Free On A Wicked Dawn by Stephanie Laurens

confirmed. “They were much worse—truly crushes in every sense—at the height of the Season.”
    â€œSo was your come-out a crush?” Fiona asked.
    Minerva smiled. “Indeed—it was a very well attended affair.”
    She glanced up at him; Luc met her gaze and shared her proud smile. He still inwardly shuddered at the disruption and effort his sisters’ come-out had entailed, but at least he could now pay for it.
    â€œIt was such a pity you missed it.” Anne caught Fiona’s hand. “So odious of your aunt to insist you go to visit your cousins instead.”
    â€œNow, now, girls,” Minerva intervened. “Fiona is staying with her aunt, and Mrs. Worley has been very kind in sparing her to us so often.”
    Anne and Fiona accepted the rebuke meekly, but it was clear their poor opinion of Fiona’s aunt choosing to take her to visit relatives in Somerset during the critical week had not altered.
    â€œI heard there’s to be a balloon ascension in the park the day after tomorrow.”
    Emily’s 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 Amelia’s golden head, he wondered . . . she was watching the younger girls, smiling at their excitement. “Would you like to view the spectacle?”
    She looked up, met his eyes—read them, and colored delicately. She glanced at the girls. “Perhaps we could make a party?”
    Luc inwardly grimaced, but gracefully nodded when his sisters looked eagerly his way. “Why not?” 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 . . .
    â€œActually, we’ve just been discussing . . .” His mother captured his attention before he could fathom the reason behind that particular look. Minerva smiled and held his gaze. “As Amanda has gone north and won’t return this Season, and as I’ve got to escort these giddy girls about, then it makes eminent sense for Amelia to join us, especially when Louise has clashing engagements.”
    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. “It seemed the most obvious idea.”
    â€œIndeed. So Amelia will be joining us here tonight, then we’ll all go on to Lady Carstairs’s rout.” His mother raised a brow at him. “You hadn’t forgotten, had you?”
    He straightened. “No.”
    â€œI’ll order the carriage for eight, then—we should all be able to fit.”
    Amelia set down her cup and spoke to Minerva. “Thank you. I’ll be here before eight.” She smiled, then extended the gesture to the girls. “But now I really must go.”
    Luc waited, suppressing his impatience while she farewelled his mother and sisters. When she turned to him, he waved to the door. “I’ll see you out.”
    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. “You agreed to follow my lead.”
    She opened her eyes wide. “Weren’t you intending for me to join your mother and sisters at some point?” Turning towardthe front door, she started pulling on her gloves. “It seemed an opportunity waiting to be grasped.”
    â€œQuite.” He prowled by her side as she headed for the door. “But at some point .”
    She halted, looked at him. “Which point?”
    He frowned. “Possibly after the balloon ascension.”
    She raised