “No, no. I don’t believe he even knows of your involvement. But it is one of many eventualities I must prepare for.”
She sighed heavily as she looked up at him. The thought that her home was under constant surveillance was displeasing, to say the least, but she could see why he did it. Besides. Deep in her heart, the knowledge that he was concerned for her safety did something to her. Made her feel as if the world was working the way it should.
“Very well,” she said as she began pulling on her gloves. “I will meet with you tonight and we can discuss why you have men watching my house.”
He studied her for a long moment as he smirked, “Oh Amanda, we will be very busy tonight, tell your staff you won’t return until late tomorrow.”
She almost gasped right in front of him, his blatant intentions made her want to squeal with happiness yet she forced herself to remain calm.
“Amanda,” Olivia called from the entrance way. Obviously, her friend was worried about appearances. A young woman alone with a man behind closed doors was unacceptable.
Her heart fell, her moment alone with him was already over.
“Tonight, My Lord,” She said as she pulled on her second glove and forced herself to leave him.
“Amanda,” he said quickly, stopping her before her hand could reach the doorknob.
“Yes,” she said as she held her breath and turned back to him.
“Your book,” he said as he held up a thin volume.
She sighed and accepted it from him. Appearances. Everything was wrapped around making people think one thing while another was the truth. Why must they always be so secretive? Why couldn’t she tell the world how she felt about this man?
“Good day, My Lord,” she said before she gave him a quick curtsey and hurriedly joined her friends.
Tonight. She had tonight she told herself as her spirits began to soar. He wanted her. Lord Warwick wanted her. Even if it was only for one last time. It was a moment she knew she would treasure for the rest of her life.
“You look happy,” Olivia said with a questioning frown.
Amanda halted for a moment. Was she that obvious.
“The book,” she said as she held it up. “I can’t wait to get home to read it. It is going to be a very pleasurable evening I assure you.”
Her friend continued to study her for a long second then was called away by Lady Weston. Amanda sighed, as a small smile tipped the corners of her mouth. Yes, a most enjoyable evening.”
.o0o.
The night retained some of the day's heat. A wet, cloying heat that made her wish for the summer breezes of the country.
Anderson towered over her as he walked with her to the corner.
“Are you sure, Miss?” he asked. “You don’t want me to accompany you. The streets aren’t safe. I tell you.”
She smiled up at her large footman. Molly had been right, the man had been a godsend. She had never been aware of just how beneficial it was to have a tall strong man around. Furniture could be moved. Baths filled in half the time. Plus, to be honest, the sense of safety was a relief.
Besides, when she saw the way he looked at Molly, she knew that everything would work out for the best.
“No, Anderson. That will not be necessary. I will be in the cab and my friends are meeting me on the other end. I assure you, it will be fine. Just a dinner party and I will stay with them tonight and return in the morning.”
“Of course, Miss,” he said but she still saw the doubt in his eyes.
He is the least of your problems, she told herself as he handed her up into the cab. As Warwick had promised, the man had been waiting for her.
Giving a nod to Anderson, she tapped the roof and the cab was off. Her heart pounded. She was to see Warwick. A thousand questions danced through her brain. Did he want to see her to discuss his mission? Did he need her help? Or was he simply hoping for another liaison? Another night of passion.
She smiled to herself. Either way, the evening would be remarkable.
Sitting back, she thought again of the list, calling it up in her mind, she ran down the initials and the numbers. Something was there. Some hidden fact that she couldn’t touch. It was driving her mad.
However, within moments, her mind drifted to Lord Warwick. Those strong wide shoulders. The way his touch made her tingle. What it felt like to be held in his arms and the way it made the world feel good, right, whole.
Sighing, she leaned back and closed her eyes as she fought to calm her racing heart.
She was going to meet a man, alone. She was going to spend the night with Lord Warwick. Sighing again, she tried not to smile too much at the thought.