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“Please let us attend,” Emma said prettily. “It will remind me of my come-out ball the late duke let us have there. Truly the highlight of my short, ruined Season. Besides, Lord Bolton is sure to be invited. Therefore, we must attend if only to prove to his mother that the sister of a duke accepts us.”
Louisa stifled a giggle. Emma knew how to play her mother.
“Oh, very well,” her mother said with an exasperated sigh. “But we shan’t stay long.”
“As you wish, Mamma,” Emma said with a wink to Louisa before inclining her head toward the door. “I believe I shall go decide what to wear for the soiree.”
“I will join you, Emma,” Louisa added.
Reaching her room, Emma stopped. “What was that about, Louisa?”
“I wish I knew.” She walked across the room and flopped on the bed.
“Why all the attention? Have I suddenly become beautiful? It makes no sense.”
Emma fell onto her bed with a laugh. “Oh, Louisa, you are beautiful. You have a different type of beauty than Tessa and me. Your beauty is subtle, but any man with intelligence can see it.”
“Thank you, Emma.” Louisa joined Emma on the bed and stared up at the white ceiling.
“Do you think Ainsley is interested in you?”
“No.” Louisa knew Ainsley was only trying to help her.
“Are you certain? There was a look in his eyes, but I couldn’t ascertain if it was interest or something else entirely. I will say Mr. Kingsley didn’t look at you in the same manner.” She shuddered. “Oh, but I do not like that man.”
“Kingsley?”
“Yes, there is something frightening about him. Almost as if...as if he sees you naked. Didn’t you feel that?”
“Not at all.” She sat up and looked over at her very innocent sister.
“Well, I did, and I don’t like it.”
“I’m not sure I like any of this,” Louisa added, wondering why her life had suddenly turned upside down.
Chapter 18
THE NEXT DAY DAWNED sunny and finally warmer. She waited with anticipation for Ainsley to collect her for their walk. Finally, she would learn what scheme he had for Harry and her. And she would be gone for Collingwood’s almost daily call at three.
Collingwood’s calls had changed the past few days, but not for the better. As if he were going through the motions of courting but wasn’t interested in it, or rather, her. He spoke of her beauty and wit while giving her the latest on-dit, which did not appeal to her at all. It was as if he had not even tried to get to know her. And every time he left, her mother remarked about how nice he looked or made some other such nonsensical comment.
When the knock hammered the door, she started. Her heart pounded not by the excitement of a possible suitor, but with the idea that several people believed she and Harry should marry, Ainsley included. After a quick greeting, they left the house toward Hyde Park with the footman trailing behind.
“It is a beautiful day, is it not, Miss Drake?”
“Very.” Impatient to hear what he had to say, she added, “But I don’t believe you decided to take a walk with me to discuss the weather.”
He chuckled. “I see what Harry adores about you. He does like people to be direct.” Sliding a glance back at the footman, he said, “I think the one thing that may draw Harry out of his current low spirits is jealousy.”
“I tried with Collingwood, to no avail.” Louisa sighed. They reached the park and walked toward the Serpentine, nodding at people as they strolled.
“I am not Collingwood,” Ainsley with a grin.
“I suppose you are not.” Louisa was intrigued by the earl and his plan. “What do you propose?”
“Is that not little Lady Charlotte with Lady Radley?” He pointed toward the pair watching the ducks on the water. “It would be rude not to greet them.”
