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Lenora giggled. “I had Nettie make you a hat.”
The concoction of ribbons, flowers and feathers was somehow both outrageous and perfect. Or, rather, the hat would be perfect for Amelia when she decided to embrace more color.
“Do you like it?” Lenora asked.
First, Amelia smiled, then she laughed out loud. “How could I not? My very own plumage!”
“You have a musical laugh.” Lenora touched Amelia’s arm. “You should laugh more often.”
“Perhaps I will.” Amelia leaned down and kissed Lenora’s cheek. “Thank you for my gifts.”
Though Lenora had only given her one gift, she knew the plural was intentional.
“An iceberg no longer?” she asked.
“Perhaps just north-sea chilly.” Amelia smirked. “And you managed to melt Asquith, too, and without subterfuge.”
Lenora chuckled. “Oh, there was a little subterfuge involved.”
Amelia raised her brows.
“But,” Lenora continued, “as a lady of my word, that is all I can say.”
“Well, if I ever need advice on courtship, which, admittedly, is looking less and less likely, I know where to come.”
Lenora squeezed Amelia’s hand. “I’m here any time you need me.”
Millie approached the table. “Lady Amelia,” she greeted.
“Lady Neville,” Amelia replied.
They exchanged curtseys.
“I’ll leave you and Lady Asquith to confer,” Amelia said.
Lenora looked around for the dowager, who was speaking with her brother by the fireplace. Then she blushed.
She was the Lady Asquith in question.
“That will take some getting used to,” she confided to Millie.
“Believe me, I know.” Millie snorted. “I railed against Neville for so long. And now I must answer to the same name I disparaged!”
“Are you happy?” Lenora asked.
“Yes.” Millie’s fond gaze found her husband in a group with Adrian, Eliza and Lord Preston.
Lenora elbowed her sister. “You never once let on you had feelings for Neville.”
“To be honest, I only started to suspect the nature of my feelings after I encountered him in the maze at Ravenswood.”
“In the maze? The yew maze?!”
“Is there another?” she asked dryly.
“Emily thought as much.” Lenora sat back in her chair. “And now that I recall, I think I heard you and Neville speaking, but I was so caught up in Asquith, I wasn’t listening very closely.”
“Other than planting a seed of curiosity, the encounter was a bit of a disaster.” Millie cocked a brow. “But you’re one to talk about keeping secrets! That terrible day in the stables, you and Asquith led me to believe Asquith was cavorting with a maid!”
