confirmed. âThey were much worseâtruly crushes in every senseâat the height of the Season.â
âSo was your come-out a crush?â Fiona asked.
Minerva smiled. âIndeedâit was a very well attended affair.â
She glanced up at him; Luc met her gaze and shared her proud smile. He still inwardly shuddered at the disruption and effort his sistersâ come-out had entailed, but at least he could now pay for it.
âIt was such a pity you missed it.â Anne caught Fionaâs hand. âSo odious of your aunt to insist you go to visit your cousins instead.â
âNow, now, girls,â Minerva intervened. âFiona is staying with her aunt, and Mrs. Worley has been very kind in sparing her to us so often.â
Anne and Fiona accepted the rebuke meekly, but it was clear their poor opinion of Fionaâs aunt choosing to take her to visit relatives in Somerset during the critical week had not altered.
âI heard thereâs to be a balloon ascension in the park the day after tomorrow.â
Emilyâs information distracted the girls; Minerva sat back, watching with fond affection as they discussed the event.
Luc paid their ramblings little heed; his gaze on Ameliaâs golden head, he wondered . . . she was watching the younger girls, smiling at their excitement. âWould you like to view the spectacle?â
She looked up, met his eyesâread them, and colored delicately. She glanced at the girls. âPerhaps we could make a party?â
Luc inwardly grimaced, but gracefully nodded when his sisters looked eagerly his way. âWhy not?â It would serve as a reasonable first outing to which he could publicly squire Amelia.
Fiona whooped; Anne smiled. Emily laughed. They fell to discussing the details.
Under cover of their excited chatter, Amelia glanced up and met his gaze, a certain consciousness in her eyes . . .
âActually, weâve just been discussing . . .â His mother captured his attention before he could fathom the reason behind that particular look. Minerva smiled and held his gaze. âAs Amanda has gone north and wonât return this Season, and as Iâve got to escort these giddy girls about, then it makes eminent sense for Amelia to join us, especially when Louise has clashing engagements.â
He managed to keep his expression impassive, then he looked again at Amelia. She met his gaze over the rim of her cup, then lowered it and smiled brightly. âIt seemed the most obvious idea.â
âIndeed. So Amelia will be joining us here tonight, then weâll all go on to Lady Carstairsâs rout.â His mother raised a brow at him. âYou hadnât forgotten, had you?â
He straightened. âNo.â
âIâll order the carriage for eight, thenâwe should all be able to fit.â
Amelia set down her cup and spoke to Minerva. âThank you. Iâll be here before eight.â She smiled, then extended the gesture to the girls. âBut now I really must go.â
Luc waited, suppressing his impatience while she farewelled his mother and sisters. When she turned to him, he waved to the door. âIâll see you out.â
With brief nods to his mother and the girls, he stalked after her to the door, reached around her and opened it, then followed her into the hall. A quick glance showed no footmen about; shutting the door, he caught her gaze. âYou agreed to follow my lead.â
She opened her eyes wide. âWerenât you intending for me to join your mother and sisters at some point?â Turning towardthe front door, she started pulling on her gloves. âIt seemed an opportunity waiting to be grasped.â
âQuite.â He prowled by her side as she headed for the door. âBut at some point .â
She halted, looked at him. âWhich point?â
He frowned. âPossibly after the balloon ascension.â
She raised