Augusta agreed. “It has improved much in recent months, and I hope he will lose it altogether someday. When that happens, I imagine he will race to Miss Klein’s side. Unless, of course, you capture his attention first. But it will take effort, mind you. Those two have been sweet on each other since they were children.”
I smoothed the fabric of my skirt, suddenly wishing I had a rabbit to hold. “Everyone assumes they will marry?”
“Naturally.”
I was sorry for his injury and that it held him back from pursuing love. But I also had an intense and irrational longing to meet this Miss Klein. Who was the woman who had captivated Lord Camden’s attention for all these years? I had sensed the man’s easy charm. If my rescue was any evidence, he was a gentleman by nature. Dinner last night had provedhim to be a tease too, but since I was not the one marrying him, there was no reason to examine his qualities.
Augusta set her hand on my arm, snapping me out of my ridiculous chain of thoughts. “Don’t let what I said keep you from your attraction toward my brother. I am not around men much, thanks to my mother’s fierce guard, but I imagine there is no harm in fancying a dozen different men until you find the perfect one. Besides, I never liked Miss Klein. She cares more about herself than anyone else. The opposite of you.”
I gave a sharp laugh. “Miss Augusta Wilde, you are a romantic.” I had not noticed this quality in her before, but now it was clear as blue sky. Linking my arms through hers, I conceded to her silly argument the only way I knew how. “I admit your brother is very . . . handsome.”
“Don’t I know it. The lucky man did not inherit these obnoxious freckles.” Augusta had a smattering on her face, but no more than others I knew.
“Your freckles are charming. As for your brother, handsome or not, I feel no attraction toward him beyond that at present. However, I appreciate your generous permission should I change my mind.”
Which I would not.
There was nothing that killed romantic inclinations more than thoroughly humiliating yourself in front of a gentleman. And I had done it thrice.
“Change your mind about what?”
I whirled around and came face-to-face with Lord Camden. “Where did you come from?” I blurted, my cheeks burning.
He shrugged. “The front door. I needed to stretch my legs.”
My eyes darted to the corner of the house we had walked by only minutes ago. How had we not heard him? After he had snuck up on us last night, I should have paid more attention.
“So what are you changing your mind about?” he repeated.
That cheeky smile should have been off-putting, and it was—mostly. It also made Lord Camden’s face light up as I had not seen it before. Why was it that handsome men were so hard to converse with? As it was, I could not think of a single excuse.
“We were thinking,” Augusta interjected, “about insisting you come to tea with us tomorrow.”
“Yes, tea.” My stilted words were as smooth as the gravel path beneath our feet. I would thank Augusta later for sparing me further humiliation.
“Ah, tea,” he repeated, eyeing me. Why did he stare at me so? Like he knew he had caught me in a lie? Wait. He couldn’t have heard me call him handsome . . . or had he?
He plucked a leaf off the rose bush beside us. “Tea sounds refreshing. I will join you.”
“You will?” Augusta’s surprise matched my own. “I thought you were leaving town again.”
He casually glanced around the grounds. “I had a few plans get moved around, which means I will need a different view by the morrow.”
“But you never join us,” Augusta hedged.
Good, Augusta!I silently cheered. Remind him why it would be silly for him to join the women for tea. I, for one, did not need his imposing presence.
Lord Camden was not a mind reader it seemed. “I am trying to amend my ways,” he said. “I should make myself more available to my family as Mother requested. An outing together would please her.”
My shoulders drooped.
“That is, of course, if it pleases the two of you as well.” Lord Camden looked from Augusta to me.
“You will be bored out of your mind,” Augusta said, “but it does not bother me one way or another.”
His eyes settled on mine. “What about you, Miss Lewis?”
I forced a smile. He was just a man. I would be married to one eventually—I hoped—so I could certainly handle spending an afternoon with one. “We would be happy to have you join us, Lord Camden.”
