Grace smiled uncomfortably and moved to the sofa. “I believe I will sit down.”
“I will join you,” Lady Amelia said with alacrity. She hurried after Grace and took a seat right beside her. Together they sat, stiff and awkward.
“What a fetching tableau the two of you make,” he said, because really, how could he not tease them? “And me, without my oils.”
“Do you paint, Mr. Audley?” Lady Amelia inquired.
“Alas, no. But I have been thinking I might take some lessons. It is a noble pursuit for a gentleman, wouldn’t you say?”
“Oh, indeed.”
Silence, then Lady Amelia nudged Grace. “Mr. Audley is a great appreciator of art,” Grace blurted out.
“You must be enjoying your stay at Belgrave, then,” Lady Amelia said. Her face was the perfect picture of polite interest. He wondered how long it had taken her to hone the expression. As the daughter of an earl, she would have any number of social obligations. He imagined that the expression-placid and unmoving, yet not unfriendly-was quite useful.
“I look forward to touring the collections,” Jack replied. “Miss Eversleigh has consented to show them to me.”
Lady Amelia turned to Grace as best she could, considering that they were wedged up against one another. “That was very kind of you, Grace.”
Grace grunted something that was probably meant to be a response.
“We plan to avoid cupids,” Jack said.
“Cupids?” Lady Amelia echoed.
Grace looked the other way.
“I have discovered that I am not fond of them.”
Lady Amelia regarded him with a curious mixture of irritation and disbelief.
Jack glanced at Grace to gauge her reaction, then returned his attention to Lady Amelia. “I can see that you disagree, Lady Amelia.”
“What is there not to like about cupids?”
He perched himself on the arm of the opposite sofa. “You don’t find them rather dangerous?”
“Chubby little babies?”
“Carrying deadly weapons,” he reminded her.
“They are not real arrows.”
He made another attempt to draw Grace into the conversation. “What do you think, Miss Eversleigh?”
“I don’t often think about cupids,” she said tersely.
“And yet we have already discussed them twice, you and I.”
“Because you brought them up.”
Jack turned to Lady Amelia. “My dressing room is positively awash in them.”
Lady Amelia turned to Grace. “You were in his dressing room?”
“Not with him,” Grace practically snapped. “But I have certainly seen it before.”
Jack smiled to himself, wondering what it said about him that he so liked making trouble.
“Pardon,” Grace muttered, clearly embarrassed by her outburst.
“Mr. Audley,” Lady Amelia said, turning to him with determination.
“Lady Amelia.”
“Would it be rude if Miss Eversleigh and I took a turn about the room?”
“Of course not,” he said, even though he could see in her face that in fact she did think it was rude. But he did not mind. If the ladies wished to share confidences, he was not going to stand in their way. Besides, he enjoyed watching Grace move.
“Thank you for your understanding,” Lady Amelia said, linking her arm through Grace’s and pulling them both to their feet. “I do feel the need to stretch my legs, and I fear that your stride would be far too brisk for a lady.”
How she uttered that without choking on her tongue, he did not know. But he merely smiled and watched them as they moved as one to the window, leaving him behind and out of earshot.
Chapter Thirteen
Grace let Amelia set the pace, and as soon as they were across the room, Amelia began whispering urgently about the events of the morning, and then about Thomas having needed her assistance, and then something about her mother.
Grace just nodded, her eyes constantly darting toward the door. Thomas would be there at any moment, and although she had no idea what she might do to prevent what would surely be a disastrous encounter, she could not possibly think of anything else.
Meanwhile, Amelia kept on whispering. Grace had just enough presence of mind to catch the end, when Amelia said: “…I beg of you not to contradict.”
“Of course not,” Grace said quickly, because surely Amelia had made the same request Thomas had minutes earlier. If not, then she had no idea what she was agreeing to when she added, “You have my word.”
At that point, Grace wasn’t sure she cared.
They continued walking, lapsing into silence as they promenaded past Mr. Audley, who gave them a rather knowing nod and a smile as they went by.
“Miss Eversleigh,” he murmured. “Lady Amelia.”
“Mr. Audley,” Amelia returned. Grace managed the same, but her voice was unpleasant and croaky.
Amelia began whispering again once they were well past Mr. Audley, but just then Grace heard heavy footsteps in the hall. She twisted about to see, but it was only a footman, passing by with a trunk.
Grace swallowed. Oh, dear heavens, the dowager was already beginning to pack for their trip to Ireland, and Thomas did not even know of her plans. How could she have forgotten to tell him during their interview?
And then she became aware of Amelia, whom she’d somehow managed to forget, even though their arms were linked. “Sorry,” she said quickly, since she suspected it was her turn to speak. “Did you say something?”
Amelia shook her head and said, “No.” Grace was fairly certain this was a lie, but she was not inclined to argue.